This ‘simple to implement’ instructional article will improve your balance, strike consistency and shot shape as well as assist you to get through the ball correctly on the downswing.
In photo 1 you will see that both of my feet are pointing forward – as they would normally when I’m walking. This positioning of the feet is incorrect.
In photo 2 my lead foot is splayed out to the left with my right foot pointing forward. Importantly, also take note that my feet are shoulder width apart. This is how I believe your feet should be positioned at set up – why?
- Having the right foot pointing forward prevents your weight loading onto the outside of your trail leg on the backswing
- The ‘toes’ of the right foot pointing ‘straight forward’ position will help you load your backswing into the inside of your right leg thus maintaining your balance pre-downswing. A loss of balance on the backswing will inevitably cause errant shots and inconsistent strikes.
- Having the lead foot ‘splayed out’ slightly pre-swing, assists and encourages you in transferring your weight through impact to a balanced finish position where you feel that your hips have uncoiled fully to the left, to leave your weight positioned on the outside of your left leg. Restricting the hips from uncoiling fully through impact by having the lead foot pointing toes-forward at set-up leads to your hands flipping/rolling the clubface in attempt to save the ball going to the right.
The other thing I encourage you to visualize and implement is to coil and uncoil so that no part of your torso (other than your hands and arms) moves beyond the outside of either leg = on backswing (right leg) and downswing = left leg see photo 3 and photo 4 indicated with blue rods that are positioned into the ground on the outside of my feet.
Swinging within the confines of your legs promotes correct loading on your backswing and encourages the correct delivery of the club into and through impact on the through-swing. The result will be more consistent golf shots.
Tom Long
Golf Professional