“For so many golfers balance is the forgotten fundamental of the swing – and, critically, one that plays a pivotal part in every aspect of the movement.”
Swing plane, spine angle, 'smash factor', 'late hit', 'X-Factor', 'V-Gap' – and so the list goes on. Common phrases you may have heard banded about in reference to the swing. And while this may all sound rather sexy, the one key area of the golf swing generally overlooked as players go in search of extra speed and distance is balance. I see so many players tied up with complicated theory that they neglect this critical fundamental of motion. If only they focused on improving their dynamic balance all of these things would slot into place a lot more naturally.
So, over the following pages, let me share with you some of the drills I use in my everyday coaching that really bring about immediate improvement not only in your overall sense of balance but in the 'sequencing' of your swing as you build stability from the ground up.
Part 1 - Foundation Sound leg action keeps you 'grounded'
Show me a golfer who displays
excessive movement in the lower half
of the body and I'll show you a player
who finds it incredibly difficult to
enjoy any sort of consistency when it
comes to winding and unwinding the
body in the golf swing.
With poor 'sequencing' and a limited
wind-up in the backswing, the
downswing is then devoid of that
automatic recoil that characterises a
dynamic movement. The forward
motion, drive and release has to be
manufactured (as opposed to being
reactionary) – and is all the poorer for it.
This simple resistance band exercise
is designed to improve the very
foundation of your golf swing. All you
have to do is loop the band just
above your knees and make it tight
enough so that when you are in a
good address position, knees flexed,
your leg muscles feel 'engaged'.
Focus on feeling the weight balanced
in the middle of your feet,
not biased towards the heels or
toes. With the band around your
legs you will be encouraged to
maintain a solid base to your
swing, improving your balance dramatically,
keeping your feet very
quiet and 'heavy'.
With improved sequencing in the
backswing (i.e. a much better working
relationship between your arms
and rotating upper body) you will
develop a more efficient coil and
reap the benefit of then unwinding
the spring with real gusto – more
speed, more distance and more
accuracy. For starters, that's a pretty
good combination!
With a small resistance band in
place, your leg muscles should
feel 'engaged' at the set up as
you flex your knees and take
your regular stance.
The key is then to maintain that sense
of athletic stability in the legs as you
initiate your backswing – feel the
resistance in the knees as you turn
and coil the upper body.
This supportive leg action provides you
with a terrific sense of balance – and
this compact three-quarter swing with a
full coil is more effective than a longer,
looser alternative (inset)
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