Driving · Drill
A Footwork Drill for Better Weight Shift
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Good weight shift has a rhythm you can feel in your feet. On the backswing, keep pressure in your trail heel. Your foot stays planted. On the way down, move pressure forward early. Your trail heel comes up as your weight goes to the lead side. Aim to have most of your weight on your lead foot by the time your lead arm is about level with the ground on the way down. Not at impact. Earlier. Practice slowly first.
The drill
- Feel your trail heel loaded at the top.
- Start down by moving pressure to your lead foot.
- Let your trail heel lift.
- Get to your lead side by lead-arm-parallel.
- Go slow, then build speed.
Why it works
Your swing needs to move from loaded on the trail side to supported on the lead side before the club reaches the ball. If pressure moves forward early, the lowest point of the swing settles ahead of the ball, so you strike the ball first and then the turf. Moving early also lets your trail heel rise naturally, which frees your hips and body to rotate through impact instead of stalling.
Common mistakes
- You lift the trail heel on the backswing and lose the load in that foot.Keep the trail foot planted and feel pressure in the heel until you start down.
- You wait until impact to shift, so your weight is still back as the club arrives.Start the pressure change as the first move down and aim to be mostly on your lead foot by the time your lead arm is about level with the ground.
- You slide your hips toward the target without turning, or lean your upper body back.Shift pressure forward and rotate at the same time, and keep your chest over the middle of your stance.
How you'll know it's working
- Your divot starts at or just after the ball, not behind it.
- You can feel most of your pressure under the lead foot at lead-arm-parallel, and your trail heel is already off the ground.
- Your finish is balanced on the lead foot, and you can hold it for a few seconds without stepping.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Do the drill with a half swing at slow speed and pause at the top to feel the trail heel load before you start down.
Harder: Build to full speed with a full swing, and hit balls while keeping the same early forward pressure and a held finish.
Common questions
When should my weight be on my front foot in the downswing?
Most of it should be on your lead foot by the time your lead arm is about level with the ground on the way down. That is earlier than impact.
Should my back heel come off the ground in the golf swing?
Yes, on the downswing it lifts as your weight moves to the lead side. On the backswing, keep it planted with pressure in the heel.
