When Paul Wilson was learning to play golf, his father told him at least 50 times per round to keep his head still. Perhaps you've heard the same advice. Especially when it comes to trying to learn the perfect golf backswing.
Moving your head on the way back is one of the best golf backswing fundamentals you can learn.
It sounds counter intuitive and even feels abit unnatural. But think of a ballerina or figure skater going into a spin. They always move their head first to set up and create a proper two-point axis. A proper circular motion requires two axis points. A top and a bottom. And when you set up to execute a golf backswing your head becomes the top axis and your legs and feet become the bottom axis.
An axis is something to swing around. So on the way back your head - the top axis - should move three to five inches to the right to create this first critical axis point. On the way down, your head will stay there and even fall further back as you complete this golf backswing technique. And it is only after the ball is hit that your head will automatically move forward over the top of your left leg and create the second point of the axis - allowing you to complete the swing and follow through.
So what you have is a floating top to an axis. Your head floats back and forth to create 2 axis when you swing. This allows your golf backswing be a circular motion. It's not a perfect circle though. It's a slight oval. Because your swing is a slight oval, you will never hit the ball 100% perfect.
If you don't move your head during the backswing you will never be able to hit the ball as long and as far as you are truly able because you are never setting up the top axis correctly.
The challenge most golfers have when learning this proper golf backswing technique is feels uncomfortable. It just doesn't feel natural to move your head back.
One way to get past this is to consciously consider moving your head about 12 inches when you start your backswing. Think 12 inches and your head will naturally move five to six inches. Still uncomfortable? Try practicing your golf backswing in front of a mirror.
As your swing comes down, your head should stay back and you'll feel the power loading on your right leg. This is what you are striving for. This weight shift is your clue you have properly created the top axis needed. If you don't feel your weight shift into our right leg, this is a clue you need to move your head back more when you start the backswing. Think more, not less and you'll soon be hitting like a pro.
Another technique you can use to practice your backswing is to wear a hat. Then as you start your swing, check to see if you keep the brim or bill of the hat level to the ground. If so, this means you ARE moving your head. When you notice the brim of your hat tilting to the left, you'll know you didn't move your head and didn't create the first backswing axis.
As a final check just ask a friend to watch your head to see if it moves back a few inches or use a video camera to see for yourself. If your head is too still then constantly remind yourself to move it back or have someone constantly remind you to move your head.
There is one caveat, however. When you move your head to the right this may cause you to hit behind the ball. This is a good clue you are moving your head back properly but what's happening is you are loading your leg too much during impact. To remedy this situation just shift a little more weight off your right leg as you complete your swing and follow through. Pull it off and you'll not only create the perfect golf backswing axis, you'll hit the ball on the sweet spot every time and with much more power and speed off the face than ever before.
Paul Wilson
.
Moving your head on the way back is one of the best golf backswing fundamentals you can learn.
It sounds counter intuitive and even feels abit unnatural. But think of a ballerina or figure skater going into a spin. They always move their head first to set up and create a proper two-point axis. A proper circular motion requires two axis points. A top and a bottom. And when you set up to execute a golf backswing your head becomes the top axis and your legs and feet become the bottom axis.
An axis is something to swing around. So on the way back your head - the top axis - should move three to five inches to the right to create this first critical axis point. On the way down, your head will stay there and even fall further back as you complete this golf backswing technique. And it is only after the ball is hit that your head will automatically move forward over the top of your left leg and create the second point of the axis - allowing you to complete the swing and follow through.
So what you have is a floating top to an axis. Your head floats back and forth to create 2 axis when you swing. This allows your golf backswing be a circular motion. It's not a perfect circle though. It's a slight oval. Because your swing is a slight oval, you will never hit the ball 100% perfect.
If you don't move your head during the backswing you will never be able to hit the ball as long and as far as you are truly able because you are never setting up the top axis correctly.
The challenge most golfers have when learning this proper golf backswing technique is feels uncomfortable. It just doesn't feel natural to move your head back.
One way to get past this is to consciously consider moving your head about 12 inches when you start your backswing. Think 12 inches and your head will naturally move five to six inches. Still uncomfortable? Try practicing your golf backswing in front of a mirror.
As your swing comes down, your head should stay back and you'll feel the power loading on your right leg. This is what you are striving for. This weight shift is your clue you have properly created the top axis needed. If you don't feel your weight shift into our right leg, this is a clue you need to move your head back more when you start the backswing. Think more, not less and you'll soon be hitting like a pro.
Another technique you can use to practice your backswing is to wear a hat. Then as you start your swing, check to see if you keep the brim or bill of the hat level to the ground. If so, this means you ARE moving your head. When you notice the brim of your hat tilting to the left, you'll know you didn't move your head and didn't create the first backswing axis.
As a final check just ask a friend to watch your head to see if it moves back a few inches or use a video camera to see for yourself. If your head is too still then constantly remind yourself to move it back or have someone constantly remind you to move your head.
There is one caveat, however. When you move your head to the right this may cause you to hit behind the ball. This is a good clue you are moving your head back properly but what's happening is you are loading your leg too much during impact. To remedy this situation just shift a little more weight off your right leg as you complete your swing and follow through. Pull it off and you'll not only create the perfect golf backswing axis, you'll hit the ball on the sweet spot every time and with much more power and speed off the face than ever before.
Paul Wilson
.
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