Footwork

[bzimmer21]

Question... I had a lesson yesterday and it was apparent that my right foot came off the ground on the downswing and that my balance was off pushing me towards the ball. I was told that at address, the weight should be on the balls of my feet / centered and at the top of the swing my weight should be at the heel of my right foot. From there, my weight should move from right heel to left foot. He was saying that in my swing I start from the top down (bad) and that I should swing from the ground up keeping by left shoulder behind as long as possible. Are these accurate tips? I ask because looking at a lot of tour swings, many of their swings have their right foot coming off on the downswing. I have a tendency to hit shanks, so maybe he was telling me this as a feel thing to stop coming toward the ball. I'm curious to see what you think. Thanks

 

BZ

[ronstelten]

The footwork and balance that your instructor is describing looks like this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPicaKToelM

In my opinion, the best balance, most powerful golf swing of all time.

If it works for Big Jack it should work for you.

[Reasonability]

Bz,

I have thoughts about this, but in-part of me would almost rather not say. Sometimes an instructor gets you to exaggerate a move for a while to help the student overcome something they are having a little difficulty with. Not having seen your swing and not knowing what the instructor was attempting to accomplish... I almost don't know how to respond.

I will go this far... if you plan to have more lessons with this coach... you absolutely need ten minutes with him in the office before stepping out (or at least at the onset of the next lesson) to talk this through. He should welcome the discussion. It does a student very little good to be told to just do this or that and leave never relating very well to WHY. The why component is HUGE in helping you setup and get things in motion with a purpose and commitment. Its a little hard to cover all the bases in one lesson which is why I asked if future lessons are in the cards.

[ronstelten]

[quote name='Reasonability' timestamp='1403908245' post='9593015']
Bz,

I have thoughts about this, but in-part of me would almost rather not say. Sometimes an instructor gets you to exaggerate a move for a while to help the student overcome something they are having a little difficulty with. Not having seen your swing and not knowing what the instructor was attempting to accomplish... I almost don't know how to respond.

I will go this far... if you plan to have more lessons with this coach... you absolutely need ten minutes with him in the office before stepping out (or at least at the onset of the next lesson) to talk this through. He should welcome the discussion. It does a student very little good to be told to just do this or that and leave never relating very well to WHY. The why component is HUGE in helping you setup and get things in motion with a purpose and commitment.
[/quote]

Great advice! Instructors and student must be on the same page and speaking the same language. Instructors too often assume that the student knows what they are talking about. Students can be afraid to to say, "why should I do that?".