I am hitting the ball better standing on one leg

[xKono]

Hey guys,

 

I was playing the best golf of my life a few months back and then just all of a sudden lost my swing. Starting shanking lots of shots off the hosel of my club. Went to get 3 lessons from a pro and we did a lot of work. Whatever I was doing before may have worked for a bit but I definitely have lots of underlying issues that need addressing. One of the last things we did was a drill where I would stand on my front foot only, with my back foot completely off the ground, or behind me and only on the toes to keep a bit of balance, and the ball inside my front foot. Most my clubs hit this way were going just as far as my normal swing, but I could compress / pure nearly every single shot and there were next to no shanks. I was wondering if anyone else has used this drill? After googling there are a few videos but not much and not much discussion. Also what part of this drill makes me crush the ball so well? Is it all about balance and staying cenetered?

Edited February 2, 2021 by xKono

[glk]

 

[dlygrisse]

Ernest Jones talks about this in his classic book Swing the Clubhead.  Lots of people recommend practicing with the feet together, which I like.  

 

I believe Shawn Clement has some videos on this on his site.

 

In my opinion what is going on is your are now pivoting instead of swaying.  You are staying centered and turning more on your backswing instead of moving out over or back foot or even worse reverse pivoting....

[xKono]

Reverse pivot is one thing I was wokring on with my instructor. I had an easier time with the one leg drill than anything though because I didnt have to think about anything other than "hit the ball dont fall over".  We spent so much time working on lower body movement and using the feet to generate power etc I felt like my body was all over the place trying to get movements down. Baby steps I guess

[xKono]

23 minutes ago, glk said:

 

 

 

 

Thanks for this video, this didnt come up with my google searches of one leg drill but it explains it well.

[ChipNRun]

Years ago, I tended bar at a country club. One of the junior golfers was a high school freshman who also played Khoury League baseball. 

 

In June he broke his fibia - small bone in back of calf - sliding into a base. So he had a walking cast on his left leg (front leg for R-handed golfer).

 

Before his injury, he shot scores in 83, 85 range. With his walking cast he was suddenly shooting in 75-77 range. A solid base provided by his walking cast really helped his full shots.

 

Alas, tragedy struck. Toward the end of the summer his walking cast came off... and yes... he was back to shooting 83, 85 range.

[PJE]

An elite player (US Amateur, US Senior Open contestant) showed me the same drill you've been using when I went through an inconsistent period.  He used it as part of his regular practice regimen.  This was at least 25 years ago so that drill has been around for quite a while. If I remember correctly, Nick Faldo used it in his heyday or David Leadbetter used it. 

I think it really helps with maintaining the spine angle throughout the swing, staying centered, i.e., not getting out in front of the ball with the upper body, and avoiding movement towards the ball, i.e., an early extension move.  And you are right, the ball goes only a little bit shorter as with a conventional stance. 

The guy who showed it to me was kind of a ham and he played a few holes using it just to show off- hit every green in regulation. 

Anyway, it's a good drill. I am glad you reminded me of it. I've had a lot of recent medical problems and I am just starting to swing the club again at full speed. I think I might use this drill in my practice again. 

[dmeeksDC]

It’s an excellent drill. I think it helps you get your weight shifted properly toward the target without swaying. You can’t hang back or you’ll fall down. 
 

And I putt better using only my lead arm. I actually putt very accurately that way. It’s why I went to the claw — I want my right hand barely on the club for stability only. 
 

The mysteries of golf. 

[Priceyd]

i did this drill a few years ago, and its my go to at the range, especially at the start of the gold season or warming up. It also helped me alot get the feeling of coming from the inside, I combine it with half swings trying to hit that nice draw shape. 

[Chazb]

On the flamingo drill are you transferring your weight to the back foot on the back swing?

[Jersey golfer]

2 hours ago, Chazb said:

On the flamingo drill are you transferring your weight to the back foot on the back swing?

Impossible to do if you are doing the drill correctly.

[joostin]

Yep I tend to hit solidly with this drill.  Learned it from Shawn Clement videos along with the feet together drill.  I think it simplifies the swing by presetting the posting up on the lead leg that happens on the through swing.  It keeps you centered around the lead leg to help control the low point of the swing.  For irons the sternal notch is slighly in front of the ball as Clement would say.

 

We post up on the lead leg all the time in other sports: throwing a ball, throwing a punch, baseball swing, tennis swing... so it's a simple way to get to a normal athletic position.  If you're casually throwing a football or skipping a stone on water you're probably in a similar setup with most weight on the lead leg and trail leg just supporting for balance.

[Buzzkill]

I started playing a month ago with all my weight on left side throughout swing - I’m hitting the ball solid, less moving parts, no distance loss!

[MK7Golf21]

Like some others mentioned it simplifies everything. Your keeping the low point of the swing consistent and with your back leg back it’s helping you come from the inside. Only problem it’s a drill and you won’t generate as much speed 

[CT22]

I’ve had a similar experience experience. Hitting with my rear foot back quite a bit and my weight on my front foot.  I don’t hit it farther but I hit solid and straight 

[Golf_Goof]

It’s one of the core tenets of Stack & Tilt - weight forward.

[Canada8888]

I love this version of the drill ...the wooden post Shawn uses in the video really helped me understand why it works

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1-fZ9zwN4g

[dwinch]

Check out Mike Adams and Terry Rowles videos on YouTube and do a Google search for front-post golf. Front-post golfers prefer to stay more left on the backswing.

 

A few years ago I went to a coach who taught Stack and Tilt, and it took me from an 8 handicap at the time, to a +1 in about 12 months. I still use the one-leg drill you mention in almost every range session. I highly recommend it if you can track down the DVDs (or the book) or go to an S&T instructor.

 

 

 

 

 

Also, watch this video on Aaron Badds to appreciate an example of a front-post swing.
 

 

 

I also like SagutoGolf's videos on YouTube.

 

 

Edited March 18 by dwinch

[SEP1006]

12 hours ago, Golf_Goof said:

It’s one of the core tenets of Stack & Tilt - weight forward.

 

 

Was going to say the same thing !!

 

Hope I can remember to try this drill later this week.