GET BACK, STAY BACK

By Ty Walker
PGA Professional, Golf TEC

Get back, stay back!

This is a swing thought many of our clients can recite in their sleep. To hit the ball long and straight, it is important that a golfer follow a few simple fundamentals.

At the moment of impact it is critical to be in the proper position. A common fault is to crash or lunge past the ball in an attempt to quickly transfer weight to the target side. This sometimes violent approach to impact lacks consistency and requires exceptional timing to make a successful shot. Every golfer has witnessed the apparently effortless look a Tour player demonstrates when driving the ball. Follow a few basics and you, too, can deliver smooth swings packed with power.

Draw a line straight up from the ball and stay behind this line at all times before impact. Make sure your head at the address position is even or slightly tilted behind the ball, allowing you to look at the back of the ball where the club makes contact. Favoring your rear foot at address will help you remain behind the ball, even before starting your swing.

In the backswing, ensure a proper weight shift to your rear foot by turning your upper body without dipping your shoulder toward the ball. Make sure your chin or left shoulder is directly over your right kneecap. A mirror or video system will help you do this.

To avoid losing power, always initiate the downswing with your lower body while your upper body remains behind the ball.