Feet, backswing and spine angle

[pnearn]

Does anyone else deliberately press the balls of their feet into the ground as they turn their shoulders on the backswing?

Been experimenting with this lately and have found it really helps me maintain my spine angle and gives me a much more powerful downswing as im not lifting

Is this right or will it lead to other problems later on?

[pgmetcalf]

Re: Feet, backswing and spine angle

Can't say I've done it precisely as you said but I do practice Tai Chi which is essentially turning and balancing excerises. Tai Chi helps the relationship between your feet and the ground (cosmically speaking - wow) My point is, it teaches the pupil to practice firm, flat contact between the feet and the ground - like a tree growing strong. I've got so used to the feeling that I don't notice it so much now, but I agree that golfers should try and feel strong in the feet, but not forced.

[gord962]

Re: Feet, backswing and spine angle

I don't press down with my feet on the backswing, but yes on the downswing. On the backswing, the resistance is built up from the shoulders turning against the hips - the lower body should remain as quite as possible. On the downswing, the lower body is now turning the other direction, creating tension the other direction on the hips, requiring the upperbody to unwind, therefore creating a powerful downswing. The more resistance that can be built up in the backswing, the more that can be released in the downswing. Pressing down with your right foot on the downswing helps increase the amount of power in your swing by getting the hips set for the impact position.

[pnearn]

Re: Feet, backswing and spine angle

I've found that by feeling as if I am pressing down slightly onto the balls of my feet as I swing back has done a number of things

1. It helps me stay level on the backswing, thus retaining the spine angle
2. It seems to help a lot in building leverage as I feel a lot more resistance in my lower body as I turn my shoulders
3. I seem to feel a lot more coiled and as such it is easier to start the downswing

I specifically think of pressing on the right foot on the backswing and the left on the downswing

All I know is its really helped my contact and distance so as its working wont change it !

[SIRCHOPALOT]

Re: Feet, backswing and spine angle

By "pressing down" with your right foot you are putting tension in your right leg which is a good thing. Lots of amateurs let their right leg break down when they try to overswing.