Backswing weight shift

[atkurtis]

Hello,

Say you're hitting a 5 iron, weight distribution at address is 50-50. At the top of your backswing, what is the weight distribution? We all know that we're supposed to shift our weight to the right, but how much. I contend that it is not as much as people think. I remember a Peter Kostis article stating that Tour players at the top are about 45 left 55 right. Some even stay at 50-50. I think as long as your left shoulder is behind the ball at the top, you're good. What do you think?

[mtibt]

Re: Backswing weight shift

turning the shoulders on the backswing instead of sliding to the right will produce the weight shift by pushing off the left foot slightly. Same thing on down and through swing except in reverse.

[Gary W]

Re: Backswing weight shift

I must be all wrong, because my weight shift has to be greater than 55% to the right. On any club longer than a 9i, I end up with my left heel off the ground an inch or so, and maybe 25% or so weighting on my left instep. That's obviously a guestimate, but it's sure less than 55%.

[msklar92]

Re: Backswing weight shift

really curious to see what the pros at this site would say about this. I personally have been trying to keep my weight more stable over both feet and have found more accuracy with same distance.

[atkurtis]

Re: Backswing weight shift

Think about this...We are told that our weight distribution at address with a wedge should be about 60 left 40 right, 50-50 for around a 6 iron, and 40 left 60 right for a driver. Now I don't believe this means that it should change dramatically at the top of the swing. It would make sense that it should remain about the same. It would take a lot of recovery in your downswing to go from 80 percent on your right foot back to 50 at impact. That seems like a difficult task. Look at swings like Aaron Baddely and Trevor Immelman. Their swings are simple and efficient and it looks as though there is no extra movement in their backswings.

[james.welsh]

Re: Backswing weight shift

One thing I'd like to see in the stop action sequences in Golf Digest is a top view (from above the players head). Then you'd see the motion in 3D.

[nickwbryant]

Re: Backswing weight shift

atkurtis - i agree with you - its much less than we are led to believe in some instruction. However I never think about % weight shift. As long as you coil into your backleg and dont let the weight get onto the outside of that foot, then you have completed the weight shift IMO.

nick

[Macca_NZ]

Re: Backswing weight shift

I agree with your comments about weight shift not being as much as we are seemingly told.

Leadbetter comments that we should agressively load up the right side on our backswing to avoid a reverse pivot situation.

However when pro swings are analysed you often hear them say that he is fairly "centered" at the top. Ben Hogan for one apparently didn't get much more than 50-50 weight distribution at th top of his backswing.

I'm very new to golf so may be getting this all wrong but it appears to me that more important than getting most of your weight to your right side on the backswing is that you get nearly all of it to your left side on the down swing and follow through?? Is this right?


So centered or there abouts is fine at the top provided you have enough coil and then move it all to the left??

[Hannu]

Re: Backswing weight shift

Hi - I am new to golf. Don't take my comments seriously.

My understanding on take away and back swing is:
a) your hip does not move backwards
b) your head is in the same place as in address

Weight shift is rotation of your shoulders and much less rotation on your hips and moving your arms.
My left foot feels light and most of my weight is on inside of my right foot.
(The further you reach away from the target with your hands, arms and so on, the more your weight shifts to right.) AND you get more power.
(Also the lenght of your stance will affect the weight shift - the weider your legs are apart the less - in % - you shift your weight.)

I think that it is important to find a feel to your back swing and keep it similar - to be able to repeat it. It is not important how fare you hit the ball with an 8i - as long as it's always to same length. Or you can predict it.

The same goes for the end position. Weight on you left foot. Shifting the weight same always the same speed and lenght from right to left gives you same / similar energy from your weight shift. It's a little easier to control your length that way. (Weight shift is just one of the elements that we use to build energy/ power to our shots.)

[atkurtis]

Re: Backswing weight shift

Macca NZ and Hannu-

I think it's very important to say that weight should not move to your left side at all in the backswing. That would be a death move. I think the ideal move would be a slight shift to the inside of your right foot caused by the right shoulder moving behind the ball. I think no added effort should be made to "load up" or move more weight to the back foot. I was watching a golf show today and the pro was talking about wedges. He said to set a little weight left at address and keep it there in the backswing. That goes along with what we've been writing about. And it is very important to get your weight through to your left side at the finish. Hannu, the head will move slightly back on the backswing naturally. There should be no effort to keep it still going back, I think this will cause weight to move left and restrict your shoulder rotation. Yeah the wider your stance the more the less active they will be throughout the swing. I like that you're thinking of hitting your shots with consistent distances. Most beginners are too worried about how far they hit it. Sounds like you're on the right track.

[MPLAVLEGL]

Re: Backswing weight shift

I saw a great tip by John Daley on golfchannel.com.
John said the swing starts on the right foot and finishes on the left
I understand this to mean that at address we should favor the right side
it help to transfer your weight. I am a firm believer that most high to mid handicappers mistake a reverse weight shift for a good weight tranfer, But of course if you leave it on the right your really dead.

[Hannu]

Re: Backswing weight shift

Macca NZ and Hannu-

Hannu, the head will move slightly back on the backswing naturally.

I watched Tiger and he moves his head more than Els. Looks like many good players move their head a little to the right as they shift there weight to the right foot.

I am trying to keep my head still, but it moves anyway:-) Other too much during the downswing so that I end up "topping" or hitting my ball deep in the ground. (Well, not so often any more, but if don't remember to watch out for it - it happens.)

br. Hannu