Tilting of head

[Simon Woo]

I seem to have this problem that I can't get rid of. During my backswing, I end up tilting my head so that the chin ends up further from the target than the top of my head. I don't think I have a problem with the head moving up/down or too far to the right, it's just a tilt which I am trying to fight. Coach pointed this out to me and said it can lead to a tendency of reverse pivot. I'm trying to correct that during my practice sessions, and the only way I seem to be able to do so is active create the feeling like I'm trying to tilt it the other way - only then does my head still look 'straight' at the top of my swing. And in that position, the head and left shoulder feels really tensed. Is that how it's supposed to feel? If I ease that tension a bit, the head ends up tilting...

[ChadCash]

Re: Tilting of head

How are you hitting the ball? If you are hitting it good don't worry about it.

[JWG4GM]

Re: Tilting of head

When Looking At The Ball During Your Swing Think Of Your Right Eye As Your Dominant Eye And Fix It On The Ball

[GreeBoman]

Re: Tilting of head

Or, pre-tilt your head at setup.
I do this a lot, especially on drives.
Helps me stay behind the ball and also allows a wider shoulder turn as your chin is out of the way

[Simon Woo]

Re: Tilting of head

I'm not sure if this is related, but I've been focused on keeping the axis of the head straight throughout my backswing, and realised that I am getting so much better coil in my swing now. I suspect it's because by keeping the head from tilting, I am somehow restricting my hip turn and just letting the shoulders rotate (I am now much more aware of my left shoulder going under and behind my chin). My last session at the range, I hit my woods like I've never hit them before. Solid contact and I can really feel the impact in control.

Gree, I'm not sure what you mean by pre-tilting? I have been trying to remove the tilt out of my swing entirely (noticed how the pros really keep their head still - not just the up down left right movement, but the tilting of the head's axis as well). Would be more than happy to hear your further views on this.

Thanks!

[GreeBoman]

Re: Tilting of head

Gree, I'm not sure what you mean by pre-tilting?

By pre-tilting I mean turning your head to the right (if you are a RH golfer) as part of your setup, not part of your swing.
So basically before you start the backswing you are already til.....


Actually, tilting is probably the wrong word, turning is more accurate.
I pre-turn my head away from the ball as part of my setup.
Maybe that makes it clearer?

[marino]

Re: Tilting of head

I seem to have this problem that I can't get rid of. During my backswing, I end up tilting my head so that the chin ends up further from the target than the top of my head. I don't think I have a problem with the head moving up/down or too far to the right, it's just a tilt which I am trying to fight. Coach pointed this out to me and said it can lead to a tendency of reverse pivot. I'm trying to correct that during my practice sessions, and the only way I seem to be able to do so is active create the feeling like I'm trying to tilt it the other way - only then does my head still look 'straight' at the top of my swing. And in that position, the head and left shoulder feels really tensed. Is that how it's supposed to feel? If I ease that tension a bit, the head ends up tilting...

Make sure you're allowing your head to turn with the shoulders. Check that when things start tightening up, towards the last 25% of your backswing, you're letting your head turn with your shoulders. Don't fight that feeling and let your neck get kinked. Maybe you've heard the saying: Trust your swing? What that really describes, in part, is what many of the games greatest players have admitted. That with full swings, they often lose direct sight of the ball when completing their backswings. Even Nicklaus, who claimed that the hardest thing to do in the golfswing was keep the head still, turned his head considerably to the right. At first it might feel as if you're moving off the ball. As long as that right knee is solid, you're not. It's just that you may have become accustomed to an incomplete weight transfer. It's what Butch Harmon changed with Justin Leonard. Check out players' swing sequences who wear hats or visors. At the top of the backswing, the brim points well to the right of the ball. If your's doesn't, you're probably kinking up that neck area, instead of just letting your head turn.

[Simon Woo]

Re: Tilting of head

Oh dear, I need to sort this out. My last 2 sessions at the range, I've been working on keeping the head fixed, ie. no turning and no tilting. That has done wonders for me. I'm getting contact with the irons and especially woods as I've never had before. One thing I realised is that by preventing my head from turning or tilting, I'm also keeping my hips coiled so only shoulders rotate. That gives me the kind of coil I've never experienced before!

So I need to sort some clarification now. I know the head can move laterally back a bit, but is it also supposed to turn? And how about tilting? Do we all agree that it's not supposed to tilt. When I say tilt, I mean the the chin moves away from the target. Hope that's clear?

[GreeBoman]

Re: Tilting of head

Do we all agree that it's not supposed to tilt. When I say tilt, I mean the the chin moves away from the target. Hope that's clear?

By turn I mean your head rotates around your neck.
By tilt I mean a nod to the side

Turn = good (or at least ok)
Tilt = bad (probably helps a reverse pivot)

[pnearn]

Re: Tilting of head

Simon

Feel and real are very different. The age old adage. Your head may have been moving/tilting as a result of a slide or some unconsious movement. When you say you are concentrating on the feeling of keeping it fixed you now probably have ingrained the right motion of having it turn somewhat in response to your upper body movement. What you are probably doing overall (maybe without realising it) is staying centered over the ball during the backswing and turning rather than sliding. This is an absolute must for good ballstriking as you seem to be finding out

What this 'feels' like to you may not be how it feels to me or anyone else but if its right its right. If keeping the head still is the feeling you have to keep you centered then run with it. Dont worry about tilt/turn etc. Sounds to me like youve cracked one of the most important aspects of the game right there. Great stuff

[Simon Woo]

Re: Tilting of head

Pnearn, you are so right there! I really feel like I've unlocked this mystery in golf! For 10 months I've been practising and trying all sorts of variations and swing thoughts etc. It really is a combination of a few things I think - I took 2 lessons recently from a local pro and borrowed a few books from the library (one is called Knowing Your Swing and the other is the all-so-crucial Modern Fundamentals of the Golf Swing). I tell you, it has changed everything. I have just about 4 swing thoughts now when I do the backswing, and have no thoughts whatsoever in my downswing

Suddenly, some things really seem to make sense, like restricting your hip turn. The funniest thing I just realised this morning while looking at myself in the mirror. I developed this feeling of really keeping the head and my hips dead still, but guess what, my hip has actually turned 45%, exactly where it's supposed to be! So I don't even want to think about previously when I THOUGHT I was doing a 45% degree hip turn! And another revelation, with that "dead" hip, I now realise that my knees are kept the same distance apart! And again I don't want to think what they were like before heh heh.

Gree is right, my pro told me the exact same thing. Tilting the head links to a reverse pivot. And I always thought I was doing a good job of transferring my weight to the right leg - I guess I was wrong, again

Thanks guys. I am beginning to think this head turn/tilt might not be a major issue. I'll need to try it out and see how big a difference it makes. Basically I'm making sure my left shoulder goes under and behind my chin on the backswing. Maybe would be good to hear your swing thoughts on these particular areas?