Foot spinning out

[AlanN]

Can anybody come up with an answer to this unusual (I think) fault?

I played, today, and was fortunate enough to go round in one under my handicap. I hit some good shots but, according to my playing partners, when I hit a bad one, the toe end of my right foot (I'm a leftie) spins out towards the target.

I know I do this but, don't know why. Even the pro, whom I've had lessons with couldn't give me a definitive answer.

It was suggested that this was because I lifted my heel excessively. I now keep my heel down but, I still spin out with the lead foot at times.

[Golfbald]

Spinaroonie

Alan,

The spinning out is probably coming from a balance problem. At the transition, your body may be coming upright in the swing. This will force weight back on your heels. When you swing through the front foot weight being on the heel will make it spin instead of the back toe spinning. You created the wrong weight shift.

A tip and a drill for you: Tip in on the mental side of the game. Don't anticipate a shot. Two conditions to look out for, hitting a good shot then the anticipation of doubling up and hitting another, you want to look up early. The other is hitting a bad shot and wanting to pull off a recovery shot and looking early. I get in the mind set everyone else sees it first then I'll have a look when the shot pulls me around.

This is a balance drill: Hit practice balls with your feet in a line behind each other. Make sure your toes are turned out slightly to help with your balance. Hit about 5 balls like this then take a normal stance and hit 5 balls. Doing this drill your weight will come more to the front of your stance about on the balls of the feet.

Keep it in the short grass,

GolfBald

[mtibt]

Backswing on balance

I found that if I took the club back inside I was coming over the top, so, I started taking the club back feeling like I was outside(actually I was probably taking it back straight), and letting the club drop inside on the downswing which is opposite of what I was doing.
I imagined a stick in the ground immediately behind where I was swinging, I took the club back outside the stick and brought the club down on the inside of the stick-sort of a loop.
Works great-hitting everything flush with great finish.
Has anybody tried this?

[AlanN]

Apologies

Sorry for the delay in expressing my thanks for the advice.

I believe that this foot spinning is not such a terrible fault. Apparently, Jack Nicklaus did it and so does Phil Mickelson. As Golfbald has suggested, it must be caused by too much weight on the heels, otherwise the foot could not spin. I've decided that I'm not going to leave this for the time being. I have enough to concentrate on. Us high handicappers always do!!

Interested to see the tip on bringing the club straight back. I've seen this before, but when I tried it the result was a severe slice. Perhaps there is a very small margin between straight back and outside the line. How can one be certain that the clubhead is coming straight back and, not outside the line?

[Golfbald]

Straight back

Alan,

Straight back is a bad analogy to use in describing any part of the golf swing. I read that thread and it makes me cringe to hear it. The hands travel in a circle from start to finish. The straight that the instructor was talking about was keeping the swing on plane. If the takeaway is straight you will sway everytime, it is an improper weight shift.

I am working on a snapshot lesson to explain this and submit, it is easier to see than explain.

In a nutshell, (Right handers) the hands stay still in the opening of the swing, the first move is a folding of the left arm with out bending the left elbow and a pivot of the body to the right bringing your right knee into extension and your left knee toward the ball. This will put your shoulders and swing on plane every shot.

There are 12 joints that must be cordinated in a golf swing and in balance with each other. Knowing how they move together will produce a lot of power and accuracy.

Hope this helps,

Golfbald

[Golfbald]

bare foot Drill

Alan,

I did a search in my drills database and found an interesting one. I tried to recreate the spin out and think this will help you.

Barefoot drill: Hit shots in your bare feet. The feet are sensitve to load balance changes in the body. With your bare feet on the ground you will feel where the weight is distributed.

It's hard to say with out seeing a picture of your setup but judging from the symptoms I would say you are too upright in your posture and in a sitting position. The cure to this is bending in the correct position. It sounds like you are bending at the waist, the bend point is actually at the hips. Try standing straight with your knees locked put your hands on the creases in your legs next to your groin area. Bend forward then unlock your knees, you should feel the weight more over the balls to arch of the feet vice the arch to heel area. Your hands will also hang straight down.

Hope this helps you,

GolfBald

[AlanN]

Psychic Powers

Golfbald,

Strange though it may sound, your suggestion, viz a viz posture, is exactly what I was working on earlier today.

You are absolutely spot on, with your analysis. I'm sure I was bending at the waist and not the hips. My practice was centred around keeping my back straighter. In this posture, the front foot
didn't spin out. If I can remember to adopt this posture as my normal stance, this could make a big difference.

I'm playing, tomorrow, so will try and keep this constantly in mind when I'm out on the course.

Thanks

Alan

[Golfbald]

Alan,

Beware the tendancy with your new posture. The left arm must be as straight as possible. The tendancy is to bend the left elbow. Only turn as must as your body will allow, this will allow a smooth transition.

GolfBald

[Cliff]

Magic Left Foot"
Everyone knows that to be a good ball striker, you must have controlled lower body action through impact. But did you know that the left foot plays a vital role in allowing this to happen in the correct fashion? As you watch the professionals on TV, you'll notice that their left foot positions can and sometimes will change from swing to swing, depending on the type of lower body action that's necessary for the shot at hand. The relative positioning of the left foot can control back swing length, the pelvic slide through impact and the torso's rotational speed through the ball, as well.
What you must learn to do is: 1) understand how the positioning of your left foot will affect your shots; and 2) examine your own swing for the flaws that these foot positions can cure. I'm sure you'll notice a better ball flight after you experiment with the following left foot positions.
90 Degrees To The Target Line
If you position your left foot at 90 degrees to your target line (or at a right angle to your stance line), it will allow several things to happen. First, it will allow you to make a better and longer back swing turn by freeing up your hips on the way to the top. Golfers beware: You can also suffer a loss of distance because you'll lose the torque or tension you create in your back swing by overturning your hips. This foot position is good for players who have limited flexibility.

The second thing this foot position does is help a full pelvic slide through impact. In other words, it makes it easier for you to slide your hips target ward faster during the downswing, allowing the club to fall to the inside more easily. Thus, it keeps those short irons on-line better by helping your body "get out of the way" on the downswing so the club can work down the line longer. The only negative aspect of the 90-degree foot position is that it inhibits the torso's rotation through impact. Remember, a square left foot promotes a pelvic slide, not a pelvic turn. This foot position, therefore, should be used mostly for maximizing distance in the shorter irons where a steeper downswing path—and a path that stays down the target line longer—is required. However, if you have problems starting your downswing with too much lower body action, this foot position will exacerbate the problem.
45 Degrees To The Target Line:
If you turn your left foot out about three or four inches (or 45 degrees) from perpendicular, you'll discover the foot position most professionals use. It's the most common left foot position by far since it allows a full turn of the torso and balances the amount of pelvic sliding and turning. I recommend you play 70 percent of your full-swing shots from this position.

The 45-degree position is used mostly for swings with the midirons. Swings with these clubs require a certain amount of pelvic sliding. Just the right amount of pelvic slide toward the target will clear the body and give the club freedom to work down the line through the impact zone. These swings also need enough torso rotation to pull the club back to the inside on the follow-through. If you slide too much, then you'll turn too little. And if you rotate too much, you won't slide enough. The 45-degree foot position allows for the correct ratio of turn vs. slide.


20 Degrees To The Target Line:
This foot position is about the maximum amount you can comfortably turn out your left foot (about six to eight inches from 90 degrees) and still hit a golf ball. This is one of my favorite foot positions because it does many different things. First, by pointing your left foot out, you'll greatly inhibit your hip rotation and minimize your upper body turn to the top, resulting in a shorter, more controlled back swing. This is good for golfers who can't seem to control their hip or shoulder rotation to the top and who typically over swing.

Second, by moving to the 20-degree left foot position, you'll guarantee virtually no pelvic sliding on the downswing and a ton of rotation through the ball. Thus, you'll maximize your rotation and centrifugal force production through the ball, allowing you to hit the ball farther with less effort! I recommend this foot position for every type of shot for all senior players, the majority of whom are limited by normal flexibility degeneration, and who need that extra little bit of rotation to maximize their club head speed. Try it, and you'll be amazed how easy you can turn through the ball.
The 20-degree position is used by many Tour professionals when swinging the long irons and woods. The increased torso rotation can counteract the tendency to "throw out" the club (moving it severely from inside to outside through impact). This extra rotation keeps the club moving on-line as long as possible, and keeps the club from ever moving to the outside and the golfer from blocking the shot to the right.


I found that the position of the left foot 45 degrees, gave me a great follow through at impact.

Hope this helps...

Regards Cliff

PS the above is for a Right handed player, so plz use your right foot in place of the Left foot surgested for setting up. ok!!

[Golfbald]

Very elegently said, and 100% true.

Golfbald

[Woodenbridge]

I cant wait to get to the range and try out these foot positions.
All the books and magazines I've read and I've not seen/noticed info on left foot positioning like this.
I'm suffereing from a hook lately and I've tried a lot of things..maybe turning my left foot one inch to the left will stop me hitting ball 50 yards left?.
Brian

[Cliff]

Just remember today’s cure can be tomorrows fault, meaning don’t over do the new move, make small changes in a new golf swing.

Practice practice practice. Repetition equals Confidence etc

Good luck

[jscerbo]

It would help if you were a little more specific

Which foot?

I am ssuming your left foot

This can be caused by a few things

Your left foot is flared out excessively

Over acceleration of the lower body dominated by the left side

Turn your left foot to the right about 40 degrees or so. Notice how this locks your left side so you can not spin out.

Do this, let me know how it works for you

Write back with your success

Jordy Scerbo

[Cliff]

Re: Foot spinning out

Hi folks,

It's been a while since I have been on due to work and a re-build of my computer also led to lost web-site namely www.golf-tuition-online.com

Any way it’s great to be back. It will take me a while to read my way through 5 years of post’s !!

First thing I need to know do we have a search facility on here, I was wondering/checking out about practice mats and for’s and against ect.

I use at this moment in time Fiberbuilt, and can’t fault it in any way at all. But if you know of a better product, please let me know.

BTW my FTI is the best driver I have ever had, no wonder Ernie loves it haha (My HC is now 1.6) so looking to get scratch this year before I hit 55