Weight transfer problem

[GWC1957]

OK, here goes. It seems that one of the biggest problems that I struggle with is proper weight transfer during the swing. When I do this I have one of two results. I sometimes will straighten the back leg just before impact with the ball causing me to top the ball. Other times, when I do get through the ball I wind up on my back leg causing a horrible slice. Does anyone have any suggestions or drills to help prevent this?

Thanks
GWC1957

[Ian Hancock]

Re: Weight transfer problem

Hi Gary,

It does sound like you are trying just a little to hard at impact, you must remember the ball weighs about the same as a small bird. The biggest lesson any golfer can learn is technic and timing will out drive any form of brawn.

I suggest you work on your set-up, stand with both knees just slightly flexed, similar to when you stand normaly with your weight on one leg the other flexes...............this is how both should be flexed, now place a club across your chest and practice turning your shoulders keeping your knees flexed...........transfering the weight from front to back with each turn.


Hope this helps.

Ian.

[GWC1957]

Re: Weight transfer problem

Ian,

Thanks so much for the advice. You're probably right about the trying too hard part. I used to play a lot of softball (where the harder you swing the farther the ball goes). This mentality still raises it's ugly head a lot more often that I would prefer. I'll work with the drill you suggested and see if it will get everything moving in the right direction.

Thanks again.

Gary

[hvnit2gd1975]

Re: Weight transfer problem

I really dont understand why the ball would not travel further the harder you swing. It would seem to me that given all things equal the harder and faster the club head the further the ball should travel. Why is this not the case.

if you have a perfect swing it would seem like if you swung a little harder that the ball would go a little futher. ????? Right or wrong.

[Ian Hancock]

Re: Weight transfer problem

Hi There,

You are of course correct, the faster the clubhead travels the further the ball will travel....................no doubt.

However the direction the ball travels is more important also how you create the clubhead speed, lets say 100mph club head speed....................there are two ways to achieve this on your knees swinging your arms and wrists as fast as possible to achieve 100mph.......or............turning the whole body through impact like a pro swing which is also very repeatable, not so with the arm swing.

The thread was about weight transfer...............and I added a point about throwing a punch................ Throw a right hand punch and you throw your body and weight into your opponent, the golf swing is the same..................your point about speed............if you throw a punch without transfering weight into it, the hand will travel the same speed but with less effect.

I suggest all tour pros will tell you they swing at about 80% of their potential power, this for control again similar to a boxer if he swung at 100% with the old haymaker and missed he would get knocked out easy because he looses balance.

You would probably look silly if you played golf swinging as fast as you could for a whole round, besides you would have to be very fit, sacrifice speed for balance and use the body to generate force into the ball.

Hope this helps.

Ian.