A Little Backward Motion is Okay

Because you want to shift your weight toward the right leg on the takeaway (for right handed golfers), it’s okay if the head moves slightly to the right. However, you don’t want the head to to bob up or down during the upswing.

Even more important is to limit the amount your head drops during the downswing. There are two main reasons for your head to drop, and one is more acceptable than the other.

As part of the weight shift from your back leg to your front leg during the downswing, you want to bend both knees slightly. This will help with developing power, and will cause your head to sink slightly. That’s okay.

If you lean your torso forward on the downswing, that will also cause your head to drop. This will change the axis of your torso, leading to inconsistent results, and it will also shorten the distance between your shoulders and the golf ball. Watch the video at left, and notice what Barry Power says about the position of Mr. Woods’ head in each of the two swings.

Rotation Matters

Once you’ve worked out how to keep your head as still as possible, keeping your torso angle consistent through the golf swing, give a little thought to when your head rotates toward the target. The safe rule is - as late as possible. If you turn your head to watch the flight of the ball too early, you’ll tend to raise your shoulders, leading to a big slice.

Instant Replay

One tactic that works for many golfers is to try to play back a visual image of the club passing through your field of view while you look at the ball. This can be pretty hard to do, but most golfers can do it with their practice swings. With lot of repetition, you’ll be able to do it, too, and it ensures that your eyes were facing the right direction at impact. Go to Step Ten to read about the position of the club in the perfect golf swing.