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Weight Distribution in the Golf Swing

Aug 1, 2017 | 9:47 AM

In general, where your club goes, your weight should follow. On the backswing, your weight should shift to your back foot, helping to create a proper, balanced turn.

There are several different theories about weight transfer, but most instructors will agree that properly transferring your weight is a fundamental component of an effictive backswing.

It is important for all golfers to realise that the weight distribution at the address position should be different depending on whether you are using and iron or a wood.

With your woods you should adopt a nice wide stance with the ball set just inside your font heel.

As you tilt your spine away from the target at address you should feel around 55% of your weight on your right side.

This gives you a great platform from which to strike the ball well and produce a powerful flight.

With an iron your stance should be slightly narrower with the ball positioned around about centre and your sternum over the ball.

Now your weight should be positioned around 50% on each side. Just understanding the difference between the setup positions for both your woods and your irons could really help improve your consistency and ball striking through the entire bag.

There are some well known golf theories relating to weight distribution throughout the swing, mostly recommending that you start with your weight on the front foot and keep it there, or even shift more weight forward as the back swing starts.

The most prominent of these is the ‘stack and tilt’ method which is taught by Mike Bennett and Andy Plummer.

They believe this technique encourages golfers to strike down on the ball and contact the turf at the same spot with every swing, bringing an element of consistency to the swing. They also think this enables the player to swing out at the ball and hit a push draw.

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Whatever club you use, by the time you swing to the finish position the vast majority of your weight should be positioned on your front foot, as you have made a full turn through.