Striking irons with precision and consistency is a crucial aspect of the golf swing for every golfer, from amateurs to professionals.
In our recent YouTube video at the picturesque Osprey Point Golf Course, Performance Golf joins golf educator and YouTuber Grant Horvat on a mission to share some invaluable tips on how weight shift affects the golf swing.
These weight shifts, specifically when swinging irons, are designed to help golfers improve their solid contact and consistency. We’re going to dive into the key points discussed in the video, but if you’re more of a visual learner, be sure to watch along here!
The Importance of Weight Shift in the Golf Swing
The significance of weight shift in your golf swing should not be underestimated; as it’s crucial in achieving solid contact and consistency. With a simple yet effective drill using an alignment rod, you can easily practice and achieve the correct weight shift from setup to follow-through for flush, pure contact with your irons.
Setup and Initial Weight Distribution
Let’s first talk about the ideal setup. For a neutral ball position with a seven iron, the ball should be slightly forward of the middle of your stance. Grant prefers starting with 70% of his weight on his left foot and 30% on his right. This helps him return to that position during the swing, ensuring better control and consistency.
The Weight Shift Drill
If you need more help visualizing your center and where your weight should be distributed, this drill may help
Using an alignment rod placed in line with the golf ball (below), you can see the correct weight shift: during the backswing, keep the weight inside the right knee, avoiding the common mistake of letting the weight shift outside the knee. This helps maintain a stable structure and sets up for a powerful downswing.
This is a great chance to record your swing with the alignment stick and check your own movements to see how they line up!
Early Weight Shift in the Downswing
Something to note is, the best players shift their weight early in the downswing. By the time they reach the top of the backswing, the hips have already started moving forward. This early shift ensures a consistent low point in the swing, leading to better ball contact and more control.
Failing to do this results in a lot more effort needing to be put into the recovery – essentially setting yourself up for failure before the ball even starts its flight path.
Strike Your Irons Pure Every Time With These Tips
By focusing on proper weight distribution and early weight shift, you can achieve more consistent and solid contact with your irons. Practice these drills, and you might find yourself striking your irons like a tour pro! For more instruction from golf professionals and coaches, be sure to check out Performance Golf’s vast library of training videos here!
