One of the most common swing issues amateur golfers face is standing up during the downswing. This not only leads to inconsistent contact, but also makes it difficult to control direction and compress the ball. At Performance Golf, we’re breaking down why this happens and showing you how to fix it—often in just a swing or two—with one simple drill.
Why Amateurs Struggle to Stay Down in the Golf Swing
There are two key body segments that tend to break down when golfers stand up through the swing: the right leg and the upper body. When the trail knee collapses inward and the upper body leans away from the target, the result is an early extension pattern that pulls the golfer up and away from the ball. That increased distance from the ground at impact is what leads to thin shots, toe hits, and directional misses.
Pros golfers are able to stay down by keeping the trail leg stable and the head and hips in line from takeaway through the follow-through. If you imagine a line down the forehead and another down the backside, the goal is to keep both lines stable throughout the swing.
The Golf Swing Setup That Makes It Easy
To make this movement pattern easier, start with a simple setup adjustment: pull the trail foot back. Set the toes of your trail foot in line with the middle of your lead foot. This sets up the proper leg positioning and makes it easier to keep the knee from moving forward during the downswing.
From there, imagine a vertical wall coming up from your toes—your right knee should move toward your left knee without breaking through that wall. This helps maintain posture and keeps your upper body from backing up or lifting.
An Easy Drill to Stay Down in the Swing
Here’s a simple but powerful golf swing drill that focuses on both lower and upper body movement. Be sure to reference the video above if you need to follow along.
- Set a Visual Reference:
- Trail Foot Adjustment:
- Keep the Right Knee Behind the “Toe Wall”:
- Shoulder to Ball Line:
- Blend the Moves in a Swing:
Lay a golf club on the ground, pointing directly at your target and aligned with your ball. This gives you a visual “ball line” to use during the swing—especially to check where your shoulder finishes relative to the ball.
Pull your right foot (trail foot) back so the toes are even with the middle of your lead foot. This staggered stance sets your body in a position that promotes proper movement and makes it harder for the trail knee to kick forward early.
As you swing, imagine a vertical wall rising from your toes. The goal is to let the right knee move toward the left knee without ever crossing that imaginary wall. This keeps your lower body stable and allows your upper body to stay in posture throughout the swing.
With the trail leg stable, turn your focus to the right shoulder. From a face-on view, your shoulder should move forward—past the club on the ground—as your arms reach parallel in the follow-through. This forward movement keeps you from hanging back or lifting up through impact.
Begin with half swings, combining the trail foot and shoulder motions. As you gain comfort, work up to full swings. You should feel more connected, grounded, and in control of your body throughout.
Your New Swing Thought
The most effective swing cue we use for this is simple: right foot back, right shoulder forward. This single concept brings together both pieces of the fix, and works whether you’ve been standing up for one month or twenty years.
If you’re looking for more helpful drills, lasting results, and ultra-personalized instruction, our Performance Golf two-day immersive experience might be right for you. These VIP Golf Events are designed to uncover and correct your root swing flaws—often the one issue that creates a domino effect across your game.
Check out upcoming dates and locations here and start transforming your swing with personalized, pro-level instruction.
