Golf Questions & Answers

To put it succinctly, always, always, always have your clubs fitted. Getting the proper length, lie, shaft flex and weight, and head style are crucial in your success. A hundred different people don't wear the same size shoes do they? Many of the problems in your swing may be because of of ill-fitted clubs.

I'll give you an example.
Let's say your clubs are too short for you. This will cause you to be too bent over at address. Your head will be leaning forward and too much weight will be on your toes. It's going to be next to impossible for you to get an adaquete shoulder turn if you're fighting to keep your balance. By having a club with the proper length, you'll naturally stand up taller and be able to turn better. A bigger shoulder turn will result in more power on the downswing. The examples are too numerous to mention but just remember that ill-fitted clubs will cause you to stand to the ball wrong which will always cause you to swing wrong. I know one thing, the guys on tour don't buy them off the rack do they?

I love telling people this. In 21 years of teaching, I have never seen anyone pick their head up. What is happening is on your backswing you're standing up. There are two things to look for. First, maintain the flex in your knees during your backswing. Most amateurs straighten, or lock their left leg during their backswing. This makes you raise up and you'll top the ball. Yes your head is going up, but only because your whole body is going up.

Second is to keep your spine angle the same. At address, the amount your upper body is inclined, (30 degrees on a good swing), must stay the same. Many golfers stand straight up during their backswing and at the top of their swing they've lost their original posture position. Next time your buddy tells you you picked your head up, you can spit in his eye!