BALANCE IN GOLF
Golf has seen a dramatic shift in the past 20 years. With the advent of technologies such as trackman, coupled with the boom of youtube golf coaches, golfers now have access to a dizzying abundance of information on the mechanics and nuances of the golf swing. Our ability to gather more and more information is, however, only as useful as our ability to do something useful with it.
And so, as we move deeper into the weeds, we inadvertently untether ourselves from the core components of a good golf swing: the fundamentals. One of these fundamentals which I believe is under-emphasised, is balance.
Balance is our ability to navigate our center of mass within our base of support. In other words, good balance implies an ability to move our body, whilst keeping our body within the distance of our feet
In the golf swing, we have two primary planes of balance: side to side, and forwards to backwards.
These are both important in the golf swing, but the more relevant aspect of balance in relation to golf performance applies to the front-to-back balance. This is simply because in golf, we stand wide, and so are inherently more stable side to side.
Balance demands change throughout the golf swing:
- Setup: We need to feel even weight through our feet at setup. Starting from a centered position gives us more ability to adjust for errors throughout our backswing
- Backswing: In the backswing we bring the club back and behind us, so this creates a natural challenge for our bodies to navigate this and counteract the weight of the club
- Impact zone: in the downswing we the club is moving quickly back towards the golf ball. This perterbs our balance, and our body needs to ensure that we don’t fall too far forwards as our energy shifts through the ball
- Finish: The club now comes back around us again, and we need to ensure we can be smoothly maintain our weight on top of the lead leg
It’s common to hear advice such as “keep your weight on your toes” or “shift your weight back to the heels”. The truth is that balance is dynamic. It’s a skill within a skill, and as such, can be taught. If you are naturally a shift to your heels, then it’s likely that you’re unbalanced moving forward.
The key to addressing the fundamental skill is understanding what direction your balance deficits are, what phase of the swing they’re effecting, and then going about training them in a task specific way
An example of this might be big toe pain or weakness. If I can’t load my big toe effectively, then where will the weight shift? You guessed it.
So in this example, we need to train the body to be comfortable shifting forwards over that toe if we want to see lasting change in the swing
Balance is a silent killer in the golf swing. It’s under-appreciated and oversimplified. If you would like to have your golf-specific balance assessed, then an appointment in our Golf Injury and Performance Centre
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: Why is balance important in the golf swing? A: Balance is crucial in the golf swing as it ensures that you can control your body movements while maintaining stability. Good balance helps you execute a smooth and powerful swing, improving accuracy and consistency.
Q: What are the primary planes of balance in the golf swing? A: In golf, balance is maintained in two primary planes: side-to-side and front-to-back.
Q: How can one address balance issues in the golf swing? A: To address balance issues, identify the direction of your balance deficits and the swing phase they affect. Train your body in a task-specific way to correct these deficits.
Q: What common advice about balance should be reconsidered? A: Phrases like “keep your weight on your toes” or “shift your weight back to the heels” oversimplify balance. Balance is dynamic and can be taught as a skill within a skill. Recognising your unique balance needs and training accordingly is key.
Q: How can I get my golf-specific balance assessed? A: To have your golf-specific balance assessed, consider scheduling an appointment at our Golf Injury and Performance Centre. Our experts can evaluate your balance and provide personalised training to improve your golf performance.
Contact our friendly Osteo team at MOSIC. We can help you prevent or recover from your injuries.
