Heading to the driving range for me presents a few issues, none more so than the constant echo of “keep your head down”. (or similar paraphrasing)
It is without doubt one of the most destructive comments an amateur can make to themselves and those around them.
Now you may find this a strange comment from a golf coach, but the simple truth is that keeping your head down is detrimental to a good golf swing.
It is a myth that has either been misunderstood by the golfing world or a “technique” developed by a professional which caught on and became “the secret” for golfers worldwide.
I say it is a myth because quite frankly, it is.
If you take the phrase “I lifted my head” and break that down into the average golfers’ interpretation you get an actual belief of a physical head lift, which is impossible to do.
Try this at home in front of a mirror. Place a piece of tape on the mirror two inches above your head. Stand in front and by only “lifting” your head, reach the tape. I place a club just above my clients’ head. You can´t I know.
The phrase has been miss-interpreted which is the fault of the professional teaching. Instead lifting the head is a consequence of another move that creates the illusion of the head moving up.
It is important that the head stays relatively still, especially until impact, but the anatomy of the body makes this very difficult for golfers that struggle with flexibility. The head will naturally rotate to accommodate a rotation of the hips and shoulders.
Trying to keep the head down will only create more problems within the golf swing, restricting movement further and leading to a curtailed follow through and lack of power within the golf swing.
For some it could lead to lower back problems, which obviously is something we are keen to avoid.
The most common shot to occur when you are desperately trying to keep you head down is a weak shot that moves out to the right, lacking distance. (Right handed golfers). Which I am sure is familiar to many of your reading this article.
For clients that are struggling with the concept I encourage them to actually look for the ball immediately after impact, forcing them to move their head towards the target.
In reality it will never happen, as the reaction time wouldn´t allow it, but the freedom they feel after the first few shots results in better distance and improved balance.
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