Pro Tips

Cory Mansfield
PGA Professional

The biggest myth in golf is that you need to keep your head down to have a great swing. It’s not true!

Yes, there is a point in your golf swing when your head is down. But this happens only for a brief moment. Many golfers actually keep their head down too long, which causes their arms to travel out ahead of their body, thereby creating an over-the-top club path. This sort of swing is loose and hard to control.

An efficient swing comes when the arms and the body are in unison, the big muscles of the body controlling the movements of the swing. Keeping your head down too long will hinder these movements and result in dreaded slices, pull hooks, even topped shots.

Try this exercise on the range. Hit a few shots while keeping your head down the entire time. Then, hit a few shots and allow your head to swing free, coming up so you look down the fairway. Which method allows for a more free flowing swing? Which allows your weight to transfer easily from your back foot to your front? While practicing, picture Tiger’s or Annika’s finish: head high, weight transferred to the front foot, eyes looking down the fairway, not at the ground.

You can develop a feel for this movement by taking half swings, concentrating on the arms and body turning through at the same time. As you increase the length of your swings, allow your head to turn freely. With practice, your timing will improve, giving you the ability to make aggressive swings on the correct club head path. This will lead to straighter, longer golf shots, the kind we all want!

Cory is the Director of Instruction at the Fore-U Golf Center in West Lebanon, NH. To schedule a lesson, please call (603) 298-9702.