98. If your weight remains static through out the action, the result will be powerless

When teaching, I frequently come across a player whose swing appears very wooden and restricted thereby making powerful shots very rare. After a bit of probing, it emerges that they have either read or been told that they must keep their left heel down to the floor in the back swing. For some players it can be beneficial if you are as supple as Tiger Woods, Adam Scott and the new breed of young tour players but for every single amateur player it helps, there are maybe half a dozen it hinders.

For this “upper body coiling” against a “lower body resistance” to work, you need a certain amount of athleticism. If however you are thicker set around the midriff yet still attempt this position, you run a great risk of becoming wooden in your action and also falling into a reverse pivot which means that too much weight stays on the left foot as the club is taken back creating a powerless position.

To find out what is best for you, see if you can move your centre of balance, which is situated just behind your navel, over to the instep of your right foot with the left heel in contact with the floor. If you cannot do it, then you must allow the left heel to rise for this all important weight transference to occur. This movement loads the dynamics into the back swing for the release in the downswing. If your weight remains static through out the action, the result will be powerless.

You may feel you are swaying a little when you first try lifting the heel but it will not be as much as you think nor will it be a problem as long as you move back in the downswing.

As a word of encouragement, many players both past and present come off their left heel in the swing. The most notable being Jack Nicklaus so not only will you be in good company if you allow this simple action happen, you will also create a more powerful, flowing swing.