The Importance of Balance

Scott Sackett
Director of Instruction
McCormick Ranch Golf Club
Scottsdale, AZ
http://www.scottsackett.com

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Balance Points: All great players have the ability to swing every club in the bag at a consistent tempo.  Some players may exhibit a faster tempo than others but the key is maintaining a smooth pace. Whether the tempo is fast, such as Nick Price, or very smooth like Ernie Els or Freddie Couples, the primary ingredient to maintaining consistent tempo is great balance.

To achieve this feeling: Take a seven iron and stand with your feet no more than five inches apart from one another. Tee up five balls and make a ¾ swing – this gives you the sensation of swinging within yourself. After doing this for a few minutes, repeat the same procedure with your feet at their normal width – try to replicate the same feeling.

Remember:  You can swing as hard as you want at the ball as long as you finish in balance.  This will determine the swing speed that is best for you.

This exercise will encourage you to make a good hip and shoulder turn around a constant spine angle. By beginning with a limited stance, you will learn to turn your body and swing the club in balance.

There are three balance points in a good swing. Picture #1 – Balance point number one is the chest bone or sternum at address. Although your spine tilts to the right, (right handed golfer), the weight should be balanced equally between your left and right foot. 

Balance point number two is at the top of the backswing. Picture #2 – At this point  the weight moves  to the inside of the right foot. Your weight should be
over the right foot, never outside the right foot. Your weight distribution here should be approximately 75% right foot, and
25% left foot.

Picture #3 – Balance point number three occurs at the finish. Here the weight is outside the left foot near the left heel. Your weight distribution at the finish should be approximately 95% left foot, and 5% right foot.

Scott Sackett, GOLF Magazine TOP 100 Teacher since 1997, teaches at McCormick Ranch Golf Club in Scottsdale, along with being The Director of Instruction at The Rim Golf Club in Payson. To get more information on lessons visit Scott’s web site at www.scottsackett.com. To contact Scott personally, e-mail him at scottsackett@cox.net.