Golf Setup–the importance of equal weight distribution

The importance of weight distribution is often overlooked (Some coaches do talk about 60-40 weight distribution (60 on the right , 40 on the left) for an ideal driver setup). However, this is a fundamental without which it is impossible to execute a correct turn (and hence impossible to execute a correct downswing).

Equi Weight Distribution – Left and Right

If there was no golf club in your hands and you bent from your hip joints, you would find no disparity in the weight distribution (between the left and right sides of your body). The upper body (shoulders) will seem equally ‘weighty’.

However, the instant you place a golf club in your left hand, the entire balance equation changes.

Now, your left is heavier by half a kilogram. That may not sound like a lot, but it is enough to pull your left shoulder lower. This leads to your left side feeling heavier than the right.

The Solution – You need to conscientiously shift a little weight to your right side. This is easiest done by visualizing your right shoulder – and ‘leveling’ it with the left (since the left was lowered in grasping the club). Or you can do what I do – START with a little more weight on your right side. THEN, grasp the club with your left – and you will automatically find the left and right side balanced.

Approaching the ball

  There is a simple thought that encompasses what you are about to do next –(hitting a golf ball with a complex move involving a long shaft, a weight at the end of the shaft and your entire upper body – and part of your lower body). The simple, all-encompassing thought is ‘Turn away from the ball’. If you approach the ball with this thought in mind – several aspects of your setup will be auto-adjusted to start with.

  Your foot work, your balance, your spine tilt (bend from the hips) – all these will be somewhat correct – since the body already knows what is involved in TURNING back. However, there is ONE explicit thing you can do – to ensure that you are setup to turn correctly. And that is – maintain an equal weight distribution – between your left and right sides.

The SWING – The Thumbs Up Check Point

Throw your clubhead towards the sky –Jack Nicklaus’ coach would tell him. This is a great checkpoint – if you do try to make your club point to the sky , at shoulder height, you should have a full wrist cock.

At shoulder height, your thumbs should be pointing up.

This can only happen if you have maintained your Y while starting back – and your wrists are naturally cocking.

TURNING your back to the ball

Only when you start with EQUAL weight distribution (left and right) will you be able to execute this turn without getting all arms and hands. You want YOUR body (upper body) to seamlessly turn away from the ball.

A Checkpoint – At shoulder height, as the thumbs point up – and you feel the start of the back turning to the ball, your LEFT WAIST will turn away from the ball. Along with this turn, it will pull the left heel off the ground (or try to).

This pulling of the left heel of the ground is an indication of the correct ‘turn away from the ball’ that the upper body needs to make.

Most amateurs DO NOT turn away from the ball. They are afraid of losing eye contact with the ball for even a split second and hence they avoid any turn AWAY from the ball. The turn that they DO PERFORM, is not a real turn away from the ball  – their back never faces the target.

A Correct turn away from the ball (see image below):

1. The back is facing the target.
2. NOTICE the WAIST – and how it has pulled the left leg (and foot) as it turns.

WOODS ( as in Tiger)

The most athletic golfer in the world (Tiger Woods) also maintains equal weight distribution between the right and left sides. Once again, this is contrary to what MOST coaches teach today – emphasizing 60-40 or 70-30 weight distribution – especially for the driver. This doesn’t make sense – even if you DO want to hit the ball on the upswing (with the driver). An unequal starting balance can cause a LOT of balance and coordination issues with the swing – the first of which is – an inadequate TURN away from the ball. It is best to stick to what the body is naturally good at – maintaining equal weight on the left and right sides. If it is good enough for Tiger, it should be good enough for the rest of us.

SUMMARY

A powerful swing relies on a ‘turn away from the ball’. No turn, no power. Without a turn, your swing will be all handsy – and not involve the powerful upper body muscles. That much is easy to understand. What most people miss is the importance of weight distribution in executing this turn. Without an equal LEFT and RIGHT weight distribution, the turn away from the ball becomes difficult, if not impossible.