Drill for head position??

[green6767]

I took my first lesson today and he said my swing is pretty good for only golfing one summer. He did mention some things to work on though. He said that periodically my head shifts down on the back swing and doesn't correct itself on the downswing causing my upper body to also come with it. This causes the club to move a bit forward and hit a fat shot aswell as the occasional strike right off the hossel (sp). Are there any drills for keeping your head level? He mentioned its just going to take practice and to think about it on EVERY swing. He also stood infront of me extending his arm and putting his finger on my forehead. He told me he should no feel pressure on his finger from my head if I was swinging right. I guess when Im alone on the range I need something to add a bit of help. Thanks guy/gals, this is a great site!

Dallas

[RyanR]

One of the pros that helped me with my swing put the tip of the grip of a club on my head like you said. He did it while I hit a few shots, then he told me to imagine it still being on my head. It works pretty well for keeping my head still, but practice makes...less irritated golfers!

Good luck,
Ryan

[Titleism]

I tend to dip my head a bit on my takeaway, but it comes back up on the downswing. Horrible habit and I cringe everytime I see it on video. If it's not timed properly, I'll miss hit it, which is bad for consistency so I work on this a good deal. I believe it is a flexibility issue. I dip down a bit to compensate in getting my hands higher to the top.

I typically practice my swing without a club in front of a mirror. The most effective way I've found so far is to put a mirror down on the ground in front of you (mirror side pointing up so you can see your face) as you make practice swings. You can pick out the head movement easier without having to lift up your head if you use a wall mounted mirror.

Work on flexibility. Also work on not taking your hands too high to the top.

Good luck.

[green6767]

thanks!!! great advice. i will definately try that once i get out of my cast and feel comortable swinging a club again.

[iacas]

I tend to dip my head a bit on my takeaway, but it comes back up on the downswing. Horrible habit and I cringe everytime I see it on video. If it's not timed properly, I'll miss hit it, which is bad for consistency so I work on this a good deal. I believe it is a flexibility issue. I dip down a bit to compensate in getting my hands higher to the top.

Prior to last year, that was one of my "fallback flaws." In fact, I wrote about it here, saying:

My head changes height throughout my swing. Oftentimes it'll go down on the backswing (in a bass-ackwards attempt to get my hands "higher" above my shoulder) and up in the follow-through, but when I try to hit the ball harder sometimes it'll go up on the backswing and down through impact. Keeping my head a consistent height is, thus, the solution to this flaw.

In 2006, I largely corrected that issue, and it hasn't really come back much since. I still "dip" or "go down after the ball a little more" when I want to try to hit it hard, but that's not nearly as bad as what I was doing before.