Getting my weight forward.......WHY

[logman]

What's the point of weight forward. I mean what does it bring to the golf swing. It's obviously not imperative to striking the ball well. I mean if your balanced and can swing the stick well why is it advantageous to move our weight from say 50/50 to 90/10.

I know if I swing the club in a traditional swing my body wants to move over my front foot....a little but not the 90/10 stuff that I see here alot. And it's not like it doesn't have it's downsides. I know from my swing that timing can be an issue, and control of the swing lowpoint moves forward as well. I just had a look at James H and Dave Wedlick doing a demo of the S/T weight forward and noticed that Dave said that as the weight is shifting forward the belt buckle is moving up. Isn't the weight forward movement something that could be removed from the amateurs swing to make it simpler.

PS this isn't a 5SK thing it is intended as a general golf swing thing.

PPS can we not do a "we should do it because pros do it thing"? I want to know what the strong move forward brings to the table in terms of a weekend golfer.

[bplewis24]

Honestly I wouldn't even worry about it.  It's probably just something said on a whim without much thought behind it.  It's not like, scientific or anything.  That the pros do it is very likely simply a grand coincidence.  They also buy those hard-shell bags to pack their clubs in when they travel.  Am I supposed to do that now too?  Screw that.

[Mordan]

Interesting that you didn't put a question mark at the end of your first sentence. More of a statement than a question?

It feels pretty natural to me. If I didn't move weight forward then I would think it would be pretty difficult to generate power without taking an almighty swipe at the ball. I'd also think it would be hard to swing from the inside, if my body didn't get out of the way then there just wouldn't be room to swing through freely with my arms.

[Golfingdad]

Originally Posted by bplewis24

Honestly I wouldn't even worry about it.  It's probably just something said on a whim without much thought behind it.  It's not like, scientific or anything.  That the pros do it is very likely simply a grand coincidence.  They also buy those hard-shell bags to pack their clubs in when they travel.  Am I supposed to do that now too?  Screw that.

I agree.  I mean, how am I suppose to even hit the ball in the air unless I stay behind it and scoop it up?  Weight forward doesn't make sense at all.

[mchepp]

To me there are a number of reasons to get the weight forward. You mentioned the most important reason in my opinion because of the desire to move the low point ahead of the ball. If the weight is back the low point will be behind the ball and you will be a victim of chance to determine if you will hit a good shot. With enough practice you can do it, but it will not be consistent.

There are other reason, one is the path. Take my swing as an example. I don't get my weight forward enough and I tip back and it causes me to pull the ball. For most regular golfers if they don't get the weight forward the path will be too far INward and cause slices.

So two things that I can think of in 2 minutes of thought on this. 1, low point, 2, path issues. I will think some more about it and probably come up with few more.

[jamo]

What's the point of weight forward. I mean what does it bring to the golf swing. It's obviously not imperative to striking the ball well. I mean if your balanced and can swing the stick well why is it advantageous to move our weight from say 50/50 to 90/10.

I won't speak to actual percentages, but that bolded part is where you're wrong. There's a reason 12-handicappers aren't scratch golfers (or even 5-handicappers), and it's generally because they can't strike the ball well. So when people say the pros have their weight forward at impact, it's not just the pros, it's people who strike the ball well in general. Striking the ball well requires deforming the golf ball, which requires spin loft. Speaking about irons, the best way to do that is to hit down on the ball and move the low point in front of the ball (closer to target). Having your weight forward makes that infinitely more easy. That's fairly simple geometry. Plus that path stuff mchepp said. D-plane = tiny bit more geometry. :-)

[Stretch]

I don't have the citation to hand (think it was from Bobby Clampett's book?) but remember hearing it stated that the best statistical correlation of any swing element to handicap is the distance that the low point occurs ahead of the ball. High handicappers generally had a low point behind the ball, mid handicappers right around the ball, low handicappers an inch or so in front and pros around 4 inches forward. Moving the weight forward is the only way to consistently move the low point forward, so ... that's why.

[mvmac]

First off:

And here's my answer

So you don't do this

[keeps21]

Originally Posted by mvmac

So you don't do this

I know that one all too well

[Ernest Jones]

I agree.  I mean, how am I suppose to even hit the ball in the air unless I stay behind it and scoop it up?  Weight forward doesn't make sense at all.

+1. It also helps tremendously if you flip your front wrist coming into impact, that allows you to get a good scoop at the ball.

[Ernest Jones]

+1. It also helps tremendously if you flip your front wrist coming into impact, that allows you to get a good scoop at the ball.

The previous post was intended for entertainment purposes only. Do not attempt at home. :-)

[David in FL]

Originally Posted by logman

What's the point of weight forward. I mean what does it bring to the golf swing. It's obviously not imperative to striking the ball well. I mean if your balanced and can swing the stick well why is it advantageous to move our weight from say 50/50 to 90/10.

I know if I swing the club in a traditional swing my body wants to move over my front foot....a little but not the 90/10 stuff that I see here alot. And it's not like it doesn't have it's downsides. I know from my swing that timing can be an issue, and control of the swing lowpoint moves forward as well. I just had a look at James H and Dave Wedlick doing a demo of the S/T weight forward and noticed that Dave said that as the weight is shifting forward the belt buckle is moving up. Isn't the weight forward movement something that could be removed from the amateurs swing to make it simpler.

PS this isn't a 5SK thing it is intended as a general golf swing thing.

PPS can we not do a "we should do it because pros do it thing"? I want to know what the strong move forward brings to the table in terms of a weekend golfer.

The pros do it for a very simple reason.  It works.

Lots of things could be "removed" from the golf swing to make is simpler.  Removing them will also make them less effective.  It wouldn't take much to teach someone to hit a nice easy, 60 yard pitch right down the middle every time.  One club + a putter and you're good.  You're not going to get very good......and you're surely not going to get much enjoyment out of the game at which you can't be competitive nor will every improve.

No one expects any of us schlub amateurs to develop a perfect golf swing.  That doesn't mean that we shouldn't have an understanding of the basics of a good, repeatable swing, under whatever swing style we choose to incorporate into our game.

But then, you actually do know that......

[migueldds]

Logman,

The easiest way foir you to answer your question yourself is very simple :

1)Just take a baseball ( or a golfball , or any ball ) and stand with your feet planted and not moving

2) Now keep your weight evenly distributed 50/50.

3)Throw the ball as far to the left as you can...........keeping the weight evenly distributed !

4)Now throw another ball with the feet anchored , but allowing youself to rotate, and move

your center of mass forward as you will undoubtedly instinctively WANT to do in throwing.

I'm betting you throw the second ball way further than the first !

JMHO,

Miguel

[TourSpoon]

Originally Posted by mvmac

Seriously, is this ball related to Donald Trump?

[logman]

Originally Posted by mvmac

First off:

And here's my answer

So you don't do this

Ha ha,  but seriously, you move your weight from 50/50 to 90/10 to avoid grounding your club 4 inches behind the ball???

If I set up in a neutral 50/50 weight balance with the ball at mid position, swingback slowly to the top and swing through without transfering another 40% of my weight to my front foot......then I'm going to fat it....no not just fat it but go underground???

why wouldn't I just move the ball back in my stance and set up the same ball/body/low point relationship without having to worry about the complications of my weight moving all over the place???

[dak4n6]

I have noticed that whenever logman 'inquires' about something he's not really asking about it as much as arguing against it...

[logman]

Originally Posted by Golfingdad

I agree.  I mean, how am I suppose to even hit the ball in the air unless I stay behind it and scoop it up?  Weight forward doesn't make sense at all.

Yeah , but what I'm trying to say is that there seems to be a very big emphasis on the weight going from 50/50ish to 90/10 ish. And at the same time a forward press of the club handle.

So at impact and just before, at that critical split second we're trying to load the lower body to the right amount so we can keep the forward lean on the club.

Don't get me wrong weight forward is good(I think?) but is it a desirable thing to do if you're using it to provide yourself with the impact position that you're seeking in the first place. I mean if you set up neutral and dont get to that 90/10 weight forward position then your shot could be knackered. Weight forward becomes an "issue" in the swing instead of a natural reaction to the movements of the arms, and upper body.

Weight forward becomes a prerequisite and not a reaction.

Just on a personal observation, my best swings are made when I have no thought of weight forward...but I'm sure my weight is moving forward. My worst swings are if I consiously "press" forward on impact or worse fall back at impact.

Gdaddy ..... you need to get some coaching

[cipher]

Originally Posted by logman

why wouldn't I just move the ball back in my stance and set up the same ball/body/low point relationship without having to worry about the complications of my weight moving all over the place???

Sure, if you want to hit a seven iron 100 yards, go ahead.  Also, what is "moving all over the place" about a centered pivot and a slight forward slide into impact?