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Lifting front heel

Grndslmhttr3
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Grndslmhttr3 Great Member

Grndslmhttr3

Is there anything wrong with lifting my front heel during my backswing? If so, what can happen?

-Rich

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iacas Hall of Fame Member

iacas

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Is there anything wrong with lifting my front heel during my backswing? If so, what can happen?

Unless you're really inflexible, you probably shouldn't need to do this.

What can happen? Inconsistency.

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Grndslmhttr3 Great Member

Grndslmhttr3

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Unless you're really inflexible, you probably shouldn't need to do this.

Thanks for the quick reply. I'd consider myself quite flexible; lifting my heel has always just been from a force of habit.

-Rich

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imtomtomim Great Member

imtomtomim

One thing that you absolutely MUST watch out for when you lift the front heel, is to make sure it just comes up and goes down vertically. Any shift in the heel position, sliding it, twisting of the leg, etc. will lead to those inconsistencies. Learned that from Nick Faldo breaking apart one of these younger guys. You don't see it often because your flexibility should allow you not to rely on picking up the front heel, but if you must, that foot must return to the exact position or you're gonna have a whole bunch of wild shots.
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HSip Well Established Member

HSip

If you're flexible enough to not "need" to then you probably shouldn't. Just one more thing to time.
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beachbreak Well Established Member

beachbreak

Jack Nicklaus said do not deliberately lift it, but it was OK for him if it was pulled off the ground by his turn on full shots. Many players from that era allowed it to be pulled off the ground including Tom Kite and Ben Crenshaw.

I'm down to a 10 handicap. At this rate, I'll get to scratch at 90 years old!

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Grndslmhttr3 Great Member

Grndslmhttr3

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Thanks for the replies. Seems like I should keep a mental note not to lift the front heel during the backswing.

-Rich

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jambalaya Dedicated Member

jambalaya

How high do you think it lifts? I think what some of the guys are saying is that it is not necessarily a bad thing but modern conventional thinking says keep it down. Jack Nikalus, as some have said lifted his heal but then he is Jack after all. Any large pronounced lift is going to be problematic I think but just a slight lifting is not necessarily a bad thing. It might be something that helps you with your rythym or weight shift.

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Grndslmhttr3 Great Member

Grndslmhttr3

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It's not very high, but it pivots during my backswing which causes me to have a much longer hip rotation because my left leg isn't preventing my hips from rotating.

-Rich

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jambalaya Dedicated Member

jambalaya

It's not very high, but it pivots during my backswing which causes me to have a much longer hip rotation because my left leg isn't preventing my hips from rotating.

Ah, pivoting the foot doesn't seem like such a good idea. Simple lifting and setting down is what I was thinking.

My Clubs
Nicklaus Progressive XC Irons: 3H,4H, 5-GW
Ray Cook SW & Gyro 1 Putter
Taylor Made Burner Driver 10.5
Taylor Made V-Steel 3 & 5 MetalsMy Home Course: Indian RiverMy Blog: Rant-o-Rama-Ding-Dong

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Grndslmhttr3 Great Member

Grndslmhttr3

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Ah, pivoting the foot doesn't seem like such a good idea. Simple lifting and setting down is what I was thinking.

When I realize I pivot, I stop pivoting, and the results are normally good. The only problem is remembering not to pivot; it's something I never really think much of until I notice it again.

-Rich

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beachbreak Well Established Member

beachbreak

Yeah, put it down like it was. Harvey Pennick said if there was a magic move, it was putting the heel back down while returning the right elbow to the side at the start of the downswing.

I'm down to a 10 handicap. At this rate, I'll get to scratch at 90 years old!

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imtomtomim Great Member

imtomtomim

Yeah, put it down like it was. Harvey Pennick said if there was a magic move, it was putting the heel back down while returning the right elbow to the side at the start of the downswing.

Yup, that will get you all the power you could ever want. However, you don't need to lift your foot for that, just don't be stiff on your right side. If you balance your hips just a smidge lower, you can keep your contact with the ground, but stomping that foot down helps you twist your hips more aggressively and hopefully if the rest of the body is connected, you get a real powerful swing.

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ks8829 Great Member

ks8829

instead of lifting your front heel when you make the transfer of weight the weight also transfers to the inside of your front foot without lifting the heel and this will help you keep a stable base or foundation for your golf swing.

I am trying to remember if Jack Nicklaus lifted his front heel, if you watch the video you will find out



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