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Lifting Left Foot?

Dave H

By Dave H,
in Instruction and Playing Tips

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Dave H Dedicated Member

Dave H

Is it bad to lift your left heel during the back swing? Someone asked me if I always lift my back heel during a round last week and ever since I've been really self conscious about it. Tonight at the range I couldn't hit a good ball until I stopped trying not to lift my heel. I started hitting nice straight balls at my usual distance after that. I don't lift my heel a lot, and my swing feels more natural when I do it. Is this a bad habit I should work to change?
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alomar123 Dedicated Member

alomar123

A bunch of pros lift the left heel, it allows them to coil more

OHIO

In my Revolver Bag
R9 460, RIP
R9 TP 3 Wood, Diamana 'ilima 70*Idea Pro Black 20*Titleist AP1 712 4-AW Spin Milled Black Nickel 56.08 & 60.10

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xTsUnAmI Established Member

xTsUnAmI

Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus lifted their left heel. I do for the reason that it allows me to make a full turn, if it feels natural and you are correctly moving back onto your left side and finishing there shouldn't be a problem.

What I play


Driver: 907D2
Wood:960 15*

5 Wood: 960 18*

Irons: Titleist 735 Cm 3-PW

Wedges: CG16 60* and 52*

Putter: Nike Method

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daveh Member

daveh

This is too wierd. I was just thinking about starting a thread about this, and in fact I logged on just to read up on this subject. (Note OP's screen name).

I was just doing some pendulum drills and I was finding that lifting my left heel and planting it seemed to help me shift my weight better and more smoothly. Not sure if I'll start doing it in my swing but it's worth a shot.

Been playing just a few months but I play almost every day.

What's in my bag: Distance Master Driver, Maltby Trouble Out woods/hybrids, Maltby KE4 Irons (all assembled by me so I can never blame my equipment).

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Travtex Dedicated Member

Travtex

I tend(ed) to lift my heel (right in my case, but let's pretend I'm not backward). I wasn't making very consistent contact... And, now that I'm focusing on not lifting my heel -- Er, I'm not making very consistent contact.

My pro made a pretty good observation about it, though... I was turning my hips quite a bit too far toward the back with my backswing with lift-heel. It's a solid 45* back when I keep my heel down, closer to 60* away from the target line when I lift.

Now, I'm not sure what that MEANS and all, but I'm not pull-hooking as much as I was before.

Currently in my bag:  Under Revision

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Adumb Member

Adumb

It boils down to flexibility. If you're flexible enough to get a good shoulder turn without lifting the heel then do it. I'm not, so I always lift.
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Travtex Dedicated Member

Travtex

I'm -real- flexible in the hips, so I think heel-lifting, while it did get my arms and shoulders waaaaaay back... I ended up getting my hips too far back, as well.

No coil = No power, right? Whether or not you're able to whip your hips back through quickly?

Currently in my bag:  Under Revision

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brgolf Dedicated Member

brgolf

Professionals turn their hips an average amount on the backswing and through swing. i don't remember the exact figure but 45 degrees or less is reasonable for the backswing.

Keeping the left foot grounded, a flexed left knee allows for a better coil about the spine angle on the backswing. Lifting the left foot would allow for even more coil. But if the left leg does not provide resistance to the upper body and the hips rotate too much, you aren't building much power at all.
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Dave H Dedicated Member

Dave H

  • Author
This is too wierd. I was just thinking about starting a thread about this, and in fact I logged on just to read up on this subject. (Note OP's screen name).

That is weird...nice name by the way

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mhodar13 Well Established Member

mhodar13

I don't lift it. I make a huge shoulder turn but with no lifting of the left heel. My swing is very very similar to Tiger's. Huge shoulder turn and lots of tension in my hips and legs to get that coil effect. When I first started I lifted my left heel and my swing was so much worse than it is now. I went so far back I bent my left elbow 90* on my backswing. Looked like Daly but cheating and no shoulder turn.

In my White/Red/Yellow Monza Featherweight Stand Bag:
Driver: 07 Burner 9.5* stiff
3 Wood: 07 Burner 15* stiff
5 Wood: 07 Burner 18* stiff
Irons 4-AW: r7 steel shaft stiffWedges: RAC Satin 56*, 60*Putter: Rossa Daytona 35 InchBall: Bridgestone e7+, Titleist Pro V1Shoes: D3000Glove: ...

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newbiegolfer Member

newbiegolfer

Before I took lessons I lift my left foot, because it felt comfortable. When I took my first lesson that was one of the things I was asked to fix. Felt weird at first, but after I got used to it, don't really notice it anymore.
Cart: Micro Cart
Bag: Vaporlite
Driver: G15 12
Fairway Wood: Nickent 4DX 5W
Hybrids: MX100 4H, 5HIrons: MX100 P-GWWedges: X Tour Chrome 54.12, 58.08Putter: Studio Select Newport 2 34''Ball: Noodle Softest
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ks8829 Great Member

ks8829

I read a drill for hitting drivers is to keep your left heel off the ground during your golf swing while hitting the driver.

another drill for irons is to keep your right heel off the ground.

Titleist 910 D2 9.5 Driver
Titleist 910 F15 & 21 degree fairway wood
Titleist 910 hybrid 24 degree
Mizuno Mp33 5 - PW
52/1056/1160/5

"Yonex ADX Blade putter, odyssey two ball blade putter, both  33"

ProV-1

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goblue107501 Great Member

goblue107501

A guy I play with once or twice a year not only lifts his left foot, but it will turn a little so that is toes are pointed more toward the target. Really weird move when I first saw it. He probably isn't any more than a 2 handicap. When I asked him about it, he mentioned that he didn't even realize he was doing it.

I will judge my rounds much more by the quality of my best shots than the acceptability of my worse ones.

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