Lifting back foot on the downswing.

The biggest habit which I find when coming down on the ball is that I tend to lift up my back heel on the downswing before making contact with the ball. I don't know what lifting the heel does, but many have told me to keep it down on the ground before making contact with the ball. I've always had this habit, and I think it's from playing baseball pretty much my entire life. So basically I'm asking if anyone else has this problem, and what exactly does it harm by doing this habit, and how can I fix it? I've always had the mentality of keeping my foot planted, but even when I think it is, I return to the video and still find that back heel coming up.

Take a look at Luke Donald's foot position at 0:13 in this video, and then see if you agree with the "instruction" of keeping the back foot on the ground until impact with the ball.  Hard to argue that the number one golfer in the world with a virtually perfect swing is doing it wrong:

The downswing needs to begin at the ground and work its way up.  The entire purpose behind lifting the rear foot and allowing it to rotate on the toe during the swing is to allow your weight to shift and to allow proper body rotation, follow through, and balance.

Hard to say if you are lifting prematurely without video.

Its generally not a bad thing to lift up your heel on the down swing.  It means your getting at least a decent weight shift and much more of your weight will be on your left side through impact.

For me, it caused me to spin my hips rather than shifting them left.  I've been working on rolling instead of lifting and when I do it correctly, the improvement is clear.

I have the same problem too. I actually push off my toes at impact.

"The Golf Fix" on the Golf Channel just yesterday, Michael Breedan actually talked about how the heel should roll, and your knee should point toward the target, and not out.

I recorded it on my DVR so I can keep watching it. Great episode by the way, he was analyzing Hunter's swing.

Basically, if your heel lifts, your hips open too quickly(usually causing my block) and sends your path left as a result. Rolling allows the hips to stay closed longer and go more forward, and hence your path goes right and makes a push draw possible.

I have the same problem.

Las weekend I played 18 and the first 12 holes saw the ball fly right and left with no concious attempt of changing a single part of the swing.

Then at 13th approach focused on rolling the right foot rather than lifting it.

As I did this I noticed that when my right foot rises I tend to block my shoulders on the downswing and swing only with my arms.

As I focused on my foot, I was a different golfer all the way. The ball started to draw (my favourite shot). Finished those six holes 2 over (with a 3 putt green).

Hope it was helpful

I love the rain drops on that banking video

Thanks for the responses. Should I practice that posted drill even if I don't use s&t;? Also, is there a video about how not to prematurely open the hips?

I have this problem alot, i have to agree, its to much hip rotation and not enough lateral movements in the hips (movement toward the target). I would work on sliding the hips to the target a bit more in proporation to rotating the hips. Work infront of a mirror, Stop the swing at the top of the backsing, and look at the mirror (face on view), and slowly rotate your hips and slide them towards the target and let your arm swing slowly to the ground. I mean slow, not half sleed, like 1/10 speed. Work on feeling when your weight shifts and focus on how you can get your right foot to bank on the inside, and how the knee rotates over towards your left leg, bringing your right foot up.

Sometimes during my downswing/weightshift/ portion of my golf swing i'll feel my right foot almost slide back wards as i come through which feels all kinds of wrong, but when I do this I usually pure it. wild. I know.

I think the rule is the flatter your swing is the sooner you have to open your hip to get the club square again.

There is a thing as too much hip slide too.  So you have to be careful.  I've come to find that being subtle is better than trying to over exaggerate a move.

In order for me to bank my foot successfully... I have to really feel like my hips are less active in the swing.  This also helps my arms get down on time to better sequence the swing pattern.