S&T setup - weight on front foot

[Tiikeli]

I have hard time making proper weight distribution while setuping for swing. I understand what needs to be done but my body doesn't. I would assume my problem is that, even tho I play golf as righty, I'm goofy on skate/snowboard (skateboard around 7yrs / snowboard 25 yrs and still doing 5-10 times a winter) meaning right foot is in front. This leads me naturally to take balance on right foot and maneuver with left. It seem my lower body would like me to play lefty but I can't even take club on my hands that way, let alone swing. However, if I try to make natural weigth distribution without thinking I always end up having 55-60% weight on back foot

Anyone out there with similar problems? Any ideas on how to get S&T setup and weight distribution to feel more natural?

[iacas]

Originally Posted by Tiikeli

I have hard time making proper weight distribution while setuping for swing. I understand what needs to be done but my body doesn't. I would assume my problem is that, even tho I play golf as righty, I'm goofy on skate/snowboard (skateboard around 7yrs / snowboard 25 yrs and still doing 5-10 times a winter) meaning right foot is in front. This leads me naturally to take balance on right foot and maneuver with left. It seem my lower body would like me to play lefty but I can't even take club on my hands that way, let alone swing. However, if I try to make natural weigth distribution without thinking I always end up having 55-60% weight on back foot

Anyone out there with similar problems? Any ideas on how to get S&T setup and weight distribution to feel more natural?

I think the "55/45 forward" thing is overdone. It can lead to some problems, but basically, if you can set up even 40/60 (back), but don't go farther back than that, and can still get your hips "forward enough" on the downswing with a relatively steady head on the backswing and downswing, you'll be fine.

If you want to get the weight more forward at setup though you do it with your hips, not by moving your head forward. Just slide them forward an inch or two (without opening them) and you'll move a good % of your weight forward.

Try that, or if it's REALLY uncomfortable, just be okay with 50/50 or 45/55 or even 40/60.

Whatever you do, look in a mirror or have someone take a picture so you can confirm that what you feel is close to what you think it is.

[Apotheosis]

Ride regular, for extended periods of time.  Might make your set up feel more natural.

[colin007]

i never understood the goofyfoot thing.  i could never ride like that being right handed/footed...

[Tiikeli]

Thanks for the answers, I will really try concentrate on this today again and Mike or James will get new vid on Sunday.

I'll certainly also swich to regular on snowboad, sadly didn't ask this question 4 months ago, I would have gotten 8 days of practice already

Originally Posted by colin007

i never understood the goofyfoot thing.  i could never ride like that being right handed/footed...

It's really hard to descripe. It's like I'm waist up righty and waist down left. I would guess that when normal righty looks left at setup they feel like they're lookin forward towards the target but for me it feels like I'm lookin target that's behind me

[saevel25]

Its not really hard to get near 50/50 weight distribution. If your legs are equal distance apart from your center, your going to have 50/50. If your having trouble, just widen your stance a bit. The more wide you get the easier it is to keep the 50/50. Maybe you can start getting a bit better feeling of it.

[The Tin Man]

Being regular foot or screwfoot (switch stance) doesn't make S&T;, or any swing any easier.

I do weight shift/rotation drills every day and will still find myself stacked too far and have to walk through the shot.

[Tiikeli]

I had practice session yesterday and found somehing that helps me  on setup. I do only slow take away as practice swing and when I come back at the ball my weight and overall posture favors left side.

However, I noticed new problem that's probably due same root cause. When getting power from legs I naturally want to straighen my left foot (think back foot on ollie on skateboard). It just kicks straight really fast and direction can be even little bit backwards. So I basically start (somewhat proper) weight shift and then my left legs stops the movement by kicking against it.

Any ideas on how to practise proper weight shift so that my natural "power move" doesn't stop the movement but would add something to it?

Edit: Also something that could be done without club at home/gym/office?

Again, hard to explain as non native english speaker but hope you got my point.

[Mordan]

Originally Posted by Tiikeli

I had practice session yesterday and found somehing that helps me  on setup. I do only slow take away as practice swing and when I come back at the ball my weight and overall posture favors left side.

However, I noticed new problem that's probably due same root cause. When getting power from legs I naturally want to straighen my left foot (think back foot on ollie on skateboard). It just kicks straight really fast and direction can be even little bit backwards. So I basically start (somewhat proper) weight shift and then my left legs stops the movement by kicking against it.

Any ideas on how to practise proper weight shift so that my natural "power move" doesn't stop the movement but would add something to it?

Edit: Also something that could be done without club at home/gym/office?

Again, hard to explain as non native english speaker but hope you got my point.

A feeling or move that might help you with this is the "point your belt at the sky" moving into that sometimes gets mentioned. You do want to push off your left foot, but you want to do it as part of a move where you're pushing your belt buckle (or belly button) forwards and upwards. That will help generate power and a better impact position.

[The_Pharaoh]

Originally Posted by Tiikeli

I have hard time making proper weight distribution while setuping for swing. I understand what needs to be done but my body doesn't. I would assume my problem is that, even tho I play golf as righty, I'm goofy on skate/snowboard (skateboard around 7yrs / snowboard 25 yrs and still doing 5-10 times a winter) meaning right foot is in front. This leads me naturally to take balance on right foot and maneuver with left. It seem my lower body would like me to play lefty but I can't even take club on my hands that way, let alone swing. However, if I try to make natural weigth distribution without thinking I always end up having 55-60% weight on back foot

Anyone out there with similar problems? Any ideas on how to get S&T setup and weight distribution to feel more natural?

I have been looking into this with my students recently as I used to set everyone up 60-40% target leg regardless of their backswing. Now I base it on how far their head moves laterally during the swing. To those students moving their head back too much, I ask them to put more weight on their target leg. This helps them stay more centered over the ball. If they maintain a relatively steady head I don't touch their weight distribution at address. 90% of my students sway off the ball in the backswing and hit at the ball with the majority of their weight on their non-target leg.

Video your swing and watch very carefully how much your head moves around. That will give you a very good idea of how to set up correctly.

[The Tin Man]

Here's the basic drills without a club. It's better to do them 6 times a day for 2 minutes then for an hour once a day.

Cross arms against chest and work on weight shift and rotation.

Then a right handed golfer grips his left thumb like a club, and adds the arm motions.

Take this onto the field, once you have the feeling of a well struck shot it's time to play serious day dream golf.