Jump to content
IGNORED

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


Note: This thread is 4020 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

Recommended Posts

I get my weight forward on bunker shots.  Extremely so.

Discuss.

Brandon a.k.a. Tony Stark

-------------------------

The Fastest Flip in the West

Link to comment
Share on other sites


Honestly, in the golf swing I think it would be impossible to swing without transferring weight. Therefore if if you wind up the backswing weight will shift back. On the downswing you got to get your weight FORWARD to move the bottom of your swing arc at or forward of the ball. This IMO, is a non-negotiable aspect of good ball striking.

- Jered

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Originally Posted by jclark

Honestly, in the golf swing I think it would be impossible to swing without transferring weight. Therefore if if you wind up the backswing weight will shift back. On the downswing you got to get your weight FORWARD to move the bottom of your swing arc at or forward of the ball. This IMO, is a non-negotiable aspect of good ball striking.

Oh, it's possible to swing without transferring weight (or much of it) and also some 'reverse pivot'.

Either way, it's a crapshoot for decent contact and they'll never play to their potential.

Link to comment
Share on other sites


Originally Posted by boogielicious

Think of it from a different perspective.  When you lift a club that weights roughly 2 lbs back behind your body on the backswing, your center of mass will move back.

If you mean during the backswing, I disagree, and if you watch weaker players or newbies, you'll see a reverse weight transfer.  physics again....

i.e., the balance is - if you take a weight (like 2 lbs, plus arms, etc) and move it back, the rest of the body of mass will swing FORWARD.  And then, when you swing fast forward with some parts, the rest of your body will swing backwards.  the opposite of what's needed.

the result is inconsistent hitters, people that don't get divots and try to be masters at picking, a swing that's lifting way too early, lots of problems.

you have to actively press forward to get your body moving that way, or even to counter the swing dynamics.  Swing a tennis racket, throw a baseball, that strong foundation is something to press against to keep center of mass moving forward.

(I was doing something of what logman noted as an issue, in order to keep my head still and avoid reverse pivot, I get weight up front and KEPT it there - I was stuck at the front and couldn't go farther as a results.  I played fine for short game and chips and pitches (still head and weight forward is good there, right?), full swings I was good when I was able to pick the ball clean, but my power was gated, and my full swing limited from my potential considering my strength and level athleticism, never could take a divot, bad shots tended to be very fat, or very thin. - first lesson we to allow my body to come back and then forward through the ball - dramatic increase in terms of consistent contact, taking divots, more distance.  In fact, my distance is quite a bit more, and I'm a bit distressed that I'll have to reset my club selection criteria....not that distressed)

Bill - 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

If you mean during the backswing, I disagree, and if you watch weaker players or newbies, you'll see a reverse weight transfer.  physics again.... i.e., the balance is - if you take a weight (like 2 lbs, plus arms, etc) and move it back, the rest of the body of mass will swing FORWARD.  And then, when you swing fast forward with some parts, the rest of your body will swing backwards.  the opposite of what's needed.

No, not necessarily. Your body will only fall over laterally if the center of gravity is outside of your feet, and your CoG doesn't have to be exactly in the center for you to feel balanced. I can be standing straight up-and-down, take a two-pound weight in my right hand, and extend my right hand and arm directly outward without moving my body at all and I'll still stay balanced. I could do that will a five-pound weight, 10lbs, 20, etc. and still stay balanced. They're just not moving my CoG far enough.

In my bag:

Driver: Titleist TSi3 | 15º 3-Wood: Ping G410 | 17º 2-Hybrid: Ping G410 | 19º 3-Iron: TaylorMade GAPR Lo |4-PW Irons: Nike VR Pro Combo | 54º SW, 60º LW: Titleist Vokey SM8 | Putter: Odyssey Toulon Las Vegas H7

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Originally Posted by jamo

I could do that will a five-pound weight, 10lbs, 20, etc. and still stay balanced.

That's why we call you The Goon! LOL.

Yours in earnest, Jason.
Call me Ernest, or EJ or Ernie.

PSA - "If you find yourself in a hole, STOP DIGGING!"

My Whackin' Sticks: :cleveland: 330cc 2003 Launcher 10.5*  :tmade: RBZ HL 3w  :nickent: 3DX DC 3H, 3DX RC 4H  :callaway: X-22 5-AW  :nike:SV tour 56* SW :mizuno: MP-T11 60* LW :bridgestone: customized TD-03 putter :tmade:Penta TP3   :aimpoint:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

No, not necessarily. Your body will only fall over laterally if the center of gravity is outside of your feet, and your CoG doesn't have to be exactly in the center for you to feel balanced. I can be standing straight up-and-down, take a two-pound weight in my right hand, and extend my right hand and arm directly outward without moving my body at all and I'll still stay balanced. I could do that will a five-pound weight, 10lbs, 20, etc. and still stay balanced. They're just not moving my CoG far enough.

I have a hard time seeing this. If you stand straight up and hold out a weight at arms length then there will be a slight weight shift. It's physics. For you to FEEL balanced you are going to slightly shift some weight the opposite direction to counterbalance and feel stable. Either way there is always going to be shifting of weight.

- Jered

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

I have a hard time seeing this. If you stand straight up and hold out a weight at arms length then there will be a slight weight shift. It's physics. For you to FEEL balanced you are going to slightly shift some weight the opposite direction to counterbalance and feel stable. Either way there is always going to be shifting of weight.

Again, not necessarily. There's no physical imperative that makes your body balance out a weight change, or we would never have anything but an exact 50/50 weight distribution. If you do the arm thing like I described, there will be a weight shift towards the side with the weight. Of course there will be. But for weights of that magnitude, it's not going to move your CoG sufficiently enough for you to feel out of balance, and certainly not enough for you to fall over, so your body doesn't have to shift the other way. You can feel in balance despite a weight distribution that isn't exactly 50/50.

In my bag:

Driver: Titleist TSi3 | 15º 3-Wood: Ping G410 | 17º 2-Hybrid: Ping G410 | 19º 3-Iron: TaylorMade GAPR Lo |4-PW Irons: Nike VR Pro Combo | 54º SW, 60º LW: Titleist Vokey SM8 | Putter: Odyssey Toulon Las Vegas H7

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Originally Posted by jamo

No, not necessarily. Your body will only fall over laterally if the center of gravity is outside of your feet, and your CoG doesn't have to be exactly in the center for you to feel balanced. I can be standing straight up-and-down, take a two-pound weight in my right hand, and extend my right hand and arm directly outward without moving my body at all and I'll still stay balanced. I could do that will a five-pound weight, 10lbs, 20, etc. and still stay balanced. They're just not moving my CoG far enough.


no - I get what you are saying, but the laws of physics have to apply.  I'm talking dynamic conservation of momentum, you are talking a static balance.  Let's not talk past each other because you're exactly right those terms.  To feel what I'm talking about, stand very still and swing a sledge forward, the rest of your body will swing in the opposite direction of the sledge.

BUT, if you take a nice solid stance, and press forward just prior and while swinging the sledge, then the "pressure" you applied to start the move, will give you a great solid swing and follow through.  But you had to apply that force externally (i.e., to the planet) to get a good motion going.

I wonder if visualizing trying to take a powerful swing on perfectly smooth ice with slippery shoes would be a way to help understand it.  With nothing to push on, reverse weight transfer would occur no matter how one gyrates, and once the ball goes north fast, the golfer would likely VERY slowly go south (cons of momentum).  (there's a lot 'ideal conditions' in here for this, no worries)

in short, IMHO, a passive golf swing will easily result in reverse weight transfer, so a good swing that ends nicely forward requires controlling your base - it's why smart guys buy neat pressure sensing devices to see how to do it best and then use those devices to teach good golfers to be even better.

Bill - 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Sorry, but I'm failing to see how what you're writing here fits together. Maybe I'm missing something. [quote name="rehmwa" url="/t/65506/getting-my-weight-forward-why/30_30#post_821415"]   no - I get what you are saying, but the laws of physics have to apply.  I'm talking dynamic conservation of momentum, you are talking a static balance.  Let's not talk past each other because you're exactly right those terms.  To feel what I'm talking about, stand very still and swing a sledge forward, the rest of your body will swing in the opposite direction of the sledge.  BUT, if you take a nice solid stance, and press forward just prior and while swinging the sledge, then the "pressure" :-P you applied to start the move, will give you a great solid swing and follow through.  But you had to apply that force externally (i.e., to the planet) to get a good motion going. [/quote] Okay, we agree that if we're including the forces applied to the ground, momentum is conserved. How does that related to what the both of us posted above? [quote name="rehmwa" url="/t/65506/getting-my-weight-forward-why/30_30#post_821415"]I wonder if visualizing trying to take a powerful swing on perfectly smooth ice with slippery shoes would be a way to help understand it.  With nothing to push on, reverse weight transfer would occur no matter how one gyrates, and once the ball goes north fast, the golfer would likely VERY slowly go south (cons of momentum).  (there's a lot 'ideal conditions' in here for this, no worries)[/quote] Okay, sure. But how does that related to any of this? Of course if there's no friction at my feet I'll have backwards momentum after contact. With nothing for your feet to grab onto, you would probably have to stay more centered throughout the swing, yes. So...? [quote name="rehmwa" url="/t/65506/getting-my-weight-forward-why/30_30#post_821415"]in short, IMHO, a passive golf swing will easily result in reverse weight transfer, so a good swing that ends nicely forward requires controlling your base - it's why smart guys buy neat pressure sensing devices to see how to do it best and then use those devices to teach good golfers to be even better. [/quote] By "passive," what do you mean? That your feet aren't using ground forces? What does "controlling your base" mean, exactly? We might not be far off, but I don't know what any of these terms mean.

In my bag:

Driver: Titleist TSi3 | 15º 3-Wood: Ping G410 | 17º 2-Hybrid: Ping G410 | 19º 3-Iron: TaylorMade GAPR Lo |4-PW Irons: Nike VR Pro Combo | 54º SW, 60º LW: Titleist Vokey SM8 | Putter: Odyssey Toulon Las Vegas H7

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

no issues - you and I started with my response, I think, to someone that said the body 'naturally' moves forward during a swing.  Then I went off on physics.  Nothing more than that.  I think you were discussing something else.

the real simple example to that person (not you) is this.

take that sledge, put your feet together, swing the sledge like a pendulum back and forth - the 'natural' tendency for the body as a mass is clearly a reverse weight transfer motion.  (frankly, on review, the iacas said it really well in one of the responses already)

to swing a club AND have good 'pressure' or 'weight' transfer forward, one has to make it happen on purpose, it won't happen just because of the weight at the end of the stick.  You have to have a bit of 'natural athlete' or training or thinking to do it right.  (example, you have to step into a pitch or you lose a lot)

later, thanks for trying to understand my thoughts, I think we both were just talking about different things.

(the ice thing was more about what happens during the swing, not after the hit - it was about trying to get thought about what would happen if you couldn't start your motion with foot pressure.  should have stopped the example without the final state comment)

Bill - 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Let's reduce it to basic physics. If you have object A attached by a rigid rod to a smaller object B, and A tries to swing B around its axis, what will happen is the true pivot of that motion will be somewhere between the COGs of the two, so that as B moves to the right, A will move to the left abd vice versa. So, when swinging B counterclockwise (downswing), the COG of A (golfer's torso) will move back to the right unless countered using the muscles to provide forward momentum.

dak4n6

Link to comment
Share on other sites


Let's reduce it to basic physics. If you have object A attached by a rigid rod to a smaller object B, and A tries to swing B around its axis, what will happen is the true pivot of that motion will be somewhere between the COGs of the two, so that as B moves to the right, A will move to the left abd vice versa. So, when swinging B counterclockwise (downswing), the COG of A (golfer's torso) will move back to the right unless countered using the muscles to provide forward momentum.

We all agree there. remwha and I were talking about different things.

In my bag:

Driver: Titleist TSi3 | 15º 3-Wood: Ping G410 | 17º 2-Hybrid: Ping G410 | 19º 3-Iron: TaylorMade GAPR Lo |4-PW Irons: Nike VR Pro Combo | 54º SW, 60º LW: Titleist Vokey SM8 | Putter: Odyssey Toulon Las Vegas H7

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Originally Posted by jamo

We all agree there. remwha and I were talking about different things.


Yeah - but jamo had some good stuff in there too,

always different things to learn when I keep my eyes open

if you want to have some real fun, go over to the adjustable club thread - I'm sure I butchered that one

Bill - 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Wow in depth guys!. My "knowledge" is based on trial and error, feel, whatever. So I'd been noticing that with this new swing my big failing is falling back. It's kinda easy when the instruction is to keep your head over your rear knee and the body should move forward at impact -but only as a reaction to what the arms are doing. Anyhow I've got the tempo problems under control but I'm amazed that my weigh is passive but it doesn't seem to matter in terms of ball striking or distance. If I go against the teachings of Mr. Kuykendall, and press forward and hit down and finish on my font foot my dispersion goes up, the ball goes lower, shorter......all bad. If I go back to the teachings, that is flat feet, wide stance bugger all weight transfer, head over back knee etc the swing comes back into it own. It led me to question the weight forward idea.

Taking the above advice may lead to destruction of your golf game. Laughing at it may reduce stress.

Link to comment
Share on other sites


Well I am going to chime in here since it sounds like I am the only one who uses a swing similar to logmans.  I think the main difference re:weight shift is one of emphasis.  Obviously when you swing a weighted club, there is a weight transfer forward.  However many players struggle with this aspect by actively trying to shift the weight as they swing.  They are told this is how you generate power, "compress the ball", etc.  They get so focused on this weight shift that it screws up their swing, because they are not reacting naturally the way they would if they were throwing a ball, swinging an axe to cut down a tree, etc.  Many I do think would actually perform better, if they took their focus away from the lower half of their body altogether, and just used it as a stabilizer, letting the weight shift naturally in reaction to the weight of the club.  This is what we do when swinging a sledge hammer... we don't focus on weight shift, our body automatically shifts in reaction to the hammer's weight.

An analogy I would use is swinging a tennis racket.  Clearly there is a weight shift as the body winds around however at impact the weight is NOT 90% on the front side.  In fact many players actually hit off the back foot and generate tons of power.  My point is that the weight shift occurs in reaction to swinging the racket, and the shift forward usually happens after the ball is gone.  There is no thought during the tennis swing to "get your weight forward" to generate power.

I can tell you that the weight shift is much more difficult, for many more recreational golfers, than most good golfers think.  It is one of those things that can seem easy to someone who can do it, but very difficult for someone who can't.  Perhaps when you golf with some high handicappers at your local muni, you think it they just took lessons, learned the proper pivot and weight shift, they would get better.  I see them and think, if they would just stop fruitlessly trying to shift back and forwards, and started with their weight pre-set back, and let the weight of the swinging clubhead dictate their lower body movements... they would probably start enjoying the game of golf a lot more.

The way the pros swing is probably the most ideal way to generate the most distance, best compression, trajectory, etc.  However I have to laugh when people talk about 100-yard 7-irons.  It seems arrogant to me because if they really believe you can't get any distance while minimizing weight shift, or that every shot must be a fat scoop shot that takes up a big chunk of turf... it shows they clearly have never given any serious consideration to anything outside the mainstream of golf instruction.

Link to comment
Share on other sites


Note: This thread is 4020 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now


  • Want to join this community?

    We'd love to have you!

    Sign Up
  • TST Partners

    TourStriker PlaneMate
    Golfer's Journal
    ShotScope
    The Stack System
    FlightScope Mevo
    Direct: Mevo, Mevo+, and Pro Package.

    Coupon Codes (save 10-15%): "IACAS" for Mevo/Stack, "IACASPLUS" for Mevo+/Pro Package, and "THESANDTRAP" for ShotScope.
  • Posts

    • I run tournaments and want to put in a local rule that allows relief from tree roots and rocks that are not loose impediments. We have some really terrible lies in some of our courses in my area and nobody is getting paid enough to break clubs. Let me know if you think the verbage for this rule makes sense. Local Rule Roots and Rocks You may move your ball from a tree root or buried rock one club length for free relief no closer to the hole. However you may not use this rule to get relief from a tree, bush, boulder, or other foliage hindering your swing. Your only option here is to play it as it lies or take an unplayable for a one stroke penalty.
    • Makes sense.  Like I said, I wouldn't have been upset at their original offer either, and based on the fine print it seems like they've held up their end of the deal.  
    • If you've only had to adjust retroactively one time in 8 years and have around 5 people each year without handicaps, that's like 40-50 people total so it sounds like you're doing a pretty good job. I think your questions give enough to go off of. This might be a good way to get new people to actually post a few scores during the 6 weeks leading into the first event. Something like "New members will be eligible for tournament money once they have at least 3 posted rounds in GHIN" or something like that. If they can get 3 rounds in prior to their first event, then they're eligible. If not, they'll soon become eligible after an event or two assuming they play a little bit outside of events.
    • This is a loooooong winded narrative so if you don't like long stories, move on. 😉 Our senior club typically gets about 25 new members each year. We lose about 25 members each year for various reasons (moved to FL/AZ, disabled, dead, too expensive). Of the new members, usually 20 have an active GHIN handicap. About 5 each year do not have a GHIN handicap. When they join our club, we give each member a state association membership that includes GHIN handicapping services. We play a series of handicapped tournaments over the summer. When we sign up a new member who does not have a GHIN handicap, we attempt to give them an estimated index until they have sufficient scores posted to have an actual GHIN index.  Our first event typically is around May 15 so, in theory, a new member has about 6 weeks to post a few scores. Posting season in the Mitten starts April 1. Inevitably, several of the unhandicapped individuals seem  to either not play until the first tournament or can't figure out how to enter scores (hey, they are seniors). That situation then leads to my contacting the new member and asking a series of questions: a. Did you ever have a GHIN handicap? If yes, which State and do you recall what it was? b. Do you have an alternate handicap through a non-GHIN handicap service or a league? c. What do you think your average score was last year (for 9 or 18) d. What was your best score last year? Where did you play and which tee was used? e. What do you consider a very good score for yourself? Based on their responses I attempt to give them an index that makes them competitive in the first couple events BUT does not allow them to win their flight in the first couple events. We don't want the new members to finish last and at the same time, we don't want someone with a "20" playing handicap to win the third flight with a net 57. In the event some new member did shoot a net 57, we also advise everyone that we can and will adjust handicaps retroactively when it is clear to us that a member's handicap does not accurately reflect their potential. We don't like to adjust things retroactively and in the 8 years I have chaired the Handicap Committee, we have only done it once. So here are the questions to the mob: Any ideas how to do this better? Any questions one might ask an unhandicapped individual to better estimate their index/handicap? Would it be reasonable to have a new player play once (or more?) without being eligible to place in the money?
    • Wordle 1,013 4/6 ⬜🟨⬜🟨🟨 ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜ 🟩🟩🟩🟩⬜ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Welcome to TST! Signing up is free, and you'll see fewer ads and can talk with fellow golf enthusiasts! By using TST, you agree to our Terms of Use, our Privacy Policy, and our Guidelines.

The popup will be closed in 10 seconds...