Weight transfer during swing - how does it work?

[sfby]

After our game yesterday one of my playing partners suggested that I would get a lot more distance on my shots if I worked on the weight transfer from back foot to front foot during the shot.

He should know what he's talking about - he's an ex pro & hits it a lot further than I can! - but I can't work out the dynamics.

I can't see how it would impart much more club-head speed, or power, just by a slight shift of weight.

Can anybody explain?

Many thanks

Paul

 

[bobmac]

Sfby, do you finish your swing up on your right toe (assuming you're a right hander) and in a balanced position?

 

[USER1999]

It doesn't add speed to the swing, or momentum, what it does is load the shaft properly during the downswing, and aid with the release of the power stored in the shaft at impact.

 

[JustOne]

After our game yesterday one of my playing partners suggested that I would get a lot more distance on my shots if I worked on the weight transfer from back foot to front foot during the shot.

Hi Paul,

I'd personally rephrase what you've said there so it reads more like this...

After our game yesterday one of my playing partners suggested that I would get a lot more distance on my shots if I worked on the weight transfer from both feet to front foot during the shot.

The backswing should be a rotation, you shouldn't think of it as a rocking motion eg: onto the right then back onto the left, but more of a 'turn and THROUGH!'.

From a 50/50 weight balance at the start you should try to finish with 80-90% of your weight on the left foot, and a nice finish with the club whilst your belt buckle points to the target.

hope this helps.

 

[bobmac]

Sfby,
I gather from your post that you're not 5 h/cap or less.
James, can I then ask why you would suggest the stack and tilt method to a higher handicap when you yourself couldn't master it ?
If you watch a boxer throw a punch, where does his weight start..flatfooted?
Sfby, watch the best players in the worls swing a golf club and see how they transfer their weight onto their back foot. Co-incidence ? no I would listen to your friend who has seen you swing.
Good luck

 

[JustOne]

James, can I then ask why you would suggest the stack and tilt method to a higher handicap when you yourself couldn't master it ?

Stack and tilt? I don't think you even know what it is Bob!

I don't remember saying "swing the club on a flatter plane in line with your shoulders, fire your hips to the left on the way down retaining the angle of your wrist in a 'flying wedge' whilst making sure your spine angle remains vertical and not tilted 5-10% away from the target" etc etc...did I?

I also didn't say "make sure your weight is slightly more on your left side at address" which is the very essence of being 'stacked'.

Get off your high horse and go talk about V-easy, or at least go and learn what you are talking about before you try and patronise me with your rubbish.

Just to clarify I hurt/damaged my wrist which stopped me from playing and practicing, only 6 weeks ago I could barely move my hand without being in pain, picking up a hot cuppa was touch and go at one stage. I'd hardly say that was conducive to mastering stack and tilt, in fact quitting altogether was more on the cards than being able to play at all.

 

[bobmac]

Firstly I apologise if I came over as patronising, that wasn't my intention and I thought I read somewhere you said you had decided to give it up, sorry once again.
You are also right when you say I dont know exactly what is involved in the Stack and Tilt method, but one thing I do know about it is it says you shouldn't transfer your weight onto your back foot and in fact to straighten your back knee as well.
I was just trying to help sfby by giving him a few thoughts which might help him do what he asked about

 

[RGDave]

Some of this is not really my thing, but I would say that IF you transfer your weight well then actually you WILL hit the ball further because you'll hit it better and with short irons, with less loft....

The reason why stack and tilt works is that it effectively keeps the body in the same place (as impact) throughout the swing....so you simply turn "over" an impact-ready axis.

Both methods work.....however, when I tried zero weight shift and some S&T ideas, although my irons were outstanding, my woods suffered. With my regular swing, I have a big weight shift (and sadly body/head movement too) but as I get in the right place at impact, then I can hit it very well....

In my experience, very few players NEED to think about moving to the back foot, it's there already. However, most players (less able ones!) probably could/should get through the ball better and finish their swing more over the left leg.

 

[Region3]

I have what might be a silly question...

If you're supposed to keep your head as still as possible while swinging, and your head is connected to your body, how do you transfer your weight without having lateral movement of your body?

 

[USER1999]

Rotate?

Anyway, the head doesn't have to be still. Just not get ahead of the swing and look up.

 

[viscount17]

have a look at Lee Westwood's head position sometime, he looks like he's on a fairground ride.

 

[RGDave]

It's not a silly q?, I've pondered it often.
Murph is right, it's all about rotating.

Try watching this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4z01QOUdFo

His head seems to move very little, but the cap gives away the fact that his head does in fact move somewhat.
What happens after that is absolutely fascinating.....his head hardly rises at all during the backswing, but it DIPS quite considerably on the way down. Hold something over the top of his head, then see how low his heads gets and how he stays so well behind the ball.

Some lateral movement is OK (in fact, Faldo makes a point in his books to NOT fight it completely), but lifting during the backswing is troublesome for amateurs....better to keep it still (vertically) and accept some dip if it happens. Tiger dips and the girls (like Gulbis) come down miles!!

I would surmise that only pure stack and tilt will keep the head 100% still.

 

[CrapHacker]

In terms of weight transfer, I prefer the thought of throwing a ball.

Does this video help ? ( From about 1 min 40 in, especially )

It doesn't actually explain anything, but the image helps me, anyway

 

[Fore]

I draw inspiration from this link (hope it works):
Open this page and click on swing portrait.
www.nike.com/nikegolf/?navID=tigerwoods&catID=collection&subCatID=footwear&seriesID=sp7

 

[viscount17]

I recently reviewed a book for GM, The Science of Golf; very much one for the techies. I no longer have it but it explains all this in minute detail, practically millisecond by millisecond.

as a rough analogy, a boxer doesn't punch effectively off the back foot, nor can you throw a ball effectively off the back foot.

 

[JustOne]

In terms of weight transfer, I prefer the thought of throwing a ball.

Does this video help ? ( From about 1 min 40 in, especially )

It doesn't actually explain anything, but the image helps me, anyway

Blimey! THAT is just plain SCARY mate

I don't remember seeing Tiger with an over-swing, his head over his right foot and his left arm bent at nearly 90° See how his right leg is almost vertical and his left is nearly at 45°?... shocking! Talk about being stuck on the right side.. OK, it IS with a driver but c'mon...you wouldn't teach your enemy to swing like that.....would you??

Take a look at this pic below of Tiger (we have to use his example as he's the worlds best player).

Notice how at the top of his backswing his LEFT leg is the more upright and his right leg is more 'trailing'. When he took the club back he has loaded his left side.

I've added an arrow pointing to a persons foot by his right hip... notice his right hip moves AWAY from it, towards the target... completely the opposite of the example posted above where the guy has moved so far right he would have to move about 3 FEET just to get back to the ball!! Tigers head is more or less right over the ball... just a little behind it.

No wonder people have such trouble learning this game with mixed messages everywhere



If you want to see a vid about weight transfer then watch this one >>>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CSHqnYNijw

You'll notice that it makes a lot of sense in relation to what Tiger is doing in the pic I posted above.

(note: if you can't see the images then you need to click REFRESH, imageshack is a bit flippin' slow at the moment)

(note2: this has NOTHING to do with a stack and tilt swing)

hope this helps

 

[USER1999]

Is the first bloke taking a run up?

 

[Redwood]

Who's going to take golfing advice from a vicar!!!? Looks like he is wearing a dog collar in that youtube video!!