We all love the game of golf, but sometimes it can be a rather confusing game. There are many different pieces of advice on the golf swing. One of the most often argued topics in the golf swing is where your weight should be at address, at the top of the backswing and even at impact.
We often wrestle with many questions:
- Should I shift my weight?
- Should I have a strong grip or weak grip?
- Should I play the ball forward or back in my stance?
- Should I swing up or down with the driver.
The list could go on and on, but today, we help you with the question of should I shift my weight in the golf swing.
Do not worry, we are here to help and will provide a video at the end that allows you to test what style of swing you should use.
As golfers, we should explore all options and get to know the options, experiment with those options, and then try to implement them on the course if the swing appears to be working during practice sessions.
There are many different approaches to the golf swing and there are currently different instructors in the different camps when it comes to the topic of where your weight should be. Below we will break down the pros and cons of the weight forward golf swing and other vital questions related to this topic.
Topics Below Include:
- What is the Weight Forward Golf Swing
- Pros of the Weight Forward Golf Swing
- Cons of the Weight Forward Golf Swing
- How to assess if the Weight Forward Golf Swing is right for you
What is the Weight Forward Golf Swing?
The weight forward golf swing was really brought to the forefront with the work of Mike Bennet and Andy Plummer when they introduced the Stack and Tilt Golf Swing. It includes putting 55% of the weight on the front foot and maintaining or increasing at least that amount of weight throughout the swing until you reach impact. At impact the weight should be close to 90% on the front foot.
More and more golf instructors are promoting a setup with at least 55% of the weight on the front leg. The traditional teachings of the 80’s, 90’s and early 2000’s were to shift your weight to the back leg, while maintaining flex in that back leg.
The thought process was that you would be able to push off your back leg as you moved your weight forward on your downswing, creating a greater amount of power, while maintaining consistency.
Along came Mike Bennet and Andy Plummer, who studied the many great swings of the past and noticed that many of the all time greats were often “stacked” on their front leg and straightened out their back leg in the back swing. This allowed for a greater hip and shoulder turn, while allowing the golfer to be consistent with the ground contact point.
Learn more about Stack and Tilt here.
The three fundamentals that they established were the following:
- Consistently strike the ground in the same spot every time.
- Be able to control the curvature of the ball.
- Have enough power to hit the ball far enough to play the course.
Pros of the Weight Forward Golf Swing – Top 3
- Allows for consistent ball and ground contact.
- Keeps your head centered and creates more consistency.
- Promotes an inside out swing path and helps eliminate the slice.
Having played with this strict approach for many years and maintaining some weight forward at address, I can attest that it truly does help with those 3 items above.
I am able to hit a consistent golf shot that starts right and is shaped right to left or what is oftentimes known as a draw. My ball striking is rather consistent as a result of a stabled and centered head.
I was able for the first time in my life to rely on a slight draw that started right of the target and curved towards the target. This created a great feeling and simple swing that I was able to reproduce on a consistent basis.
I think all golfers want to be able to hit the baby draw as it maximizes distance and is a sign that you have the right angle of attack and the club is shallow coming into impact.
Here is an excellent video by Shawn Clement on a drill you can implement to get used to the weight on the front leg.
This drill is rather helpful and worth giving a shot:
Cons of the Weight Forward Golf Swing – Top 3
- Can feel a bit unathletic at times.
- Can be easy to move ahead of the ball.
- Feels less powerful
While I haven’t seen a lack of stiance with the weight forward golf swing, the feel of the swing is rather different. Many of the movements we make in athletics consist of making an athletic move.
Whether this is throwing a baseball, hitting a baseball, hitting a tennis serve or many other athletic movements, we often shift weight from back to front. In the weight forward golf swing one might start with 55% of the weight forward at address and increase that weight on the front foot, maxing out at about 90% at impact.
While your body still turns and there is somewhat of an athletic movement, the people who are opposed to this still of swing would argue that you lose distance and it takes away athleticism from the golf swing.
The Stack and Tilt instructors would argue that their system allows for consistency and a system to determine why certain shots are taking place. They believe the baby draw is a great stock shot. The shot that starts right and never draws further than the target line.
This is created and maximized from the weight forward and staying on an inside out path and starts the ball right and creates a slight right to left draw spring.
If you are opposed to the weight on the front foot at this point, I would recommend checking out Lucas Wald:
How to Assess if the Weight Forward Golf Swing is right for you
The great thing about the game of golf is that there is no perfect way to swing a golf club. In today’s game, there are many options and some great teachers in all of the different approaches to the golf swing. We have written about many of the best online golf instructors and there are some great ones to follow that can all help your game.
Golf is a game that provides many options, we all need a way to test these options out. I prefer to work on my golf swing in my golf simulator. I consider this my laboratory where I can test out different swing approaches, swing thoughts and see what works best for my game. I view it as a journey and one that is fun, yet challenging along the way.
At the end of the day, know your strengths and weaknesses, your preference for playing the game and find the right instructor for you.
Assessment:
Step 1: Hit 10 balls standing on your front leg only, while bracing with your other leg.
Step 2: Hit 10 balls standing on your bag leg only, while breaking with your other leg.
Step 3: Hit 10 balls standing with your feet together.
Keep track of the distances and the contact with each shot.
Ask yourself the following three questions:
- Which felt most consistent?
- Which felt most powerful?
- Which helped you best control the curvature of the ball?
- Which helped you best control your ground contact?
Repeat the drills if needed and understand that there are different ways to pivot in the golf swing. Many might find that the weight forward approach is for them, while others might feel more comfortable keeping the weight more back and having more of a turning motion.
Once again, there is no perfect way to swing a golf club, but there are many options. In today’s game, we have a great deal of information and access to that information at our fingertips. Explore and find out what is best for you and your game and ultimately Own Your Swing!
Quick Tip: When trying these different drills, understand that it is ok to swing at 50% speed. You don’t have to try to rip the ball everytime. Instead, start slow and work your speed up.
Find what is comfortable. Remember that golf is about being able to repeat the motion and hit the shot under pressure, whether that is the opening tee shot of the day or the final approach shot on 18. The goal is to be able to repeat and control your shot dispersion.
Weight Forward Drills:
More Swing on One Leg:
Left Leg Force in Golf Swing:
Take Action – What You Can Do Today to Get Better
What does this mean for you? I believe in the following recipe to get better:
1 – Improve your motion in the golf swing by identifying a golf instructor. Here are some options:
Here is a list of golf instructors that we have reviewed:
2 – Train to swing faster and improve your swing speed. Here are some options:
Looking to gain more Speed and Distance in your swing. Two Options:
3 – Understand course strategy and work to break through your next barrier. Here is a series on breaking through:
We have provided guides on how to break 100, 90, 80 and 70. Check out more below, if interested.
4 – Practice Frequently
Did you know that I build a golf simulator in my garage and have played over 500 rounds of golf on my SkyTrak system? It has been a game changer and one worth checking out. Here are some of my other posts on golf simulators frequently asked questions:
- Is a Golf Simulator Worth It?
- How to Build a Golf Simulator?
- What is the Best Golf Simulator?
- Golf Simulator Accessories?
- How to Build a Golf Simulator for under $7000
- Top 11 Reasons to Buy a SkyTrak
- How to Build a Golf Simulator for Under $1000
- Why Build A Golf Simulator?
- What Space is Needed?
- Can A Golf Simulator Improve My Game?
- How Much Does A Golf Simulator Cost?
- Don’t Forget to Check out our 15 best golf swings of all time.