The Correct Way To Keep Your Head Down

Are you constantly told to "keep your head down" when swinging the golf club? It’s a common piece of advice, but it might not be the best way to improve your golf game. Many golfers struggle with the misconception that keeping their head down leads to better contact, but this mindset can actually hinder your swing and prevent you from achieving maximum power and accuracy. In this post, we’ll explore why focusing on your head position can limit your swing and provide tips on how to improve your rotation and follow-through for better ball striking.

The Problem with "Keeping Your Head Down"

When players try to keep their head down during the swing, they often become overly focused on the ball and not the entire body movement. The main issue with this is that it restricts your ability to rotate and extend your body through the shot, which results in poor contact and weak shots.

For instance, when a golfer hunches over too much to “keep their head down,” the spine becomes curved, and they lose crucial shoulder rotation. As a result, their arms collapse during the backswing, they lose width, and they struggle to extend through the ball properly. In some cases, this leads to chunks or thin shots, as the body cannot fully rotate toward the target.

What Happens When You Force Your Head Down?

Let’s break this down with a visual: imagine you’re setting up to the golf ball, thinking that you need to keep your head still and focus entirely on the ball. As you start your backswing, you might notice that you begin to hunch over, with your neck tilting down and your upper spine curving. This posture prevents your body from fully rotating and extending through the swing.

Here’s what often happens when a player tries to keep their head down:

Loss of Body Rotation: As the player hunches over, their spine cannot extend or rotate properly, limiting shoulder turn.

Arms Collapse: Without proper rotation, the arms get too close to the body, which means less width in the backswing and a weaker position for impact.

Bottoming Out Behind the Ball: Due to the restricted movement, the club tends to make contact behind the ball, leading to fat or chunked shots.

The Solution: Allow Your Head to Move Naturally

So, what’s the better approach? Rather than trying to force your head to stay still, allow your head and neck to move naturally with the swing. This will help you maintain proper rotation and extension through the shot, leading to better contact and more power.

Why Does This Work?

The key here is allowing your neck to swivel during the backswing and follow-through. While it’s important to maintain focus on the ball, your eyes don’t have to stay locked in place. Your head and neck can move to facilitate your body’s rotation, which in turn helps you create a more athletic, fluid swing.

Drills to Improve Head and Neck Movement

Here are a couple of drills that can help you feel how your head and neck should move during your swing:

The Left Ear Down Drill

Setup: Place a golf club across your shoulders, simulating a backswing motion.

Execution: As you turn into your backswing, focus on getting your left ear to point toward the ground (without losing your eye contact with the ball). This motion allows your shoulders to rotate more fully and helps prevent you from hunching over.

Tip: Use a mirror to check that your head is moving naturally with the body. You’ll be surprised at how much more shoulder rotation you can get when you allow your neck to swivel.

The Ball-to-Wall Throwing Exercise

Setup: Grab a soccer ball or football and stand in your golf posture.

Execution: Turn your torso and throw the ball toward a wall. The act of throwing encourages you to rotate and extend through your body, just like in a golf swing. You’ll notice that your head and neck move naturally, helping your body rotate more fully.

Tip: Focus on feeling the pressure shift to your lead side and extending your spine as you throw. This will help you internalize the correct follow-through motion for your golf swing.

The Importance of Follow-Through and Rotation

One of the most important aspects of a good golf swing is a powerful follow-through. Many players who focus too much on keeping their head down tend to finish with their chest still low and their arms too tight. This not only limits their distance but also creates inefficient strikes.

To achieve a better follow-through:

Rotate the Body: Your body should be facing the target with your chest tall and your hips square. This full rotation generates more power and helps you control the strike.

Allow the Head to Move: As you swing through, let your head move naturally with your body. This ensures that you’re not overextending your neck, which can create discomfort and limit your shoulder rotation.

The Left Ear, Right Ear Concept: Think about having your left ear down during the backswing and your right ear down through the follow-through. This will help you achieve a full range of motion through both sides of your body.

Conclusion: Let the Ball Get in the Way, Not the Focus

The goal of your golf swing is not to keep your head down but to make a fluid, powerful, and athletic motion. Think of it like any other sport—whether it’s tennis, throwing a ball, or even baseball—your body needs to rotate freely, and the ball is just the object in the way. By focusing on your body’s rotation and allowing your head to move naturally with your torso, you’ll create more power, consistency, and distance in your shots.

Remember, the ball is not the target—your target is the destination, and the ball is simply in the way. So, give yourself permission to let your head move and allow your body to rotate fully through the swing. The result will be a more fluid motion, better contact, and greater distance.