How to Shift Your Weight Correctly in the Backswing?

There are many misconceptions in golf about shifting your weight and turning your hips.  If you are a recreational golfer and often get confused, this article is for you.

 Before I give you the drill, here is what weight shift actually refers to: it is where the majority of body mass moves around the golf swing. If you put a reference line in the center of your body, you can determine the weight shift by noticing and asking these questions; is it shifting to your right or left foot?

 Note: it is different from "pressure shift," which is the amount of force you apply to the ground throughout the swing. You can turn your hips and body and shift the pressure without shifting the weight. 

Follow this simple drill to know the difference:

1. Draw a white line or place a stick that should dissect your body at the setup position giving you a feel that the center of the pelvis is this line.

2. You must ensure to stay centered but rotate your hips at 45 degrees when you do the backswing.

3. To find out your hips movement, put a reference up against your right hip and try to turn; you will notice the hip moving back and shifting more pressure into the trailing heel. It will give you room to swing correctly towards the target. 

Not turning the hips during a backswing will shift too much pressure to the outstep of the trail foot; it will shift your weight too much and cause swaying. 

Summary

Watch yourself in a mirror, draw a reference line and make sure your hips move towards the target as you do the backswing. It should stay centered and not drift away while you move. Practice, and you will learn to hit great shots without weight shifting.

Watch the full video here: