Golf Swing - Head Position

A key principle of the swing is that the golfer's head stays basically in the same position, oriented toward the ball throughout the swing.

A key principle of the swing is that the golfer's head stays basically in the same position, oriented toward the ball throughout the swing. This doesn't mean rigidly still, as there may be a slight turning movement of the head and maybe even a bit of lateral movement. It also does not mean keeping the head down in the sense of pressing one's chin against the chest and locking it there. Remember what was said earlier about looking down one's nose at the ball, which means the chin has to be up and away from the chest so that the club seems to pass underneath it.

One way to maintain proper head position is to keep the proverbial "eye on the ball." In most sports, successful players might be distinguished from their less successful counterparts by the formers' ability to maintain an intense visual focus on the ball which they are about to either it or catch. For example, great hitters in baseball follow the pitched ball all the way to the bat. Accomplished receivers in football visually track the ball all the way into the hands.

Such an intense focus on the ball in golf might be exemplified by a golfer's visually locking in on a particular spot on the ball and maintaining that focus until after the ball is airborne. In effect, a feeling is generated of having seen the clubhead it the ball before viewing the result. It might help to imagine saying something after impact such as, "The ball is gone," before looking up to see the actual flight of the ball.