early weight shift

Question
Hello Eddie. Thanks for your expertise. I need your advice please. When I get to the top and start down, I make a weight shift forward too early and way ahead of the club and arms. Usually resulting in a push or a flip hook. Can you tell me how to get things in sync where I don't get on top of the ball or out in front of it too early?  Thanks
Ken

Answer
Hi Ken:

Picture this, because this is what you need to occur at impact to bring your timing back in line.  Your upper body should be stacked on top of your lower body at impact.  So, if you are "shifting" forward, then your lower body is sliding out from underneath your upper body, ahead of the swinging of the arms and club.  So, here are two drills to do to help you sense this.  

One:  hit balls with your feet together.  Use a 9 iron, make no more than a 3/4 swing, keep your feet on the ground and make some swings.  You'll have to keep your balance, and your lower body will be very quiet.  Keep your center and sense how the arms and club swing more around your body and how your "center" stays more centered at impact.  

Two:  Take your left foot and turn your toe inward to about a 45 degree angle.  From a normal stance width, once you are set to go, turn your left toe towards the ball.  Then, make some slow motion swings to sense how your left side firms up when you begin to swing forward.  By having your left toe turned inward that much, you cannot slide out from underneath yourself, which in turn will better stack your upper body over your lower body at and through impact.  

Good luck, you'll feel a huge difference in no time.  

Eddie Kilthau
PGA Member