I hear this without fail every day. Many recreational golfers believe this is the sole reason for their endless topping of shots. In actual fact the head coming up is often a by-product of a poor weight transfer. Simply keeping your head down will do nothing more than reduce rotation in the golf swing resulting in weaker shots and poorer strikes.
There are many reasons for topping golf shots, the most common one I see day to day is players not transferring their weight to their left side in the downswing. This often leads to their club to bottoming out behind the ball and the bottom of the club moves upwards towards the top of the ball.
Focussing on transferring your weight onto your lead side in the downswing can help ensure your club is moving downwards as it strikes the ball. This creates crisper and more solid strikes on the ball and allows you to hold on to that much needed swing speed.
It is a fact that majority of the golfing population struggle with left to right curvature.
Although teeing the ball position up inside of your left heel may help you hit up on the ball, it is also worth remembering that the golf club swings on an arc through impact and the later you hit the ball in the arc, the further left the club will be travelling.
If you are someone who struggles with excessive left to right spin, try moving the ball position back a few inches in your setup.
If all things remain equal the club path will become more neutral which will reduce curvature and help you find a few more fairways this weekend!
One of the most common myths in golf is that your left arm must remain perfectly straight throughout the backswing.
The reality is that a bent left arm is not always a bad thing. In fact, some of the world’s best players prove otherwise. Scottie Scheffler and Jordan Spieth both exhibit noticeable flex in their lead (left) arm during the backswing, yet they are among the best ball strikers and competitors in the game.
Many golfers simply don’t have the mobility or flexibility to keep their left arm perfectly straight. As long as the bend doesn’t dramatically reduce the width of the backswing or cause inconsistency, it can actually be beneficial. A slight bend creates another lever that can be released into the ball, helping some players generate more clubhead speed.
Another great example is Joe Miller, the 2016 World Long Drive Champion. Joe’s left arm bends significantly during the backswing—yet he can hit a putter over 320 yards. This demonstrates that a perfectly straight lead arm is not a requirement for creating incredible speed and power.
While a straighter left arm is often encouraged because it can help some golfers maintain width and consistency, it isn’t a one-size-fits-all rule. If you’re hitting repeatable, solid golf shots with a slightly bent left arm, don’t fall into the trap of changing your swing simply to make it look “textbook.”
Golf is about producing the most efficient movement for your body—not copying positions. The success of players like Scottie Scheffler, Jordan Spieth, and Joe Miller shows that there is more than one way to build an effective, powerful golf swing.