The Role of Footwork in the Golf Swing (Video) - by Pete Styles
The Role of Footwork in the Golf Swing (Video) - by Pete Styles

Now we know that every force has an equal and opposite [reaction] force as well. And we've got to make sure that during the golf swing, what we're trying to achieve with the upper body is well supported down below. And wherever we're trying to move the body weight is driven by our feet at the bottom. So let me just get rid of the golf club for a second and let me be able to identify to you what your legs should be doing and more importantly what your feet should be doing.

Starting off nicely 50-50 from a mid aim maybe a little bit more left sided for a chip shot and maybe more right sided for a driver swing. We're going 50-50 for a mid aim, here. Now as I wind my body up into the back swing, I'll have a little push of the left foot there, the left heel will be getting lighter maybe lifting up in the air depending on your flexibility. And I'm pushing a lot on my body weight right into the in step on my right leg and really feel how your in step drives and turns into the floor particularly if you're wearing your golf shoes. You'll be able to feel how your spikes are trying to grip and get purchase into the grass or into the carpet if you're on the driving range, turning into the ground here building and coiling up power through the feet.

And now this is the exciting bit where we drive off the right side, push in to the left side and create power from the ground up. There's no point just pulling down with your hands and your arms and your shoulders if there's no force off the floor. Your hands and your arms can’t create that power. Wind it to the top, drive off that floor driving into the left hand side. Now the point of impact is actually at here, my right heel can be up in the air while the people feel that lifting the heel for impact is a bad thing. It's not at all. You should lift your right heel through the impact area turning through the ball this way is a much more powerful way of generating the club head speed. You need to hit the golf ball of impact turning in this way, lots of pressure now going back in through to my left foot turning action here, pressing off my right foot.

Now release fully off your right foot to the tiptoe. No body weight here to speak of at all, everything into my left foot. Just be careful that you don't over rotate on your left foot lifting the big toe up and letting yourself fall into your little toe or your heel because you'll be slightly off balance. So if you can keep your left big toe nicely planted in the finish onto a straight left leg, big toe pressed into the floor. There's the full finish and hopefully you could get your foot work right you're building the foundations for a good upper body swing as well.

 2012-04-16

Now we know that every force has an equal and opposite [reaction] force as well. And we've got to make sure that during the golf swing, what we're trying to achieve with the upper body is well supported down below. And wherever we're trying to move the body weight is driven by our feet at the bottom. So let me just get rid of the golf club for a second and let me be able to identify to you what your legs should be doing and more importantly what your feet should be doing.

Starting off nicely 50-50 from a mid aim maybe a little bit more left sided for a chip shot and maybe more right sided for a driver swing. We're going 50-50 for a mid aim, here. Now as I wind my body up into the back swing, I'll have a little push of the left foot there, the left heel will be getting lighter maybe lifting up in the air depending on your flexibility. And I'm pushing a lot on my body weight right into the in step on my right leg and really feel how your in step drives and turns into the floor particularly if you're wearing your golf shoes. You'll be able to feel how your spikes are trying to grip and get purchase into the grass or into the carpet if you're on the driving range, turning into the ground here building and coiling up power through the feet.

And now this is the exciting bit where we drive off the right side, push in to the left side and create power from the ground up. There's no point just pulling down with your hands and your arms and your shoulders if there's no force off the floor. Your hands and your arms can’t create that power. Wind it to the top, drive off that floor driving into the left hand side. Now the point of impact is actually at here, my right heel can be up in the air while the people feel that lifting the heel for impact is a bad thing. It's not at all. You should lift your right heel through the impact area turning through the ball this way is a much more powerful way of generating the club head speed. You need to hit the golf ball of impact turning in this way, lots of pressure now going back in through to my left foot turning action here, pressing off my right foot.

Now release fully off your right foot to the tiptoe. No body weight here to speak of at all, everything into my left foot. Just be careful that you don't over rotate on your left foot lifting the big toe up and letting yourself fall into your little toe or your heel because you'll be slightly off balance. So if you can keep your left big toe nicely planted in the finish onto a straight left leg, big toe pressed into the floor. There's the full finish and hopefully you could get your foot work right you're building the foundations for a good upper body swing as well.