Why Would You Want To Keep The Left Heel Down During The Golf Swing (Video) - by Peter Finch
Why Would You Want To Keep The Left Heel Down During The Golf Swing (Video) - by Peter Finch

There are so many opinions out there on the golf swing. Sometimes it can be hard to find the technique which fits you. And one of the key areas which is certainly open for discussion amongst coaches and players is what you should be doing with the left heel during the golf swing. Now some coaches advocate as you actually take the club away that the left heel should rise throughout the backswing. And as you get to the top of the backswing, it should be fully cleared off the floor. This allows hip turn. It allows shoulder turn. It allows a little bit more rotational power during the backswing.

Some people however, some coaches they want that left heel to stay planted on the ground. And it is pretty much for precisely the opposite reasons. If that left heel stays planted to the ground, the hip turn in the backswing is slightly more restricted. There's only so much you can actually turn that right hip as long as the right knee stays nice and firm. And you can’t quite turn as much on the backswing. Now what this will do is it will make the amount of moving parts in your golf swing greatly reduced. So as that left heel comes up, the right hip moves more. The right knee has to straighten more. The shoulders have to turn more on the backswing. And then on the way down, the left heel has to plant, and then the body has to come through. If that left heel stays planted, all you need to do is turn against that right knee. That right hip will still open a little bit. The turn away in the backswing, that right kind of -- that left heel stays planted down. And then all you need to do from there is actually transfer on to the left side, move through and actually strike. So this part of the golf swing is off the debate. But if you're looking to kind of increase power, you can lift it up. But if you are looking to have that a little bit more consistency and you have no issues with flexibility within the swing then may be keeping that left foot planted on the ground could be the way forward for you. Probably the best thing to do is try both techniques out, see which one favors you the best, and then go from there. 2016-06-06

There are so many opinions out there on the golf swing. Sometimes it can be hard to find the technique which fits you. And one of the key areas which is certainly open for discussion amongst coaches and players is what you should be doing with the left heel during the golf swing. Now some coaches advocate as you actually take the club away that the left heel should rise throughout the backswing. And as you get to the top of the backswing, it should be fully cleared off the floor. This allows hip turn. It allows shoulder turn. It allows a little bit more rotational power during the backswing.

Some people however, some coaches they want that left heel to stay planted on the ground. And it is pretty much for precisely the opposite reasons. If that left heel stays planted to the ground, the hip turn in the backswing is slightly more restricted. There's only so much you can actually turn that right hip as long as the right knee stays nice and firm. And you can’t quite turn as much on the backswing. Now what this will do is it will make the amount of moving parts in your golf swing greatly reduced. So as that left heel comes up, the right hip moves more.

The right knee has to straighten more. The shoulders have to turn more on the backswing. And then on the way down, the left heel has to plant, and then the body has to come through. If that left heel stays planted, all you need to do is turn against that right knee. That right hip will still open a little bit. The turn away in the backswing, that right kind of — that left heel stays planted down. And then all you need to do from there is actually transfer on to the left side, move through and actually strike. So this part of the golf swing is off the debate.

But if you're looking to kind of increase power, you can lift it up. But if you are looking to have that a little bit more consistency and you have no issues with flexibility within the swing then may be keeping that left foot planted on the ground could be the way forward for you. Probably the best thing to do is try both techniques out, see which one favors you the best, and then go from there.