Can’t Get Off Back Foot? Try More Loft

It has been my observation over the years in teaching and fitting that golfers who don’t get off their back foot (right foot for right handed golfers, left foot for left handed golfers) are making this motion because of insufficient loft in their driver. The Henry-Griffitts club fitting manual states that “too little loft is one of the biggest killer of swings” .

Typically, when there is not enough loft and a swing is made where the weight is transferred to the front foot, the result is a low flying shot. The golfer’s brain then goes to work and figures that this is not the proper way to swing. Therefore, it won’t take long for the golfer to start making a swing where the weight stays on the back foot in an effort to create loft and send the ball on a higher trajectory. This is exactly the result that the golfer gets albeit at the expense of distance. At this point, the golfer is confused. He complains that he’s hitting the ball too high, claims that his driver has TOO MUCH LOFT and is probably in the market for a new driver with less loft. Nothing could be further from the truth. What he needs is MORE LOFT.

To improve the golfer’s motion so that they move over to their front foot, hand them a lofted fairway wood with a flexible shaft. Watch what happens to the motion. In most cases, the individual will not even need to be coached on what to do. Just watch how they react to the ball flight. Sometimes the first few swings will result in a very high trajectory shot because they’re still making a swing in which they’re trying to help the ball into the air. It is also not uncommon for them to hit sky balls off the top of the club. You need to re-assure them that they’re doing great, that that is exactly what you thought they were going to do. If need be, show them how to move over to their front foot. Then, watch them start to hit the ball on a great trajectory and further than the driver they were trying to use.