Finding the Fix for Heavy and Thin Shots

Head and Hip Position for Clean Contact

By Steve Hancock

Making great contact starts with your head and hip position. Using OptiMotion, we show in the image on the left Hannah’s head remains in the same position when she takes the club back. In addition, her trail leg should say inside the red line. When both of these things line up she is on her way to great contact.

In contrast, look at the image of Hannah on the right side of the screen. Her head has moved back and out of the circle, and her trail leg has moved back and past the line. From this position it is tough to recover and make a solid strike on the ball.

The OptiMotion numbers continue to tell the story. On the right, the numbers in red indicate that Hannah’s shoulder sway has moved back 5.1 inches and her hip sway has moved back 1.5 inches. On the left, the green numbers indicate that Hannah is moving toward the target 3 inches with her shoulder sway and 2.1 inches with her hip sway.

The Drill to Fix Heavy and Thin Shots

This drill is as simple as using a prop to ensure you aren’t moving the wrong way when you take the club back.

1. Have a coach or friend hold an alignment stick or pool noodle just off your trail ear about an inch, as demonstrated in the image to the right.

2. When you take the club back make sure you don’t hit the alignment stick with your head. This will ensure you’re not swaying back off the ball.

3. On the downswing, not only should your head not touch the alignment stick, it actually should be moving even further from the stick and towards the target. Using a physical object like an alignment stick is the best way to train yourself not to move away from the target.

Getting good at this drill will help your impact, as it ensures your body position stays over the ball instead of swaying back off of it. To see your shoulder sway and hip sway numbers on OptiMotion come in to your local GOLFTEC today.

Visit www.GolfTec.com/Golfing-Magazine for a $75 Swing Evaluation and $75 Club Fitting with GOLFTEC Certified Coach ($125 Value Each)