Head...please stay still!!

[D_Golfer]

Hi guys,

I've been told at my golf classes that i need to keep my head still.

This is true because when i do my backswing my head rotates in the same directions as the arms.

Just wanted to know if you guys know any drills for me to improve this!!

Thanks.

[cnosil]

Hi guys,

I've been told at my golf classes that i need to keep my head still.

This is true because when i do my backswing my head rotates in the same directions as the arms.

Just wanted to know if you guys know any drills for me to improve this!!

Thanks.

Don’t know what your instructor is trying to do or how much your head is moving, but speaking in general terms keeping the head down or keeping the head still is bad advice.

If you are taking lessons, ask the instructor; that is why you are paying him.

[DaveP043]

3 hours ago, D_Golfer said:

Hi guys,

I've been told at my golf classes that i need to keep my head still.

This is true because when i do my backswing my head rotates in the same directions as the arms.

Just wanted to know if you guys know any drills for me to improve this!!

Thanks.

Keeping your head still is a positive thing, but its a by-product of all of the other things that go on during your swing.  Concentrating on a still head can be counterproductive, its better to determine WHY your head moves, and address that issue.  And that is, as @cnosil says, is a job for your instructor.

[PlaidJacket]

I've heard this works after only one use.

https://www.silverpharaoh.com/products/original-vintage-golfers-crotch-hook-1963

[RickyBobby_PR]

51 minutes ago, cnosil said:

Don’t know what your instructor is trying to do or how much your head is moving, but speaking in general terms keeping the head down or keeping the head still is bad advice.

If you are taking lessons, ask the instructor; that is why you are paying him.

Exactly. Some head movements are bad while others aren’t. I’m with you if taking lessons have the instructor give the drills instead of guys on the Internet that haven’t seen your swing or know what the instructor is talking about.

One could do a Google/YouTube search and find various videos and drills that may or may not help if they aren’t addressing the specific issue.

[russtopherb]

Not sure what your instructor's intent is like the others said. My instructor *wants* my head to turn slightly on the backswing to encourage more of a shoulder turn and to lessen strain on my neck and back. Tough for us to give you drills that may run counter to A) what your instructor wants, and B) what might be best for your body & swing.

[GolfSpy AFG]

@cnosil nailed it.  Rigid "don't move your head" or "keep your head down" advice tends to translate into limiting your turn and ability to rotate, in my opinion.  Watch clips of Nicklaus, or DJ, and you'll see they turn their head in their backswing.

I think the main concern that you're hinting at is lateral movement away from the ball in the backswing, or sliding and swaying, rather than turning, which will have the effect of your head and entire body moving off the ball.  And, if a video shows your head changing height excessively it's often an indication you're not maintaining your spine angle and are possibly early extending.

I am no instructor and rarely dispense swing advice since I don't consider myself to be good enough to be dishing out advice, but I think you'll find most decent golfers and coaches will agree "keep your head down" is maybe the most popular bad advice floating around out there.

My two cents FWIW...

[dlow206]

I at times have the real head movement problems, as identified by a quality instructor, too much lateral head movement, too much up and down. The head and body are going together in those movements, so it causes bad results.

[den748]

Sometimes I feel like "keep your head still" is a way of saying "keep your eyes on your target".  I remember when I learned my dad would say "keep your head still" more as a keep your head down and don't try to follow the ball before it's been hit.  I hope that makes sense.   I don't know.... as others have said, ask your instructor the reasoning behind it. 

[RickyBobby_PR]

7 minutes ago, den748 said:

Sometimes I feel like "keep your head still" is a way of saying "keep your eyes on your target".  I remember when I learned my dad would say "keep your head still" more as a keep your head down and don't try to follow the ball before it's been hit.  I hope that makes sense.   I don't know.... as others have said, ask your instructor the reasoning behind it. 

And yet Duval and Annika both looked away as they made contact. 

[D_Golfer]

I think what my instructor is referring to is that when i rotate my body my head rotates and my spine slightly sways causing major inconsistencies in strike and direction

[RickyBobby_PR]

20 minutes ago, D_Golfer said:

I think what my instructor is referring to is that when i rotate my body my head rotates and my spine slightly sways causing major inconsistencies in strike and direction

If that’s the case a drill to fix you head is fixing a symptom and not the cause. Work with your instructor on what’s needed for what he’s trying to do. Anything else is counter productive to having an instructor. 

[GolfSpy AFG]

8 minutes ago, RickyBobby_PR said:

If that’s the case a drill to fix you head is fixing a symptom and not the cause. Work with your instructor on what’s needed for what he’s trying to do. Anything else is counter productive to having an instructor. 

Right.  This is the value of an instructor...far better equipped than most to sort out and distinguish between symptoms versus the actual ailment.

[TR1PTIK]

I'll second what pretty much everyone else here has said. If you're paying an instructor to help you with your golf swing then it's on them to help you accomplish the objectives set out by providing drills. Perhaps more importantly, you should work with the instructor to discover a "feel" that helps you achieve a specific goal. If they are unwilling or unable to do that for some reason then I'd recommend finding a new instructor. 

[den748]

1 hour ago, RickyBobby_PR said:

And yet Duval and Annika both looked away as they made contact. 

Well, I know smokers who lived to 90+....doesn't mean it's what will work for the vast majority of people.  Generally when teaching someone new you'd want to focus on works for most people THEN start finding exceptions.  If someone who has never seen a golf swing asked you to describe a swing, are you going to describe Matt Wolff or are you going to go with something more like Adam Scott?

So I'm not saying you're wrong in saying it isn't a requirement, and I'm not saying I'm right that it HAS to stay "down"  but I've never been a fan of trying to use 1% of the 1%-ers as a baseline. 

[Micah T]

There are great drills to help keep you in posture/maintain spine angle, but you might need more clarification from your teacher. I used to hate how much time my instructor spent talking to me, but it’s vital that you understand exactly what they want. I ended up asking a lot of questions back until he said, “yes, exactly”


Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy

[Guest Delete]

On 6/22/2020 at 8:17 AM, D_Golfer said:

I think what my instructor is referring to is that when i rotate my body my head rotates and my spine slightly sways causing major inconsistencies in strike and direction

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Edited June 29, 2020 by Delete
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[RickyBobby_PR]

10 minutes ago, TimoTe said:

I might be shot for this but, I disagree with most of the responses here about not trying to keep your head still in the swing. 

Your address position and impact position with different head positions are a recipe for inconsistent strikes. 

If you watch any pro there is head movement slightly lateral and slightly dipping. It’s very subtle for most but it’s far from still. 
 

Not allowing the head to move will negatively impact the bodies ability to rotate. 

[dlow206]

Monte has a good video on this

 

 

[RickyBobby_PR]

12 minutes ago, dlow206 said:

Monte has a good video on this

 

 

That is a good one and AMG has one about different movements as well

 

 

[Guest Delete]

On 6/22/2020 at 11:33 AM, RickyBobby_PR said:

If you watch any pro there is head movement slightly lateral and slightly dipping. It’s very subtle for most but it’s far from still. 
 

Not allowing the head to move will negatively impact the bodies ability to rotate. 

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Edited June 29, 2020 by Delete
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[russtopherb]

33 minutes ago, TimoTe said:

Keywords: slight and subtle

If an instructor is pointing it out then it is not slight nor subtle. 

I think we can all agree that nobody is expecting a still head to be rigid, like a statue. Still refers to calm, quiet, stable in an effort to remain centered. 

Arguing over semantics is distracting from the request for help to improve on a known fault that has been pointed out. 

The slight/subtle dip and lateral movement are results of lower body weight shifts in well balanced professional golfers who actually keep their upper buddies relatively still to maximize consistency of impact. An example is the Ben Hogan "A" where his weight shift of the lower body outlines an A frame. Notice how quiet his head is relative to how Dynamic his lower body is. 

It's not arguing over semantics, it's a centered head rotating/slightly dipping vs a head moving laterally side to side. Two completely different things.

The OP has an instructor who has given them something to do. The OP should be asking their instructor for drills and tips, not random people on the internet who all think they know more than they really do. 

[Golfspy_CG2]

5 hours ago, D_Golfer said:

I think what my instructor is referring to is that when i rotate my body my head rotates and my spine slightly sways causing major inconsistencies in strike and direction

Hey, I know that move

 

[RickyBobby_PR]

1 hour ago, TimoTe said:

Keywords: slight and subtle

If an instructor is pointing it out then it is not slight nor subtle. 

I think we can all agree that nobody is expecting a still head to be rigid, like a statue. Still refers to calm, quiet, stable in an effort to remain centered. 

Arguing over semantics is distracting from the request for help to improve on a known fault that has been pointed out. 

The slight/subtle dip and lateral movement are results of lower body weight shifts in well balanced professional golfers who actually keep their upper buddies relatively still to maximize consistency of impact. An example is the Ben Hogan "A" where his weight shift of the lower body outlines an A frame. Notice how quiet his head is relative to how Dynamic his lower body is. 

Unless I read your post wrong you are suggesting that one should keep their head still where as I’m saying that’s not what the pros do and that there’s movement in the head and for some it’s subtle meaning they move it and the naked eye doesn’t see it where slight it a little more noticeable. 
 

The head in any golf golfer will move and depending on the movement it could be good or bad. The video from Monte that was posted demonstrates the good and bad and the one I posted from AMG shows 3 different golfers head moving.

Yes more than likely what the OP is saying is more in line with the Monte video and that’s bad. But like everyone is saying it’s best to leave tips and drills to his instructor since he’s the one that pointed it out and should be telling him what to to and how to do it.

[Firebird]

I was always taught the some lateral movement of the head is ok.  My head moves back about 1" during my back swing.

 

Edited June 22, 2020 by Firebird
Added video

[dlow206]

4 minutes ago, Firebird said:

I was always taught the lateral movement of the head is ok but not vertical movement. My head moves back about 1" during my back swing.

1" isn't that much. It's more of a problem when there is much more movement than that.

[CarlH]

Rather than focusing on my head, I focus on maintaining my spine angles.  Since my head is attached to my spine, if I maintain proper spine angles throughout the swing, my head should not be an issue.  If I raise or lower my forward spine angle, my head (and shoulders) will move up or down.  If I lose my lateral spine angle, my head (and shoulders) will sway toward or away from the ball.  Focusing on my spine angle is easier for me than trying to keep my head relatively still while still executing a rotational move with my sternum and hips.  Same results, different thoughts.  Your mileage may vary.   

 

[cnosil]

Here is a video of Tiger;  head moves quite a bit in my opinion

 

[RickyBobby_PR]

8 hours ago, cnosil said:

Here is a video of Tiger;  head moves quite a bit in my opinion

 

And it’s funny listening to the announcers talk about the amount it moves. 

[RickyBobby_PR]

A little video of Hogan and you seen see how his head and body are in a different spot before impact. 

for some reason it wouldn’t let me past the code so here’s the link to the article with the video

https://consistentgolf.com/ben-hogans-grid-swing/