Understand The Biggest Myth In Golf
“The reason the pro tells you to keep your head down is so you can’t see him laughing.” -Phyllis Diller
One of the most well known golf tips that most every golfer has heard at some point in time is “keep your head down.” In my years as a golf instructor, I have seen several players trying to do just this. While in theory it might make sense, what this is actually doing is making you struggle to make contact with the ball because you are not allowing you body to rotate in a natural motion.
Players that keep their head down, do nothing more but swing with just their arms. They struggle to make just to make contact with the ball, and when they do hit the ball well, there is no power behind the swing and no distance is be realized. By keeping your head down you are making the game of golf much harder than it should be just because of those 4 simple words. Keeping your head down is the worst advice that any golfer can receive, or give.
What you should actually be doing is “keeping your eyes on the ball.” In turn this will allow you to have your body rotate through a golf shot. You will get all of your body working together, your legs and hips, working with your upper body, working with your arms. This will be a much more repeatable swing, resulting in better ball striking and more consistency. The other positive outcome is that by using all of the muscles in your body you create more power and will hit the ball farther.
Remember, nothing good ever comes from keeping your head down. The next time these “words of wisdom” are said to you, just smile, nod, and forget everything that is said. Plus, now that you are keeping your eye on the ball, you get the joy of watching the great shots that you are hitting.