Tension at the start of a golf swing can wreck the chances of a good shot. Being able to swing the club away from the ball smoothly is one of the most important aspects of a golf shot. A forward press is designed to help perfect that part of the golf swing.
What is a Golf Forward Press?
Golf is different from many sports because the object ball is stationary. This means it is possible for a golfer to freeze before a swing. The arms and hands become tense, which affect the shoulder and neck muscles, the legs can lock out and a smooth takeaway becomes almost impossible. A forward press is a technique to stop the golfer from becoming too static.
Nearly every pro golfer uses a forward press to keep the body moving before the swing starts. Often it is hardly noticeable to the eye, and there are many variations, but if you can find something that suits you it will lead to a smoother swing with more rhythm.
How to Develop a Perfect Smooth Takeaway
When you stand to the ball it is important to keep moving. If you watch the pros closely they hardly ground the club for any length of time before they start the swing. As they have a final glance at the hole you can see them transfer weight from one leg to the other preparing the muscles to fire in the right sequence. This is teir forward press.
- Don’t ground the club until the last possible moment.
- Feel the weight moving from one leg to the other as you look at the hole
- Use your hands to slightly waggle the club back and forward to free the hands from tension.
There is no forward press that is exactly the same. Another sport where the object ball is stationary is pool or snooker. Watch a pool player closely to see them using subtle movement to avoid tension in exactly the same way. Often the middle finger of their bridge hand taps the table in preparation for the cuing action. It is exactly the same principal for a golfer.
Good Technique Requires Timing
A golfer can have the best technique in the world but without rhythm and timing it will not be effective in the long run. Finding a way to break the tension at the beginning of the swing is the best way to making a natural free pass at the ball.
Experiment down the range to find the best method for your swing. Try moving each set of muscles in a different subtle way to see which method suits you best.
During the round, as you become more and more tense, try to keep the routine exactly the same for all shots as most golfers start to get quicker and quicker. Use the forward press to keep the rhythm of your swing the same for the whole round.
Related Articles - How to Teach the Golf Stance - Pro Tip or What is an Over the Top Swing - PGA Tip
John Hoskison - John is a class 'A' member of the British PGA and author of the acclaimed book 'Inside - One Man's Experience of Prison'.
