Golf Swing Posing Drill: Balance Point is a Magnet
A Legacy Post by Keiser University College of Golf Senior Faculty and Director of Research Dr. T. J. Tomasi (1940-2023)
In the 2011 Masters Tournament, 22-year-old Rory McIlroy shot a painful-to-watch final round 80 to fritter away the title. In the two months that intervened, he had to find a key to “be comfortable being uncomfortable” for his next major, The US Open at Congressional Country Club. He found it, shooting a record 16 under par.
What was this key? The simple thought of hitting your balance point – the point at the end of your swing when the club has stopped moving and your body is perfectly balanced. Balance is a principle around which every good swing is built. You don’t stay in balance because you make a good swing; you make a good swing because you’re in balance.
To find your personalized balance point, do my “Posing Drill.” Close your eyes, swing the club (without a ball), and pose in your finish position for a slow count of three (1 peanut butter sand wedge, 2 peanut butter sand wedge, etc.). Then open your eyes and check your feet, the curve of your body, and your back knee. Your main swing thought should be to nail this position for every swing while thinking of your balance point as a magnet that pulls you into your fingerprint position swing after swing. We’re built for walking and running, motions where your body naturally loses balance, topples forward, and then makes a correction to get back into balance. So, your body seeks balance naturally, and you can teach yourself the balance position you want to repeat by posing.
You need to comply with the demands of your balance system by letting your body find the correct flow of balance from position to position rather than forcing yourself into a one-size-fits-all configuration.
Note that part of our model, Rory McIlroy’s balance point, includes weight on the outside rim of his front foot. This look is a fingerprint for this player that never varies – he swings to it, to swing through it!
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Want more tips? If you want to take your game to the next level, contact our team at Keiser University’s College of Golf & Sport Management today. With our dedication and experience, we can elevate your game to new heights together. Give us a call today at 888-355-4465.
