| Bobby Jones published golf tips in several | | | | nothing I, or anyone else, can do for your golf |
| newspaper columns back in the 1920's. Fifty of | | | | game. Any shifting of the head, at any point from |
| these columns were compiled and printed in a | | | | address to impact, will alter the arc and plane of |
| book entitled The Best of Bobby Jones on Golf, | | | | the swing, which, if not a totally destructive |
| published in 1996. Jones was quoted: "Stay behind | | | | factor, is certainly a complicating one." All swing |
| the ball is a splendid maxim. Should your head | | | | pictures of Jack show his head to be held steady, |
| ever get ahead of the ball, at any point in the | | | | but also well behind the ball until after impact. |
| swing, a poor shot will no doubt result." | | | | Like many golfers, I have tried dozens of tips and |
| In Harvey Penick's, The Little Red Book, published | | | | instructional techniques, all to little or no avail. It |
| in 1992, page 75 is entitled "Stay Behind the Ball" | | | | was not until I focused on this aspect of the |
| "All great golfers move their head slightly | | | | swing, did I finally break 80, and that was at age |
| backward before and during impact, but never | | | | 65. Since then, I have broken 80 several times |
| forward. A golfer must stay behind the ball. I | | | | and I am finally able to enjoy the game. Learning |
| mean set up with your head behind the ball and | | | | to keep the head back was not easy. It required |
| keep your head behind the ball. If you move your | | | | considerable practice, much of which was done |
| head forward during your downswing or through | | | | without hitting balls. New muscle memory had to |
| impact, you will hit a wee, ugly shot, probably a | | | | be learned and such was not easy, particularly at |
| pulled slice." | | | | my age. But with tactile feedback to the head, |
| Tommy Armour, in How to Play Your Best Golf | | | | the bad habit of "looking up" could be overcome. |
| All the Time, (1953) emphasizes: The cardinal | | | | Tiger Woods published his book, How I Play Golf, |
| principle of all golf shot making is that if you move | | | | in 2007 and already it has become a bestseller. He |
| your head, you ruin body action. In his 12 key | | | | writes: "Impact should look like address. My spine |
| points summary to his book, Armour lists key | | | | angle is the same and my head is in virtually the |
| points 5, 10 and 12 identically as "keep your head | | | | same spot." The accompanying picture shows his |
| steady." Interestingly however, in all pictures of | | | | head to be well behind the ball. He concludes: "It |
| golfers' swings throughout the book, the head is | | | | proves how uncomplicated the golf swing can be." |
| seen as behind the ball through the impact area. | | | | What makes the golf swing complicated is the |
| David Leadbetter in 100% Golf, 2004, states: "the | | | | often contradictory instruction that can be found |
| head and upper body stay behind the ball as you | | | | in print and by word of mouth. Some pros will |
| unswing and accelerate into impact." Try to | | | | teach that the head should remain steady |
| maintain your spine angle from the set up all the | | | | throughout the swing. Some will preach that it is |
| way to the moment of impact and don't worry if | | | | OK to have some backward or lateral movement |
| your head has a little lateral movement. Your | | | | on the backswing and just before impact. Others |
| head and spine are behind the ball at impact. | | | | will say to keep your eye on the ball. But NONE |
| Jack Nicklaus is the most steadfast about head | | | | will suggest that the head come up, or move |
| movement. In his book Golf My Way (2005), | | | | forward of the ball until after impact. As written |
| Nicklaus offers this warning: "If you are hoping to | | | | above, most if not all pros will agree that the |
| improve your game through these pages, but | | | | head MUST stay back and behind the shot |
| can't or won't learn to keep your head steady | | | | through the impact zone. |
| throughout the swing, read no further. There is | | | | |