Keep Your Head Down And Swing Through The Ball
We can take a lesson from baseball to become better golfers. Ever since Little League we have been taught two things - “keep your eye on the ball” and “swing through the ball.” By performing these two simple techniques in the golf swing you will top the ball less, make fewer mis-hits and score better.
I tell every golfer I teach the same thing - if you look up to see where your shot is going, you are going to top the ball more often than hitting a good shot. If you keep your head down one full second after the shot, when you look up the ball will still be in the air. I like to have students say “one” out loud after hitting the ball before they can look up to see the ball. By doing this it helps the golfer keep their head down and “eye on the ball” through the shot.
A great teacher of golf, Harvey Penick, talks about making a good finish in his Little Green Video. If you do everything wrong during the swing but make a good finish, then you still have a chance to hit a good shot. Watch the guys and girls on the tour, and you will see when the players hit a good shot; they hold the finish or pose for the camera. After making your swing, hold your follow-through until the ball returns to the ground.
So as the Cubs and Cardinals start fighting for a playoff spot, let’s think about what we learned in Little League — “Keep your head down” and “Swing through the ball.”
- Written by Matt Schuerman, assistant professional at the ISU Golf Course.