360 Degrees of Balance - "Center Of Gravity" - Golf Instruction by Daniel Lee in Orlando Florida

When I think of athletes who have the best balance, surfers are the first that come to mind. This is because they have the best sense of equilibrium of any individuals I have met.

The golf swing involves throwing a significant amount of weight at high speeds around your body while trying to maintain balance as much as possible. If the person swinging is pulled off balance, or off plane (the swing path with the ball), the path will no longer match up to the intended direction. Here is an important question to ask yourself that will help you understand how balance is effecting you:

It is of high importance to grasp this concept.*

Question

"What is the first thing that happens when weight pulls on something?"

Answer

"It moves it. All the weight that you have on the front of your body that is moving in front of your precise "center of balance" aka "center of gravity" is going to pull you when you start moving it."

Balance is created when the amount of weight and force pulling you in one direction can be equally opposed, by being pulled, pushed, shoved or even falling in the opposite direction before it moves ("Counter-Fall"). If you can grasp this concept you can figure out everything in your swing that is based on understanding balance.

Getting used to the idea of how we are able to balance ourselves is not hard to figure out. Try standing on one foot: by doing so you are putting all of your weight over the leg you are standing on at impact (left foot for a "right handed player"). How long can you stand there? Can you turn both directions without falling over? Do you think the leg would support you if you were swinging a club?

A great golf swing is only accomplished when the lower body fully clears at impact. "Every" great player achieves the same thing. What you are seeing is they have opposed the weight pulling on them from the front side of their body, with enough force in the opposite direction to rotate.

You are weak when you are turning! We all are weak when turning, just try hooking arms with a friend and then try to turn in the other direction. If you fall off balance in the swing when you have two feet on the ground, you won't become aware of it until you are in the down-swing and fighting for stability. You may not fall over, but your body will lock up in an effort to save your balance. Then you are left with a golf swing that has only the upper body moving.

To be a great player you must learn how to balance both sides of your body. There are ways to do this, and, regardless of your physical ability - you can strengthen your balance! Recently I have begun pushing myself to become proficient at hitting multiple drivers off one foot, first with my heel off the ground and then on the next shot with my toes off of the ground throughout the entire swing. While this is challenging and takes a deal of athleticism, it is teaching me to become more sensitive and better equipped at maintaining my balance. Regardless of your swing quality, becoming better balanced will strengthen your game.

The Gravity Golf drills in their most basic form, threaten your balance and make you sensitive to weaknesses in technique. If 1 footers are too strenuous, try the cross footed drills. They are still very demanding, but less stressful physically.

Please leave you comments below and I will respond to as timely as possible. All the best and enjoy yourself.

Daniel Lee
Director of Gravity Golf Inc.

Golf Instruction DVD
"How It Works & How To Learn It"