Dipping on your swing?
Focus on ball position, alignment and posture.
by Tom Harlan, Master Instructor
The Players Academy

I was working with a student the other day.  He had two problems – dropping his right shoulder – or dipping when he swings – and then come up on his toes, or standing up on impact.

Believe it or not, most swing problems are a reaction to a poor setup. If the right shoulder is dropping, then chances are the left shoulder is pulling up. These can both be caused by a set up that is either to bent forward (head down), standing too close to ball - or both.

When proper ball position, balance and posture are achieved, the result can be instant. This player made a simple set up change in less than an hour. Before, he was standing too close, his ball position was back of center and he was concentrating on keeping his head down.  The results were a dipping right shoulder, and coming out of the shot at the finish.

After making simple adjustments to his setup, a taller posture, standing slightly farther from the ball at address and moving the ball position front of center, his swing plane was returned to a natural, round feeling and the dipping was gone.

For another example, next time you're watching him on television and they're showing a slow-motion swing, take a look at Tiger Woods at impact.  Notice the ball position in proportion to his stance.  Pay attention to his shoulder and head position.  While his head is down on the ball at impact, it will follow the movement of his arms - not the forced "HEAD DOWN" as performed by many weekend golfers.

If you're going to copy a swing and observe proper alignment and positioning, you could do worse than Tiger Woods.

Best of Luck.

Tom Harlan has joined forces with legendary Golf Instructor Jim McLean and Dr. Rob Neal of Golf Biodynamics to offer a once in a lifetime learning expenice.  The Players Academy is located at The Jim McLean Golf Performance Center in Fort Worth, Texas.