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Should your head stay still in golf swing?

Author

Sarah Smith

Published Jan 14, 2026

The most important thing is to keep your head from bobbing up and down. If it does, you have to return it to the level it was at address to make solid contact. That's tough to do consistently. Remember, it's OK to slide or swivel your head—just maintain your height.

Should you keep your head still golf swing?

But first, it's time to dispel a myth… you do not need to keep your head still (or head down) in the golf swing as you make impact. You need to lift it as you're hitting the shot so you can keep rotating through toward the target.

What happens if you don't keep your head down in golf?

By keeping your head down this will cause you to limit your upper body rotation as it goes through the hitting area along with not allowing your weight to shift properly in your swing. Also, by keeping your head down you will not allow your arms full extension at impact.

Should you keep your head behind your golf ball?

It is critical that your head position in the golf swing stay behind the ball throughout the entire swing and especially at impact. This is because we need our head behind the ball for maximum release at impact. If your head is in front of the golf ball at impact, you'll always be robbing yourself of power.

How do I stop looking up in the golf swing?

A good way to stop standing up at impact is to focus on your head. Indeed, if the head is not allowed to rise or move at all vertically the upper body will be forced to move while keeping it in place. And in doing so, the spine angle should remain constant throughout the swing, which is one the things being sought.

25 related questions found

How do you keep your head down when putting?

For most people, the thought of maintaining a steady head is the key to staying still while putting; for others, just focusing on your CG and its position between your feet is the key.
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Conclusion

  1. Control your head sway.
  2. Control your head rotation.
  3. Control your head lift.
  4. Control your head thrust.

Should you keep your head down when putting?

“Everyone says you should keep your head still on short putts,” Wagner says, “but I've found that if you try to lock in your eyes or your head, your stroke can become restricted. One of the best tips I ever got was to forget about my head and instead try to keep my rear end still.

Should your head move when putting?

There is no reason for the head to be moving at any point during a putting stroke. It can only cause bad things. It can only cause bad pace control, bad alignment and bad striking. So the head should stay absolutely perfectly still during the putting stroke.

Why do I keep lifting my head in golf?

Balance. If you are lifting up during the downswing, it means that your body is performing some unnecessary movements. Whether it's shoulders lifting, back-arching, knees or waist extending, or head raising, the result is almost always going to be a slight loss of balance.

Should your head be behind the ball when chipping?

Now, as you set up to the ball, especially when pitching and chipping the ball, note the position of the shaft from your perspective. Because your head should be slightly forward of the ball position, you should be looking more at the front side of the shaft so to speak.

Why do I hit behind the golf ball with my irons?

Improper Weight Transfer

During the backswing, the player's weight is on the back foot. Failure to naturally transfer the weight through the ball and onto the left commonly causes the club to drop behind the ball. The body and the club must work together in a proper weight transfer.

Where should my weight be when chipping?

When chipping, always be sure to pre-set your weight to your front foot. You should lean with a slight majority of the weight towards your target. Pretend your back foot is sore and allow the front to carry more weight. When leaning forward like this, always make sure to adjust your shaft proportionally.

Where should the ball be in your stance when chipping?

The set up for a chip shot is very simple with your feet close together, shoulders near level and the ball positioned in the center of your stance. Your stance should be slightly open to your target line. Keep your feet close together.

Why do I always top the ball in golf?

Typically, a ball is topped because the club has not gone far enough down towards the ball or you catch the ball on the way up, instead of at the bottom point. A lot of things can cause this to happen: A club that's too short. An awkward stance.

Should your elbows touch your body when putting?

Interlace your fingers, clasping your hands in front of you. Then, get into your putting posture, and place your hands over your belly button, your elbows bent outward at 45 degrees. Keeping your lower body quiet, engage your core muscles and use them to rock your arms and shoulders back and forth.

Should arms be straight when putting?

Make sure that as you tilt forward that you do not straighten your arms out - be sure to maintain the flex in the arms that you established during the set-up drill. If your putter does not reach the ground you can flex your kness a little or your club is too short for you.

What happens if you stand too far away from the golf ball?

Standing too far from the golf ball will result in poor posture, which could result in inconsistent shots and no control over the ball. Standing too far can result in less distance, heel shots, and can cause you to lose balance easily. Standing too far from the ball is pretty common for beginner players.