Question for all...balance

[Jim Kobylinski]

Who thinks they can work on their balance in their swing? If you need clarification, what i am talking about is those of you who feel you have poor balance, do you think you can actually "work" on that?

Thanks.

 

[MrMichael]

I think your balance is a result of your setup and swing itself. So my answer would be no you can't work on your balance in your swing. Correctly working on your swing will improve your balance. If that makes since. Balance is a result of the swing not the swing result of balance. Geez now I'm not sure if that makes since. I think I have confused myself. No wonder I shoot 73 one day and 83 the next.

 

[Teris10]

I agree that it's tough to work on balance alone. For me, when I move off the ball too much, I don't have the balance I want through the swing. So I try not to move off the ball too much and get to a full, balanced finish. But I get the balance with a different swing thought than "maintain your balance."

 

[bendet3]

Jim,
I guess it depends on your definition of "work". It is something that I am constantly thinking about when practising and playing, so I would say that I monitor it yes.

 

[Bigwill]

I think that some people may be better equipped naturally than others, as far as balance is concerned, but I'm sure you can improve your balance in the swing. Heck, balance beamers and tight ropers didn't come out of the womb doing it; they had to learn. I just think that it's something that you have to focus on in order to improve it, unless you happen to improve mechanical things in your swing that compromise your balance in the first place.

 

[Damon Lucas]

Yes....I think you can!

1. Good posture encourages good balance;
2. Good footwork encourages good balance;
3. Good swing mechanics encourage balance;
4. Swing and/or hit balls off sideslopes, upslopes, downslopes encourage better balance;
5. Hitting balls in the wind does likewise;
6. To a lesser extent swinging on one leg, various balance contraptions(Leaderboard, balance discs, etc) 'help';
7. Eyes closed swings

Any more?

 

[Toolish]

Barefoot swinging...balance is all about where pressure is in your feet...and adjusting things to centralise it...

Yes it can be worked on...but often it is a result of fixing other things in the swing...set-up and rhythm mainly.

 

[Jim Kobylinski]

Interesting responses.

 

[Jim Kobylinski]

Jim,
I guess it depends on your definition of "work". It is something that I am constantly thinking about when practising and playing, so I would say that I monitor it yes.

Meaning something you can practice to improve, but in your golf swing. Obviously you can work on your balance...i do it 2 days a week at physical therapy for my horrendous sprain i had 5 months ago.

Again, something you can practice/work on that will improve....in your golf swing.

 

[Leek]

I used to practice on a foam half roller. It's a 6" x 4 foot styrofoam cylinder cut in half lengthwise. Place on a hard surface, rounded side down. Start by practicing address. Once that's comfortable, just make a backswing. After a while you can include a downswing.

It really improves both balance and core strength. An added benefit, on the backswing, the club MUST be on the TSP or you'll fall down!

If you are interested Jim, I have several documents with roller drills by a Golf physical trainer.

 

[Jim Kobylinski]

I used to practice on a foam half roller. It's a 6" x 4 foot styrofoam cylinder cut in half lengthwise. Place on a hard surface, rounded side down. Start by practicing address. Once that's comfortable, just make a backswing. After a while you can include a downswing.

It really improves both balance and core strength. An added benefit, on the backswing, the club MUST be on the TSP or you'll fall down!

If you are interested Jim, I have several documents with roller drills by a Golf physical trainer.

What do you think that improved Leek?

 

[holeout]

I feel the question should be:

Does a good golf swing enhance your balance, or does good balance enhance your golf swing?

Like many other things, I think improvement of one's PIVOT would be the solution. The better the pivot, the better the balance.

So I suppose my answer would be that working on your pivot (i.e. golf swing) would improve your balance.

 

[puttmad]

Belly Button,
I don't move it too much to the right on the backswing, but make sure it leads on the downswing...

 

[Leek]

Jim

It helped strengthen my legs and core, gave me better alignments at address (bad alignment s make you fall off), and because of that improved my balance.

 

[FloydPT38]

Good stuff - Always like to hear about people working on posture and balance. There are many fun toys to help with balance.

As an addition (esp Jim) go down to the Nike Outlet and get a pair of Nike Free-shoes (very little support which is the idea) and go to the driving range or play 9

They feel like suped up slippers- goes along with Sam Snead's comment on being able to play barefoot and are about as close as you can get to barefoot-They have been my favorite golf shoes and regular shoes for the past year.

 

[Brian Manzella]

Balance is Overrated.

"Balance is Overrated."

Is that a mis-print?

Nope.

All "Balance" is is COUNTER-balancing a movement.

"You actually don't want perfect balance the whole swing."

What, are you kidding?

Nope.

A little off-balance movement is good, if you know how to use it.

Bob Gilder was a heck of a player o the PGA Tour in the 80's, and he fell down on every shot.

Some of the folks trying to stay "centered" look more "out-of-balance" then the ones who don't.

Ben Crenshaw likes his head to move when he putts.

 

[FloydPT38]

"Balance is Overrated."

That's kind of where I thought Jim may be heading - Kind of a set-up question.

It depends on what someone means when they say Balance. Balance or dynamic balance as I understand it, is not overrated because if you really have someone with poor balance they will not make more than one good swing every blue moon. If they have a lot of movement but still make good contact then they do have good "balance" and are able to counter balance as you mention. Often when someone says Golfer xyz has great balance it may be because they are not moving much which is not the same as balance. A lot of balance training is really improving your strength and your ability to quickly counter balance a movement.

So from what Brian said - I would say Bob Gilder had great balance - perhaps a lot of motion but great balance none the less.

 

[Spike]

It seems to me that when the clubhead is in balance....all is right with the world.

I think we spend so little time with the weight of the clubhead that balance is just a strength move.

Ernest Jones', Swing the Clubhead..... what a great concept

Toolish's answer concerning Rhythm is most certainly a very solid way to work on feel and balance.........if you know what Rhythm is, that is.

Overrated? I don't think so. Under-investigated? I'm sure of it!

Hold your finish for 5-7 seconds with your arms hanging at your sides kind of swinging a little. Look back in your mind and see/feel if you felt this way through the whole swing, ie, relaxed, no tension, free wheeling!

Three good reasons for holding your finish for 5-7 seconds.....

1. It is a place we need to know so the the force of the swing can be absorbed back into the body and then down into the earth.

2. It is a place we need to have for a time of reflection/internalizing whatever it is we are working on.

3. It is a place we need to have even if you MISS THE BALL completely.........'cause if you stay there for 5-7 seconds, everyone on the driving range thinks you hit it a long way!

Balance? You bet....it's an essential, but, it is in the clubhead where the secret lies.......imho

 

[Brian Manzella]

Nice thoughtful Post, Spike, but....

You are on a different subject it seems.

Working on being in balance as an idea and something to teach someone to do....

But what I am talking about is:

Balance as a FIX.

Balance as an IMPERATIVE/ESSENTIAL.​

I can walk through it, or fall down from it, and hit PERFECT shots.

Nicklaus fell back at the beginning of his career and he hit it BETTER then.

Most people look perfectly "balanced" on a practice swing. They don't have to worry about the clubface.

People fall all over themselves TRYING to make the ball go to the target.

Fix the damn grip/clubface/path/pivot.

 

[Jim Kobylinski]

Looks like Brian chimed in before me, but i was just curious to see some of the responses because i feel balance is very overrated in the golf swing and those who tend to have good balance tend to have good golf swings. I feel that your balance is a direct result of your mechanics you used in that golf swing.

Now, can you improve your balance? Sure, like i said i do it twice a week in physical therapy and it's really helping my injured ankle.

But can you work on the balance in your golf swing? I tend not to think so.

Thanks for all the insightful responses.