STEADY HEAD

[lagster]

A steady (stationary) head is one of the 3 Essentials.
But, how steady should it be?

I seldom see a good player that has a BOB, or straightening of the spine on the BACKSWING.
I do see , however, many good players that have some lateral movement of the head on the BACKSWING. I don't see much lateral movement of the head, in good players, on the DOWNSWING, until after impact. Then the head moves over the left leg.

With players that have LAG, and a forward leaning shaft at impact... I see the head lowering some on the DOWNSWING. It seems to me that if the shaft is leaning forward X degrees at impact... that the head, or spine angle must lower the same amount in order for the RADIUS to match up.

What do you see? What are the acceptable limits for head movement?

 

[Archie Swivel]

If your head set atop your spine like a lolly-pop on a stick, you could turn around your spine (axis) without moving your head. But I think its more like a street basketball goal with the rim being your head and the pole being your spine (no backboard). If you wanted to rotate around the pole AND keep the rim stationary, you would have to move the pole. So I say your head should move enough on the backswing to accomodate your shoulders turning around the pole, without moving the pole. See Brian's Article on the Perfect Pivot.

(I edited this because my prior response seemed to assume we rotate our head around our spine, instead of our shoulders.)

ArchMan

 

[6bee1dee]

I was just dealing with the position of the head, well my head anyway, in the set up.
I am left eyed dominant and swing right handed, a good combination I feel.
I noticed that my head was stacked over the ball to much. I have a nice axis tilt at set up but the head was still over the ball too much. This was apparent watching some tape and not how it felt at address.
So... I moved my head slightly to the right and turned my eyes slightly to the right with the same nice axis tilt. My left eye now is over the club head and the ball, still lined up to my left arm pit as before, looks so far away from my head it was unsettling at first. BUT... two things happened. I wonderful unrestricted takeaway, shoulders turning without my chin in the way and a steady head behind the ball, no sway right or left. Solid Impact which is way better then Perfect Impact any day. LOL. ( my bad )

 

[lagster]

Another factor that I seldom hear talked about is the shoulder/chin relationship. Some people get the left shoulder UNDER the chin, some have the shoulder OVER the mouth( Nick Price), and some are in the MIDDLE of these.(AT THE TOP, OR END OF THE BACKSWING)

I've often wondered if this is a function of the size of the shoulders, or length of the neck, or something to do with flexability. Also, I think many people are taught to take the left shoulder UNDER the chin.

I think where this could be a problem area is when the shoulder causes the head to BOB UP or DOWN.

 

[Archie Swivel]

I'm going to go out on limb here is say that it is impossible to have a stationary head and have a proper pivot. My proof-- stand in a door way (hinges to left) and strike your golf stance with your right ear pressed against the door jam. Now pivot without changing your axis (spine) tilt or moving your axis. -Best visual I could come up with at my office.

Remember your spine is not in the middle of your torso- it runs along your back!

Arch

 

[bcoak]

Your ability to keep it still would be driven by your flexibility. If you can look at images of Stewart Cink, it is amazing how still he keeps his head. Maybe Redgoat can post some of him.
Keeping my head still is exactly what I am working on now, with my killer move being a down and forward m ovement of the head on my downswing.

 

[Brian Manzella]

Most people move their heads down becuase they are SEEKING the correct position. If they set up correctly in the first place (are you listening Tiger?) they wouldn't lower their head. Nicklaus sets up correctly and doesn't dip.

!

 

[Archie Swivel]

I don't dispute that you can swing with your head still, now. But can you do it without the axis running down your back not shifting or changing angles? I will check redgoats's site out for Cink's wing.