A weak or “soft” left side (for right handers) is among the game’s most common swing faults in golf. I see it all the time when giving golf lessons, especially with beginners. While it may seem like a minor fault to some, it’s not. A weak left side not only robs you of accuracy and power, but also hampers your ballstriking and bloats your scores and golf handicap.
Your legs are a source of power in golf. Problems arise, however, when your legs drive too hard toward the target in the downswing. As the lower body drives, the upper body drags behind the ball, placing pressure to adjust on your hands and arms, which must play catch-up to square the clubface in time for impact. Sometimes they do. Sometimes they don’t. Whatever happens, the fault derails your swing.
The 5 keys to overcoming this fault are
You must keep a firm left side through impact to have an effective swing, regardless of the club you use. In other words, the left side of your body must be firm enough to both support and resist the clubhead’s release as your trunk unwinds. It’s the secret to generating power. A weak or soft left side affords no resistance to the clubhead, since there’s nothing for you to hit against.
But the problem is easily corrected. Simply turn your left foot (for right-handers) in- wards slightly when you practice. Doing so eliminates the tendency to drive towards the ball as you swing through impact. It also encourages a much better rotation of your upper body against the resistance of a braced left leg.
The result is a much more efficient, effective release of the torque created in your backswing. That in turn enhances your ballstriking and generates the power you need to cut strokes from your scores and lower your golf handicap.
Jack Moorehouse is the author of the best-selling book How To Break 80…And Shoot Like The Pros!. He is NOT a golf pro, rather a working man that was able to figure out the secrets of shooting in the 70’s on a consistent basis without quitting your day job. Jack has helped thousands of golfers from all seven continents lower their handicap immediately.