| To offer tips for holding one's head like a | | | | 6. Some professionals are able to keep their heads |
| Professional, one must first understand exactly how | | | | steady until well after impact and into their follow |
| the Pro holds her/his head throughout the golf swing. | | | | through. |
| In his book, Golf My Way, the great Jack Nicklaus | | | | Interestingly, only conclusions 1 and 2 were |
| wrote: "I regard keeping the head very steady, if not | | | | consistent for ALL professionals. Some head |
| absolutely stock still, throughout the swing, as the | | | | movement is apparent and is satisfactory in |
| bedrock fundamental of golf. Jack goes on to write: | | | | conclusions 3 through 5. Conclusion 6 applies only to |
| "If you are hoping to improve your game through | | | | those very flexible golfers. Not many golfers are so |
| these pages (of his book), but can't or won't learn to | | | | flexible, nor do they need to be. Flexibility however is |
| keep your head steady throughout the swing, read | | | | beyond the scope of this article. |
| no further. There is nothing I - or anyone else- can | | | | But here are the Tips that will help you address the |
| do for your golf game." | | | | other conclusions. |
| Nicklaus first learned about the importance of a | | | | Tip #1. Start with some videos of your swing that |
| steady head from his instructor, Jack Grout. Grout | | | | can easily be taken. Address, set up, and a full golf |
| became frustrated with young Jack. He called him a | | | | swing take only three or four seconds. Get out your |
| "head bobber." So one day during a lesson, he had his | | | | cell phone/camera or video camera and have a |
| assistant extend his right arm, and grab and hold Jack | | | | partner take several videos of your swing. Get one |
| by his curly blonde hair. He then had Jack hit balls for | | | | video from the front so you can see your face, i.e. |
| several hours. Jack got the message and he got the | | | | the buckle on your belt. This shot will detect any |
| "feel." Nicklaus capitalized on this "feel" and went on | | | | head movement from left to right, behind the ball or |
| to win 73 PGA tournaments, including 18 Majors. | | | | in front of the ball, but along the target line. It will |
| Sam Snead was another proponent of a steady head | | | | also show any head movement up from the ball |
| throughout one's swing. He suggested and taught | | | | (vertically) or down toward the ball. Next get a video |
| that "the head is the anchor around which one must | | | | of your upper body from behind the target line. This |
| swing." Snead was extremely flexible and he had the | | | | view will show if you are pulling away from the ball, |
| physical make up that allowed him to maintain a very | | | | or lunging toward the ball, at any point during your |
| steady head throughout his swing. Sam went on to | | | | swing. |
| win 82 tournaments, including 7 Majors. Tiger Woods | | | | Tip #2. Armed with your videos, you can now use |
| and Lorena Ochoa on the other hand, each move | | | | this same Jack Grout technique to help gain the |
| their heads during their swings, at different times and | | | | "correct feel" for your head during your swing. With a |
| in different directions. Tiger's head moves down at | | | | wedge or short iron, take your normal setup and |
| transition and on his downswing. Lorena's head | | | | stance, as though you were addressing a ball. You |
| moves back from the ball, but along the target line, | | | | can place a coin on the floor to simulate the ball. Get |
| at impact. | | | | a friend, even your spouse, to extend their right arm |
| A thorough analysis of the swings of many of | | | | and grab you by your hair or top of your head. Take |
| today's top golfers, including Tom Watson, Phil, Ernie, | | | | a slow but normal swing. Your partner should be able |
| Sergio, Sean O'Hair, Rory Sabatini and others, leads | | | | to hold your head in a steady position, throughout |
| to the following conclusions that can be used to | | | | most of your swing and into your follow through. If |
| clarify and identify the movements or positions of | | | | you felt extra pressure to hold your head in a steady |
| professional golfers' heads during their golf swings: | | | | position while your partner was holding your head, it |
| 1. All professionals and low handicap golfers keep their | | | | means that your head wanted to move. Check any |
| heads behind the ball through impact. | | | | such movements with the videos from Tip#1. Focus |
| 2. No professionals move their heads up from the ball | | | | on correcting the unwanted movements. Eventually, |
| or away from the target line during take away, | | | | you will get the "feel" for a steady and professional |
| backswing, transition, and downswing or through | | | | head and learn to maintain that "feel." |
| impact. | | | | As the great Jack Nicklaus suggested, if you don't |
| 3. Some professionals move their heads back and | | | | understand or don't want to learn how your head |
| along the target line during the backswing. | | | | affects your swing, there is nothing anyone can do |
| 4. Some professionals move their heads down | | | | to help you improve your golf game. Use the Tips |
| (vertically) during the downswing, transition and | | | | above. Concentrate on your head position and |
| through the impact zone. | | | | particularly as it relates to the above mentioned |
| 5. Some professionals come up (vertically) and away | | | | conclusions, and you will see your golf swing and your |
| from the ball after impact. | | | | game improve. |