Stop Swaying During Your Golf Swing
← Golf Instruction & Improvement | Swing Mechanics & Fundamentals
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Quick Answer
- Keep your lower body locked down by tightening your core.
- Drills that focus on rotation, not sliding hips, are key.
- Make sure your weight is balanced throughout the swing.
Who This is For
- Golfers who hit the ball inconsistently because their body moves too much.
- Anyone looking to add more power and accuracy by making their swing solid.
What to Check First for How to Stop Swaying During Golf Swing
- Grip: Is your grip too tight? That can make you tense up and sway. Check your manual for how much pressure is right. A death grip is never the answer.
- Stance: Are your feet wide enough? You want a stable base, usually about shoulder-width apart. Too narrow and you’re asking for trouble.
- Weight Distribution: Where’s your weight at address? It should be balanced, not way forward on your toes or back on your heels. Get centered.
- Flexibility: Can you turn your hips and shoulders without your lower body sliding? Tight hips can make you sway.
Step-by-Step Plan to Stop Swaying During Golf Swing
- Action: Widen your stance. What to look for: Your feet should be about shoulder-width apart, maybe a touch wider. Mistake: Having your feet too close together. That’s an invitation to sway.
- Action: Practice a shallow hip turn. What to look for: Your hips should rotate around your spine, like a spinning top, not slide away from the target. Mistake: Pushing your hips out towards the ball. That’s sway, plain and simple.
- Action: Engage your core. What to look for: Feel a slight tightness in your abdominal muscles. This acts like a brace. Mistake: Having a completely relaxed core. It’s the engine of your stable swing.
- Action: Focus on rotational movement. What to look for: Imagine turning your belt buckle towards the target on the backswing and away from the target on the downswing. Mistake: Thinking about sliding your hips instead of turning them.
- Action: Perform the “Chair Drill.” What to look for: Place a chair behind you, just outside your back hip. Swing back, trying not to touch the chair. Mistake: Your back hip sliding into the chair. That means you’re swaying.
- Action: Feel the weight shift correctly. What to look for: On the backswing, feel your weight move slightly towards your trail foot, but stay centered over your foot. On the downswing, shift it to your lead foot. Mistake: Your weight sliding completely off your feet or too far inside.
Common Mistakes
- Mistake: Narrow stance — Why it matters: It makes you unstable and prone to lateral movement. — Fix: Widen your stance to shoulder-width or slightly more.
- Mistake: Over-rotating hips — Why it matters: This causes your hips to slide instead of turn, killing power and accuracy. — Fix: Focus on turning your hips around your body, not sliding them away from the target.
- Mistake: Tight grip — Why it matters: Tension travels down your arms and into your body, encouraging sway. — Fix: Relax your grip pressure. It should feel firm, not like you’re crushing a soda can.
- Mistake: Thinking about “pushing off” — Why it matters: This cue often leads to a hip slide rather than a controlled rotation. — Fix: Focus on turning your hips and core.
- Mistake: Ignoring your core — Why it matters: A weak core can’t stabilize your body, leading to sway. — Fix: Actively engage your core muscles throughout the swing.
FAQ
- What is golf swing sway?
Sway in a golf swing is when your hips and lower body slide laterally away from the target during the backswing and then back towards the target on the downswing, instead of rotating around your spine.
- How does swaying affect my golf shots?
Swaying leads to inconsistent ball striking, loss of power, reduced accuracy, and can cause you to hit shots fat or thin. It throws off your clubface control.
- What are the primary causes of sway in a golf swing?
Common causes include a stance that’s too narrow, a lack of core engagement, trying to generate too much power with the lower body, and poor flexibility in the hips.
- How can I tell if I’m swaying?
You can film your swing and look for lateral hip movement away from the target. A common drill is to place a chair behind your back hip and see if you hit it on the backswing.
- Is it okay to have some weight shift in my swing?
Yes, a controlled weight shift is natural and necessary. The key is to differentiate between a controlled weight shift towards your trail leg and an uncontrolled slide away from the target.
- How often should I practice drills to stop swaying?
Regular practice is key. Even 10-15 minutes a few times a week focusing on these drills can make a big difference. Consistency beats intensity here.
Michael Reeves is a PGA Professional with over 20 years of experience in competitive golf and instruction. A former Division I collegiate player at the University of Texas, he competed on the mini-tours before transitioning to full-time coaching and golf journalism. He has been a certified PGA teaching professional since 2005 and has worked with players at every level, from absolute beginners to collegiate champions.
His writing has appeared in Golf Digest, Golf Magazine, and The Left Rough. At GolfHubz, Michael leads the editorial team, overseeing fact-checking and ensuring every answer meets the same standard he demands on the lesson tee: clear, evidence-based, and immediately useful.
When he’s not writing or teaching, Michael plays to a +1.4 handicap at his home club in Austin, Texas. He has attended over 40 major championships as a journalist and fan, and has played more than 200 courses across 15 countries.
You can reach Michael at [email protected] or follow his occasional swing analysis posts on the site.