In an athletic “ready” position you are capable of moving instantly in any direction. Picture a basketball player guarding the ball, or a linebacker waiting for the snap. They don’t know exactly which way they will have to move, so they have to be ready to move in any direction.
In your golf “ready” position your weight will be on the balls of your feet. You should feel poised and “centered”, capable of athletic, tension-free movement. The key is to have your center of mass (a spot located a couple of inches up from your belly button and a couple of inches in from your spine) over the middle of your feet. That will give you a stable, vertical axis of rotation which will help you generate more clubhead speed and that extra 10 yards.
Here’s a quick test for athletic balance: Get in your address position and make a small hop. If you hop forward, your center of mass is too far forward over your toes (most common fault). Same idea if you hop backwards – your weight is too far back on your heels. If you hop straight up and come down still in balance, you are in athletic balance.
To set yourself up in athletic balance on the golf course add this simple component to your pre-shot routine: Just before initiating your golf swing alternately lift up and tap your left and right toes on the ground. You may need to adjust your posture or hips to find your athletic balance. Once you find it swing away. You’ll get that extra 10 yards AND make more consistent contact.
