What’s the proper weight shift during the swing?

The Proper Weight Shift in the Stabilizer Swing

In the stabilizer swing method, proper weight distribution prioritizes structural integrity, balance, and repeatability over aggressive lateral shifts. Unlike swings that load heavily onto the trail side, the stabilizer approach maintains a forward-biased weight position throughout to promote compact motion, efficient contact, and reliable accuracy. This minimizes the typical short-right miss and ensures consistent ball-striking under pressure, much like the precise techniques of champions such as Ben Hogan and Scottie Scheffler.

Setup Position: Establish Forward Balance

• Position 60% of your weight on your lead foot at address. This creates a stable base centered over the ball.
• Keep your head and sternum directly over the ball, with knees flexed and spine tilted slightly away from the target.
• Avoid even distribution or trail-side favoritism—forward weight promotes a descending blow and compression.

Backswing: Maintain Lead-Side Pressure

1. Initiate the backswing by turning your shoulders around your spine without significantly shifting weight to your trail side.
2. Feel your weight staying on your lead side even at the top of the backswing. Resist any lateral sway—your sternum remains over the ball.
3. Maintain dynamic balance by coiling efficiently; no reverse weight shift (where weight moves forward prematurely) or raised swing center.

This controlled backswing keeps the center of rotation stable, ensuring the club returns to the ball on a repeatable path.

Downswing and Through Impact: Rotate Without Shifting

1. Start the downswing by maintaining your forward weight and rotating your shoulders down and through.
2. Drive the club with a descending blow, feeling shaft lean at impact for optimal compression.
3. Preserve spine angle and posture through impact—your sternum stays over the ball, promoting forward shaft lean and clean contact.

Common Faults and Corrections

• Reverse Weight Shift: Weight moves forward on the backswing, causing poor drivers and fat shots. Correct by drilling lead-side pressure.
• Excessive Trail Load: Leads to sway and inconsistency. Focus on shoulder turn without hip slide.
• Lateral Sway: Head moves off the ball. Use a sternum-over-ball mirror check.

Key Drills for Mastery

• Lead-Side Pressure Drill: Setup with 60% lead weight; backswing while pressing into your lead foot. Hit 50-yard pitches focusing on no trail shift.
• Sternum Stay Drill: Place a glove under your trail foot; swing without disturbing it. Visualize sternum over ball from address to follow-through.
• Impact Bag Drill: Thrust into the bag with forward shaft lean, maintaining lead-side weight for compression feel.

Key Takeaway: The stabilizer swing's weight shift is minimal and forward-focused—60% lead at setup, maintained through rotation—for unmatched repeatability and precision. Master this for reliable performance that wins tournaments through consistency, not power.