by PGA Professional Paul Purtzer

PURTZER GOLF ACADEMY SWING TIP - head position at impact

May 2004

This golf swing tip is designed to help you make more consistent contact with the ball and be more accurate as well by keeping your head steady and behind the ball at impact.

My brother Tom and I were taught early in our careers to keep our heads steady-not moving up and down or back and forth. I used to think that the only way to play was to play great golf was to keep the head very still-one of Arnold Palmer's and Jack Nicklaus' most important if not THE most important key to their great success.

Then Hal Sutton and Curtis Strange came along and achieved great success for a period of time by moving their heads 4-6 inches or more away from the ball on the backswing. They did however NOT move past the ball on their forward swing and did NOT move their heads up and down.

I still believe the best way for you to play up to your potential is to keep the head still, not moving up and down-nor side to side.

Good posture will help you keep your head still. Probably the biggest impediment to keeping the head steady is the CHIN NEEDS TO BE UP NOT DOWN at address! I know you have heard this many times "keep your head down". That is one of the worst things you can do in golf!!

Keep your chin up! This will help you keep your spine straight and for you to be able to swing around your spine and keep your head steady. If you are wearing sunglasses, you need to be looking thru the bottom of your lenses (get rid of those bi-focals and get some distance only lenses).

The best way to check if your head is staying still is to have your professional or friend check it. If that is not possible, swing with the sun behind you so you can see your shadow.

As always, I hope this will help you enjoy this great game even more! See your professional soon if you have questions so he can make sure your fundamentals (grip, stance, psoture, etc.) are correct as well as your head staying still so you can play your best golf all the time!

Swing smooth and hit it long and straight!

Paul

Paul Purtzer, President
PURTZER GOLF
3939 E. Taro Lane
Phoenix, AZ. 85050

602 569-7960
www.purtzergolf.com