What force plates have told us about golf

The Force Plate technology from Science and Motion Sports is a platform that monitors ground pressure.  It is a technology that has allowed us to see the invisible, (weight distribution) and how this can have a huge effect on every shot in golf.

The force plate technology has not only helped players improve their swings, and in turn their shot, but it has also trained the eye of teaching professionals.  What I mean by this, is what may have been accepted in the past as a well balanced address position, has now changed since the introduction of this equipment to teaching.  As a general rule, what most will think to be a well balanced address position when looking from the naked eye, will actually not be in balance.  

Below, the picture showing a “toe” balanced address is, for me, one of the most common faults, and perhaps what an accepted good address position would have looked like maybe 5 years ago, before force plate technology was introduced.   Having the correct visual look is the first part of making the change to a well balanced address, as you must have trust, and the correct concept first.  Also, every time you take your address and look in a mirror, you will have a visual reference of what is right and wrong.

So how do you find this balanced address without the force plate technology??

1)      If you were to take your shoes off and stand up straight, you would be easily able to lift your toes off the ground.  You do not need your toes to balance.  When you are in balance, your toes are only there to help you re-balance yourself when you get out of balance, which we need a lot in everyday life when walking around on uneven surfaces and up and down hills etc.  In a well balanced address, and for that matter, a well unbalanced swing, you should not need your toes at all!  Simply by taking your address, and lifting your toes off the ground, you will instantly know if you have too much weight forward at address.  If you do, you will start to fall over as soon as your toes are lifted.  Your natural instinct will make you react quickly, putting your toes down and re-balancing yourself.

I suggest you first do this exercise inside, with you shoes off for maximum sensation in your feet, and awareness of the correct balance point.  Once you have a feeling for a balanced address, go ahead and make some swings with your toes up.  If you feel like you are out of balance, or want to fall forward during the swing, you were probably shifting your weight towards your toes during the backswing or downswing, or both.  A fault that a lot of players have that will never result in consistently good shots.

2)      Using a mirror, take your address.  What you should look for is a position where your hips are behind your feet in an equal amount to your shoulders being in front of your toes.