Golfers have been told for centuries to “keep your head down“through impact. It’s one of the most common swing tips in the game. But according to GOLFTEC Director of Teaching Quality Josh Troyer, is also one of the most damaging.
“The problem with ‘keep your head down’ is that it physically limits what your body has to do to generate speed,” says Troyer.
When golfers interpret the phrase literally, they tend to keep their head and eyes down on the ball throughout the swing. This may feel disciplined, but it comes at a cost. Restricting your head movement limits shoulder rotation and makes it extremely difficult for your chest to stay up through the swing—two movements that are essential for powerful and consistent ball hitting.
“If you try to look straight down at the ground and then point your chest up to the sky, it’s uncomfortable and hard to do,” he says. “Now imagine trying to do that at full speed with a golf club in your hands.”
This is exactly what many amateurs are trying. They’re keeping their head down while trying to create chest thrusts, and the body just can’t move that way very easily. The result is limited rotation, reduced speed and poorer contact.
“The best players in the world allow their head to turn and their neck to tilt a little to the right,” says Troyer. “A better tip is to follow the ball with your head, not keep your head down.”
By allowing the head to rotate naturally, the shoulders can turn more freely, the spine can be properly extended, and the chest can move up through the stroke. These movements make it easier to generate speed and hit the ball hard without feeling forced or restricted.
One thing you’ll never see, says Troyer, is a Tour player frozen on the ball after hitting.
“You’re not going to see a pro hit a shot with their head still looking down at where the ball was,” he says.
If you want proof, Troyer suggests watching top-level players in slow motion. Dustin Johnson is a great example.
“By the time the club reaches the ball, its head has already started to move down the range,” says Troyer.
An easy checkpoint for players watching the swing is the brim of the hat.
“It’s never headed straight down hard at impact,” says Troyer. “It’s always moving towards the target, following where the ball is going.”
So if you’re struggling with distance or feel blocked and limited by impact, the fix may be simpler than you think. Stop trying to hold your head down and start letting it move naturally with the swing.
If you want to learn how to keep your head in correct motion during your swing, book a swing assessment with GOLFTEC below.
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