Payne Stewart was one of the best shooters of his generation.
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Welcome to Play Smarta regular GOLF.com game improvement column that will help you become a smarter and better golfer.
Payne Stewart was one of the best ball strikers of his generation. That’s abundantly clear when you look at his resume that includes 11 PGA Tour wins and three major titles.
If not for a tragic plane crash that claimed Stewart’s life in 1999, these numbers would surely be higher. But while Stewart may be none the wiser, we can still learn from his strong swing.
In the video below, filmed during Stewart’s prime, the three-time major winner described a common flaw he saw in many golfers’ swings — and a great way to fix it. Check it out and it just might up your game.
Stewart’s hitting peak
Failure to properly shift weight during the backswing is a swing flaw that many recreational golfers struggle with. Either they don’t shift their weight at all, or, in trying to make a big turn, they “pivot” and leave themselves in a weak position at the top of the back turn.
“The proper weight shift is to go from the right side to the left side,” Stewart said.
Just this week, we covered a great sensation for getting in the right position at the top of the back turn. In the video above, Stewart gives us a simple feel for unloading that downward weight.
Once you get to the top of your swing, you need to transfer your weight (and energy) through the ball to hit a hard shot. A great way to teach yourself to do this is by exaggerating the feeling.
When you’re taking a few swings at the range, take a step with your trailing foot toward the target after impact. At first it will feel awkward and you may not have good contact with the ball, but when you do, it is impossible to leave the weight on the back.
If you’re struggling to transfer your weight when squatting, give this exercise a shot.
