Right foot back at address–a revolutionary concept in golf
Pulling the right foot back (just a little) while addressing the ball – can result in a dramatic improvement in your golf swing.
A lot of people stumble upon this discovery on their own – and are surprised at the solid contact they suddenly start making (on just about every shot). At some point though, in spite of their success, they start doubting themselves. To their knowledge, no other player (especially among the pros) seems to address the ball this way.
Rest assured – this technique has a great legacy – and a star cast of believers. Some GREAT (and I mean Ben Hogan great) players used this technique to achieve their spectacular iron play. See the visual below showing Ben Hogan with a slightly pulled back right foot.
Here’s another Pro’s take on it
Don’t take my word for it. Here is Jason Dufner (2013 PGA Tour Champ and multiple winner on the PGA Tour), describing this very technique in this video. He clearly explains some of the consequences of pulling your right foot back
- A better shoulder turn – thereby improving your backswing.
- A shallower angle of attack – thereby improving your downswing.
What can go wrong? The Devil’s in the details
This should sound simple enough – and for the most part, it is. Just pull your right foot back – how difficult can that be? However, like everything in golf, there are a few details to watch out for:
- How much should you pull it back? 2 inches? 6 inches? The answer is – as much as you need to create turning room for your left shoulder. Some people may need 2 inches – some may need more. Hogan (above) seems to only pull it back 2 inches. Jason Dufner pulls it back a good 6 inches or so.
- Another thing to watch out for – is ‘how much weight should you have on your right foot?. If you pull your right hip too far back, you will have no leg (right leg) to stand on (no weight on your right side). This is not what is desired. You should still feel weight on your right foot – it is just that the right side is pulled further back (compared to the left side). In other words, try and plant your right heel on the ground – instead of standing on the toes of your right foot.
- Stability – As you separate your feet in this manner, you may end up not feeling as strongly balanced – or firmly gripping the earth. If so, simply turn your knees inwards (towards each other). That should provide you with the stability you need. Dufner (in the video above) refers to this as ‘criss crossing’ the legs.
Summary
A good shoulder turn is sometimes difficult for amateurs. Their own body (their right side) is what typically gets in the way – and restricts a good shoulder turn. If you were to somehow suppress (or eliminate) the right side completely, you would be left with an unobstructed shoulder turn.
This is easily accomplished by pulling your right foot back. This simple modification can produce a dramatic change in your swing – and in your ability to strike the ball powerfully. Try it on the range (or the course) and see if it helps you make better contact.
It works gave me more confidence & much better contact
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I read your article last year and started using your concept in the middle of last season. It certainly helped my game. I am not that great in golf but the right foot back certainly gave me confidence in my swing. Thank you.
I still go back to reread this article.
I have had to do this for years as is improves my alignment with all clubs. Great consistency, reduces the amount of poor contact and gets better control.
Have tried the aligned feet method, I really have to concentrate, and when tired find I get a straight left perfect strike, but off line. The right foot back feels so natural. Very good post, which I am sure will help lots of frustrated golfers.
Thanks Ian. I cannot believe they do not include this in standard golf instruction; it just provides such a natural upper body coil.
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Happy Golfing!
Anuj
Totally agree. As I got older my body turn became more difficult. I pulled the right foot back few inches and did not miss a ball in 20 on the range. I am now trying to adopt it in all my shots with different club. One thing I noticed is the ball position needs to be slightly moved back.
Worked for me. Gave my shots a nice mini draw.
Nice you noticed it out. Love self-thinking people in golf. God bless you.
P.S. Do not be fooled with indolent golf instruction of today that is aimed to take money from you.
Will pulling your right foot back help a hook?
Great question. It could actually exacerbate your hook – especially if you are standing too far from the ball. Think about it – If your hands (wrists) naturally roll over (to promote a draw), with your right foot planted, your body may actually be even further away from the ball at impact. This will result in an exaggerated roll over (leading to a hook).
This can be easily remedied by adjusting how far you are standing from the ball. Ideally, your distance from the ball should be such that your arms (especially your right arm) is fully extended through impact. If you can adjust your ‘body clearance’ in this way, not only will it eliminate your hook, it will result in the kind of crisp contact that pros make.
Hope that helps. For me, the right foot planted (and hitting off the right foot), has lead to far straighter drives, and even the misses aren’t too far off. It works equally well for iron play, don’t be afraid to experiment – all that b.s. about weight being forward for irons is b.s. Your upper body (neck downwards) still rotates forward leading to a weight shift to the left foot. It is just your head and chin that stays back (towards the right foot).
Tried this today with my driver and worked so well as my drices tend to taper off to the right despite solid contact. Sbould I use this with fairway woods and irons, and would it help with my recent problem with duffing pitch shots?
Yes- works with irons just as well. For pitch shots, should definitely work. Here’s another tip for your pitches (and chips). Visualize your grip – the back of your left hand is pointed parallel to the target line, correct? If you had a nail in the back of your glove – the nail should point parallel to the target line. Now, as you take your wedge back, ensure that the nail keeps pointing parallel to target. Maintain this for as far back as you can. This will give you the correct ‘inclined’ plane in the upper body.
Let me know if that works for you.
Anuj
Thanks so much for your speedy and personalised reply! Will deffo try right foot back with irons now also, including PW. Not sure I understand the nail image on back of left golf glove but maybe the other drill will sort me….. Thank you for your help.
I’ve been trying this the last few times I’ve played and the results are absolutely dramatic! It seems to not only give me better contact, but it reduces my mis-hits simply because I see the ball on impact much better. I think it will help seniors like myself tremendously because it helps with the hip and shoulder turns. Give it a try…it works great for me!
Glad to hear.
It works! With all my clubs, my confidence over the ball is solid. I am 68 years old and never had a big turn, this has fixed that. So happy.
Glad to hear that, Ronald. Happy golfing!
The right foot back has straightened my golf swing . For a very long time I have been making good contact , but unfortunately slicing many of my drives. I can’t wait to apply this to my irons.
Thanks,
Nate
beside right foot should be pointing straight and left toe pointed a little to the fairway this gives room for rye club you decide how many inches. it is like a square stance in cricket.mst of us keep our feet too wide we think the shoulder width is too wide just take a normal walking spread between the legs which invariably is closer than we are accustomed to.ideally on the back swing your entire weight should be on the right heel. I mean on the top which is accomplished by the left toe lift and turning of the left knee towards the right knead inwards filling the named mail in every post is cumbersome unless you change it I quit before that read mike Austin
I’ve been struggling with correctly loading my right glutes in the backswing and wondering what effect slightly pulling the right foot back will have on this?
Great tip. Just found the post. Stepped back slightly with my right foot for my driver. This helped me to feel very powerful at set up as I posted on my right side. The stance felt very natural. The drives were straighter and longer. Tried the same thing with my hybrid with the same result.
Awesome! I’ve only been doing this with my driver and always to a delightful comment “what’s up with your stance” – but then it goes far and straight’ish. Shall practice with the other clubs even though I’m OK with the “standard” stance but was ready to throw out the fairway woods that once were more consistent.
Played a lot of infrequent golf in UK
But now live in Spain and played regular but frustratingly inconcistant golf. Discovered this tip by accident last week and ball striking and direction (straight) transformed! At 74 y.o. got my golf mojo back.
Glad it helped!
Can this help with ball striking? I tend to hit off the heel and sometimes hit the dreaded S word. I naturally have a slight in to out swing so I was curious if this stance could improve the ball striking and help me move away from the heel of the club.
that’s actually the whole purpose of the right foot back. Get a better turn. And get a solid hit (and you need to delete the s word from your vocab 🙂
This thread just came up when I googled it. I tried this at the range today, towards end of the bucket – through luck really to try and match a cross wind. The ball went 5 yards further and straight. Feels like I’ll never come over the top / outside the line with this posture.
Going to try a full bucket and assess any compensations that might creep in. But first impressions are that the upsides from always being shallow are worth it.