Keeping your head

The last few weeks we have discussed the pivot motion, the movement of the body for an entire swing.

You may have noticed that I did not mention the head. This was not an oversight on my part -- the head deserves an entire column to itself.

The reason that the head is so important is not because of what you do with it but because of what you don't do with it. The role of the head in the golf swing is the most misunderstood aspect of the game.

We are told to "keep our head down," "keep your head on the ball" and a host of other erroneous pieces of usually well intended advice. These sayings are myths.

The fact is that the head does and should move in the swing and it should be up, not down. The head should respond to the movement of the body. It moves and turns a little to the right on the back swing and it should then be allowed to turn and move forward on the forward swing.

A more accurate description of what the body, including the head does is that your height should remain constant. This means that the body turns around the angle formed at the address position.

Practice your pivot motion as previously described and allow the head to go where the body takes it. Do not keep your head down and don't worry about your eye being on the ball.

If your head is in the wrong place during the swing it is a result of a poor pivot motion and not something the head has done on its own. If the pivot motion is correct the head will be in the right place. Keep practicing.

Terry Gingell is the PGA Director of Instruction at Eagle Valley Golf Club. Registration is now being taken for adult group lessons, junior golf camps and junior sports camps. For more information, call 887-7174.