Payne Stewart is one of the best shooters of his generation.
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Welcome to “Play Smart,” GOLF.com's regular game-improvement column that will help you become a smarter, better golfer.
Payne Stewart is one of the best forwards of his generation. That's clear from his resume, which includes 11 PGA Tour wins and three major championships.
That number would surely have been higher had it not been for a tragic aviation accident in 1999 that claimed Stewart's life. Although Stewart may no longer be with us, we can still learn from his rock-solid swing.
In the video below, shot of Stewart in his prime, the three-time major champion outlines a common flaw he sees in many golfers' swings, and a good way to fix it. Check it out, it might improve your own game.
Stewart's batting skills
Failure to shift your weight correctly during the backswing is a swing flaw faced by many amateur golfers. They either don't change their weight at all, or they “counter-rotate” in order to make the big turn, putting themselves in a disadvantageous position at the top of the backswing.
“The correct weight shift is from the right side to the left side,” Stewart said.
Just this week, we covered the great feeling of getting into the right position at the top of your backswing. In the video above, Stewart gives us a simple feel and then unloads the weight on the downswing.
Once you reach the top of your swing, you have to transfer your weight (and energy) to the ball to hit a consistent shot. A good way to teach yourself to do this is to exaggerate the feeling.
When you swing on the range, take a step toward the target with your back foot after impact. You'll feel awkward at first, and you probably won't make good contact with the ball, but when you do, it's impossible to keep your weight on your back.
If you have trouble shifting your weight during the downswing, try this drill.
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