If I heard the saying “keep your head down/still” once, I heard it a thousand times. Although the saying does not offer a solution to most swing issues, it does point to a foundational swing move that all golfers need to perform to be successful. During a golf swing, there are many planes of movement that require synchronization and to do so, keeping our head still is the key to success. Knowing this, it is still a challenge to keep all parts of our of our swing coordinated enough to hit the ball where intended because we continue to have an overactive head. If only there was a drill to help with the bobble head challenge!
I often wondered if there was a drill or explanation that would help me and others understand the importance of keeping our head still. Researching and watching many videos did not glean the solution I was hoping for until I came across Chris Ryan’s video. He touches on the swing mechanics I am most interested in and offers a drill that I can do in my garage during the off season.
Examining how I hit the ball, I realize that there is one step in my swing processes that helps achieve what Ryan suggests. It is simple and rooted in my fundamentals. I watch the club face strike the ball and then count to one before looking up to watch the ball flight. This simple step of counting to one before moving my head my does help with the synchronization of my movements. In my case, to be successful I need to be mindful to count. Even being a low handicapper like myself requires full concentration to successfully complete my full swing movements.
Moving forward, I am going to practice the drill provided by Chris Ryan and see if I can engrain the skill of keeping my head still without having to dedicated too many brain bites to the process.
I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!
The Grateful Golfer 
I can’t say I like or agree with your ‘count to one’ decision on this one. First off, I don’t think it’s even possible to do in a full swing. Here’s the thing. At just 80 mph the club head is traveling at 117+ feet per second. From impact to finish there are only milliseconds. There is no time to count even to one. I know I see no more than a blur and by the time my mind can recognize the strike the swing is over.
Keeping the head relatively still is all about the body. Here’s a web page that discusses it in more detail.
https://theleftrough.com/head-movement-in-golf-swing/
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Kevin,
There might be a bit of confusion. When I count to one after contact, the intent is to keep my head still focused on the impact point just long enough to finish my swing. It is a way of controlling my body and follow through.
Cheers Jim
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I understand. The thing I don’t like is that thought pattern means you are thinking of looking for the ball. My thought pattern is simpler. I set a focal point (ball, dimple, blade of grass, etc) and I keep my eyes there until my swing makes that impossible.
It’s not necessary to think to look for the ball. That’s hardwired in. The swing will pull the head around every time. My head will turn away from that point on the way back in the swing if I’m taking a full turn and it will most assuredly pull my head around and up plenty soon enough to find my ball in the air.
That way, the club is already pointing skyward before my chin dragged from the spot I focused on and I can let my eyes start searching which they do on autopilot anyway.
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Kevin,
Your description of how you swing is exactly what counting to one does for players. It forces them to complete the swing and now rotate out before contact is complete. It is a simple way of keeping our head still through contact. I think we are on the same page, just describing it different.
Cheers Jim
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