Lee Westwood Weight Transfer Lesson

In this Lee Westwood Weight Transfer Lesson, the Englishman talks about one of the most important fundamentals in the game

You’ll often hear people describe the body as the engine of the golf swing. This is because a good upper body rotation against a stable lower half is what creates much of the energy and clubhead speed through impact. There is also a natural flow to a good swing and this relies on a good, simple weight transfer.

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Initiating the shift

As you take the club away, your weight should naturally shift towards your right side but, and this is very important, it should happen as a result of your body rotation. Do not sway onto your right side, moving your body laterally away from the target during the takeaway as this is an unnecessary move that will require a compensatory move later in the swing to ensure your strike the ball. Anytime you have to make a compensation, you bring inconsistencies of strike into the equation.

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Downswing shift

When you reach the top of the backswing, your weight should be over your right leg. Then as you start the downswing, your weight begins to move onto your left side. I normally use my left knees to initiate this movement – that means I can hold my left hip in the same position for a little longer. You certainly want to avoid your right cshoulder from coming 'over the top' at the start of the downswing. That is one of the most common faults in the game to avoid as it leads to pulls and slices that can be very damaging. Once you start the downswing with your left knee moving towards the target, all of your weight is flowing into the back of the ball as you strike it to give you the maximum clubhead speed.

In July 2023, Neil became just the 9th editor in Golf Monthly's 112-year history. Originally working with the best coaches in the UK to produce instruction content, he went on to become a feature writer interviewing many of the biggest names in the game including Tiger Woods, Seve Ballesteros, Rory McIlroy and Arnold Palmer.

A 5-handicap golfer, Neil is a club member who takes a keen interest in the health of the game at grassroots level. You’ll often now find him writing about club-related issues such as WHS, membership retention and how best to bridge the gap between the range and the course.