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Stability & Balance During Rotation All clubs Intermediate ⏱ 6 min 🇫🇷 Video in French

Keep Your Feet on the Ground During the Golf Swing

Are your shots inconsistent? The culprit might be right under your feet. Simon Camirand suggests an exercise that takes you out of your comfort zone: keep both feet on the ground as you rise and as you come down, then let your back foot lift only after the ball has left your club.

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Simon Camirand
Simon Camirand · his YouTube channelFree lesson selected by Fred P.

To be continued

3 minSame problemJack Nicklaus's Footwork: Ankles and HeelsJack Nicklaus · Intermediate6 minSame problemLift the left heel during the backswing: Joël BernardJoël Bernard · Intermediate5 minFrom the same proSeated Torso Rotation: Simon Camirand's StretchSimon Camirand · Beginner / Intermediate / Seniors

What the lesson shows

According to Simon Camirand, the lack of consistency in communication very often stems from a instability in the lower body. This isn’t necessarily due to excessive rotation: it’s caused by knees that move too far forward or backward, feet that lift off the ground, or weight shifting to the balls of the feet or the heels. When the front foot lifts too high, the knee moves forward, and the back leg straightens, the body has a very hard time bringing the club back correctly at impact.

The exercise involves taking your usual swing with a single goal in mind: keep both feet on the ground, both on the upswing and the downswing. The contact doesn't matter much at first; it will feel like you're doing a half or three-quarters swing, which is normal: you're eliminating unnecessary movements. Second step: stay grounded until impact, then you Let the back foot lift and turn after the ball is hit. The goal isn't to stay flat the entire time, but to minimize sources of error.

The Exercise, Step by Step

  1. Take your stance at the ball as usual.
  2. Do your usual step-up, making sure both feet stay on the ground.
  3. Lower yourself back down through the ball of your foot with the same feeling, keeping both feet on the ground at all times.
  4. Hit a few balls like this without worrying about the contact—just focus on stability.
  5. Stay grounded until impact, then let your back foot lift and rotate.
  6. Feel the support building up on your front leg, and finish in balance.

Key Takeaways

Irregular contact is often caused by excessive mobility in the lower body.
Knees that move, feet that lift, weight on the toes: all of these can lead to mistakes.
Keeping both feet on the ground forces the body to turn while maintaining contact with the ground.
It's normal to feel like your swing is shorter: you're eliminating unnecessary movements.
The back foot doesn't come off the ground until after impact.
The goal is not to remain motionless, but to minimize unnecessary movements.

Mistakes to Avoid

  • A lead foot that lifts sharply as soon as the backswing starts.
  • The front knee moves forward and the back leg extends.
  • Ending up on your toes in the backswing.
  • Standing up or “collapsing” in the downswing.
  • Evaluate the drill based on the quality of contact from the very first balls.

Driving Range Mode

Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.

  1. A few shots with both feet on the ground, minor contact
  2. Then keep your feet planted until impact, then release your back foot
  3. Check from the front to make sure the knees stay still
  4. Return to your normal swing while maintaining that grounded feeling

Your Questions

My swing seems much shorter when my feet are on the ground—is that a problem?

No. Simon Camirand points out that we often feel as though we’re doing a half or three-quarters of a swing: this is a sign that we’re eliminating unnecessary movements of the knees and feet.

Should you keep your feet flat until the finish?

No. Once the ball is hit, the back foot lifts and rotates. That’s actually the second step of the exercise: hold on until impact, then release to feel the weight shift onto the front leg.

My initial experience with this exercise hasn't been great—should I stop?

At first, the contact isn't that important: the goal is to feel your body turn while staying connected to the ground. Consistency comes later.

If I go back to my normal swing, will I lose the benefits?

According to the video, you probably won't stay completely on the ground, but the sensation will significantly reduce the sources of error you were already experiencing.

Learn More

All videos on “Stability & Balance During Rotation” →Find the lesson that's right for you Pressure on the inside of the lead foot in the downswingStart of the downswing: pressure on the inside of the lead foot, checked with an alignment stick on the belt that stays low, without pushing or standing up. Feet Turned Outward at Address: More Rotation in GolfSlightly spread your feet apart (the front foot a little more) without widening your stance: this provides more rotation, stability, and speed, and puts less pressure on your knees. Weight on the front heel: the key to a stable finishPlacing a ball under the front heel helps you learn to turn by leaning on that heel rather than pushing sideways and ending up on your toes. Simon CamirandAll of his lessons

Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Simon Camirand). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons without hosting them.

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