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FinishStability & Balance During Rotation All clubs Intermediate ⏱ 8 min 🇫🇷 Video in French

Weight on the front heel: the key to a stable finish

Do you finish your swing off-balance, on the balls of your feet? Simon Camirand shows that weight transfer alone isn't enough: you need to know where your weight is distributed on your front foot. A simple ball slipped under your heel is all it takes to feel it.

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

To be continued

19 minSame problemGolf pivot stall: turn left until you reach the finishGreg Jones · Intermediate14 minSame problemCollin Morikawa's Irons: Clubface on the TargetCollin Morikawa · Intermediate / Expert5 minFrom the same proSeated Torso Rotation: Simon Camirand's StretchSimon Camirand · Beginner / Intermediate / Seniors

What the lesson shows

To finish a swing properly, it's not enough to simply “shift your weight” to your front leg: you have to feel it how it is distributed throughout the foot. At address, your weight should be roughly centered over your feet. A common mistake when going downhill is to push too far to the side forward: all the weight shifts to the tips of the toes; the foot may even lift off the ground, and maintaining balance at the finish becomes very difficult.

The exercise: Place a ball under the heel of the front foot (the left heel for a right-hander). On the downswing, shift your weight slightly onto your front leg, then rotate your body as if you were sitting on the ball. If you lose contact with the ball, it means you’re leaning too far forward. After a few swings, remove the ball and try to recreate the same sensation. At the finish, it’s normal for the foot to turn slightly and for your weight to shift slightly to the outside of the foot; keeping that foot completely flat and straight would put strain on the knee.

The Exercise, Step by Step

  1. Place a ball under the heel of your front foot.
  2. Stand in your normal stance, with your weight centered over your feet.
  3. Get on as usual.
  4. When going downhill, shift your weight slightly onto your front leg, then turn while “sitting” on the ball.
  5. Hit a few balls while keeping your weight on that heel until the finish.
  6. Remove the ball and replicate the same sensation of pressure on your heel.

Key Takeaways

Weight transfer does not indicate where the weight is distributed within the foot.
Pushing sideways shifts your weight onto your toes.
On the downhill: Apply light pressure to the front leg, then rotate.
The rotation is performed with weight on the front part of the heel.
At the finish, your weight should be on your heel or the center of your foot, not on your toes.
A front foot that turns slightly at the finish protects the knee.

Mistakes to Avoid

  • Pushing the hips sideways toward the target in the downswing.
  • Finish on your toes, with your front foot raised.
  • Release the ball positioned under your heel during the rotation.
  • Aim to keep your front foot perfectly flat and straight as you cross the finish line.

Driving Range Mode

Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.

  1. Ball under the front heel, a few swings without a ball to hit
  2. Then a few reps while keeping your weight on your heel
  3. Ball removed: same feel, finish maintained
  4. Check at the finish: weight on the heel or in the center of the foot

Your Questions

Where exactly should the ball be placed for this exercise?

Under the heel of the front foot: the left heel for a right-handed person, the right heel for a left-handed person.

How can I tell if I'm leaning too far forward?

With the ball of your foot under the heel, you feel it right away: your foot lifts off the ball, and your weight shifts to your toes. This is a sign that you’re pushing too hard sideways as you go downhill.

My front foot turns outward at the finish—is that a mistake?

No. Simon Camirand explains that it’s normal to have your weight slightly on the outside of your foot and your foot turned out a little. Keeping it perfectly flat puts a lot of strain on the knee.

Is a transfer to the front leg still necessary?

Yes, apply a little pressure to the front leg, then rotate your body. The video emphasizes that this rotation should be done with your weight on your heel, not on your toes.

Learn More

All “Finish” videos →Find the lesson that's right for youAll videos on “Stability & Balance During Rotation” →Find the lesson that's right for you Same speed on the upswing and downswing: slow down your swingMove up and down at what feels like the same speed, then hold the finish position for three seconds: an imbalance at the finish indicates that your body is moving too fast. Golf pivot stall: turn left until you reach the finishComplete the pivot by turning to the left: open your left foot 20 to 30°, continue turning after impact, and control the finish with your heels aligned. 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. Simon CamirandAll of his lessons

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