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Waggle Driver Beginner / Intermediate / Seniors ⏱ 6 min 🇬🇧 Video in English, summarized

Waggle and Swing Speed: Todd Kolb

Do you stand still and stare at the ball before taking your swing? Todd Kolb, Director of Instruction at US Golf TV, offers advice for all golfers—young and old—who want to generate more speed with their driver: movement at address, a pitcher-style load, and a faster backswing.

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US GOLF TV · his YouTube channelFree lesson selected by Fred P.

To be continued

5 minSame problemThe 4 Common Mistakes in the Pre-Shot Routine That Cause TensionPaul Lambersens · Beginner / Intermediate11 minNext Level UpXander Schauffele's Stress-Free Driver Pre-Shot RoutineXander Schauffele · Intermediate8 minNext Level UpBen Hogan's waggle and that of the pros, by Jim McLeanJim McLean · Intermediate

What the lesson shows

For Todd Kolb, clubhead speed depends first and foremost on the movement. He compares the golfer to a baseball pitcher, who winds up and pushes off rather than starting from a standing position. Yet many golfers stand frozen, staring at the ball, and then hope for a rhythmic, athletic swing. First tip: at address, the feet move slightly and the club makes a small waggle, and then you go. This keeps the body relaxed, releases tension, and creates rhythm.

He takes it a step further with an exercise he gave to a young player on her way to playing college golf: start with a little weight on the front foot, then do forward, backward, forward, and hit, like a pitcher who winds up and pushes off. He points out that this movement toward the back foot is not not a sway if it's done correctly: it's a load. Second piece of advice, which he considers different from traditional teaching: speed up the backswing. Rather than starting slowly and then rushing toward the ball, you need to build up clubhead speed early on—especially as you get older—because you can’t go from a standstill to full speed all at once: you build up acceleration through movement and weight transfer.

The Exercise, Step by Step

  1. At address, put a little weight on your lead foot.
  2. Move your feet slightly and waggle the club.
  3. Rock forward, back, forward—like a pitcher winding up.
  4. Start your swing straight out of that movement.
  5. Raise the club faster as soon as you start the backswing.
  6. Let the acceleration build all the way to the ball.

Key Takeaways

Speed comes from movement, not from a frozen address.
A little waggle and active feet to release tension.
Exercise: forward, backward, forward, then go.
Shifting your weight to your back foot isn't considered a sway if it's done correctly.
Speed up the backswing to build speed early.

Mistakes to Avoid

  • Staring at the ball, frozen, before starting.
  • Starting the backswing very slowly, then lunging at the ball.
  • Confusing weight transfer to the back foot with swaying.
  • Keeping your head and body frozen out of fear of moving.

Driving Range Mode

Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.

  1. Waggle and active feet before every drive
  2. Repeat forward-backward-forward, then strike
  3. Faster backswings with the driver, at increasing speed

Your Questions

Why not stay still at address?

For Todd Kolb, speed comes from movement: just like a baseball pitcher, you have to wind up and push off—not start from a standstill.

What is the "forward-backward-forward" exercise?

Start with a little weight on your lead foot, rock forward, back, forward, then hit—like a pitcher winding up.

Isn't that movement a sway?

According to him, no: when done correctly, shifting weight to the back foot is a load, not a sway.

Should you start your backswing slowly?

He recommends the opposite of traditional teaching: speeding up the backswing to build speed early on, especially as you get older.

Learn More

All “Waggle” videos →Find the lesson that's right for you Xander Schauffele's Stress-Free Driver Pre-Shot RoutineSchauffele's driver pre-shot routine: aiming point, square shoulders, anti-tension waggle; to hit it farther, keep your left shoulder high and your heel off the ground. Ben Hogan's waggle and that of the pros, by Jim McLeanThe waggle isn't a tic: according to Jim McLean, it relaxes your hands, relieves tension, and gives a preview of the shot you're about to play. The 4 Common Mistakes in the Pre-Shot Routine That Cause TensionFour preparation mistakes: taking the practice swing off-target, taking the practice swing with just the arms, keeping your eyes fixed on the ball, and standing motionless at address.

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* Amateur competitions with guidance from the pros