Great golfers hit the ball consistently in the center of the clubface, and it's much easier to repeat that contact if you swing in balance. Losing your balance pulls your body out of line for the swing, and the corrective action your body will take to keep you from falling over can cause an ugly shot. A little time spent working on your balance practice can help you play better.
Starting Out
Golf trainer Tyler Ferrell says an easy way to test your balance is to stand erect with your feet together. Lift up one foot behind you by bending but not moving the knee of that leg. Close your eyes and hold that position for as long as you can. Practice this pose until you can hold it for 60 seconds on either leg.
Swing in Slow Motion
Take your stance with an iron and try to swing in super-slow motion. This drill forces your muscles to work harder to maintain the correct posture, and you'll be able to tell immediately where you might be losing your balance.
Strengthen Your Core
A golf swing is not a natural task, so it helps to train your muscles to support your body to rotate around a relaxed spine while you're bent forward at your hips. The Titleist Performance Institute says the most important muscles to support posture and balance during the swing are the abs and glutes. Focus on these muscle groups in your workouts.
One-Legged Swing Drill
Give yourself a balance challenge on the range. Take your normal stance, then move your feet together. Lift your forward leg slightly and hit the ball with a three-quarter swing. The point is to hit the ball consistently without falling over. Normally, a surprising result after a bit of practice is how far you can hit the ball using one leg and consistent contact.
Hold Your Finish
Top golf instructor Butch Harmon advises that players hold their finish long after the ball is gone, even to the point where the ball lands. You can't possibly hold the finish of a golf swing if you're out of balance and falling over, so by holding the finish you can avoid swinging too hard.
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