Claiming the centre

This 'claiming the centre' is not a political reference, it relates to my current quest to improve my ball striking - particularly by ensuring that the low point of my swing is in the correct place.

I have found that the best way to achieve the correct low point in the swing is by staying centred throughout the swing. With driver there is some margin for error in terms of the swing low point (ball teed up, big clubface, flatter swing plane). A little bit of sway is not the end of the world. 

However, with irons and even fairway clubs there is somewhat less leeway in terms of low point control and thus clubface contact. The low point must be at or in front of the ball - ideally in front of the ball for good compression, spin and control of trajectory. 

Keeping that in mind, it is important that any movement off the ball on the backswing must be matched with a re-centre-ing (forward) movement on the downswing. This is something that most weekend warriors cannot achieve consistently. And consistency must be thought of as the 'holy grail' of golf.

The most effective way to achieve centre clubface contact through low point control is the avoidance of sway. This is something I was aware of at least ten years ago, but did not give enough weight to in my mind - unfortunately. Avoidance of sway is of course essentially the same thing as staying centred.

It is ironic that one of the first things one is ever told when learning golf, something that is now regarded as a myth, might well be the key in how to stay centred- 'watch the ball'.

To clarify, it's not that you need to actually watch the ball in order to hit it - you don't. However, by focusing on the ball (watching it during the swing) it helps to stabilise one's head and with a stable head it is much less likely that one's body will sway. By watching this doesn't mean fixedly staring at the ball or keeping one's head down - it is just the sense of keeping a steady sight of the ball - which helps to minimise sway.

Maybe this is something that better players don't need to worry about. Maybe their swing is so grooved and that some sway doesn't matter. But I'm talking about the less than skilled player, someone who doesn't practise much, if at all. This watching the ball is for me a real revelation, as is the importance of staying centred and controlling the low point of my swing.

Hopefully, claiming the centre will work for others who, like me, are desperately in need of more consistent ball striking.