Stand on any driving range and you will
witness an oddly recurring event — golfers moving their legs right to left, front to back and in all directions in between as they swing, in a bid to generate more power. Trust me, I have seen this phenomenon in all levels of golfers, from seasoned hackers right up to single handicappers.
We all obviously want to hit the ball a few yards longer. But while trying to generate more power, most golfers ‘sway’ their legs to put more punch into their swing because they lack proper technique. When you move your legs as you take your backswing, you lose your centre of gravity. The result — a loss of 30 to 70 yards on your drives! Even though you swing the clubs with your hands, the role that your legs play is equally vital.
This week, I want to give you some tips on controlling your legs so you can generate more power and also stay connected to the swing. When swinging correctly, you should be able to use your legs as pivots — right leg on the backswing and left leg on the downswing. As you turn your upper torso and
hips, the legs should load up the power and keep the swing intact. Remember, you will only be able to generate power if your legs work as pivots.

So, how to keep your
legs quiet?
Drill 1: Kneel on the ground and take a practice swing. Feel the turn of your shoulders and hips. Get in tune with this
sensation and build it into
your real swings.
Drill 2: Practice your swing standing with a pole two inches away from your right thigh and make sure that you do not touch it during the backswing. This will help you develop tremendous balance and
generate more speed on the downswing. Do the similar
exercise on the downswing and follow-through. This will help you maintain the correct body angle and suddenly you will find your ball flying straighter and longer down the line.

I have successfully refined my golf swing, focusing heav-ily on these drills as have a lot of my students. So do not wait — visit the practice range to hit a few hundred balls keeping the above advice in mind and see the improvement!
(The author is a golf instructor and golf director at Gokarna Forest Golf Resort & Spa, Kathmandu. He can be contacted through prodeepak@hotmail.com)