If you’ve played golf for long, you’ve inevitably hit a bad shot (or two) during your round. After which, one or more of your playing partners has told you, “You lifted up. You need to keep your head down.” These are two very different things and certainly, the latter does not “fix” the former.
You must remain in your posture until after the ball is struck. What does that mean exactly? Simply put, whatever spine angle you create in your address position must be maintained through impact. If you maintain your spine angle, you will not “lift up,” and your head will have very little up or down movement.
So why not think, “Keep my head down?” Because keeping your head down is a very restrictive move. If you stare at the ball, head frozen in place as if trying to see the grass grow around the ball you cannot turn properly on the backswing or the forward swing. People mean well when they give the “head down” advice. But it is misguided. Your head should remain stable but allowed to swivel. In fact, your head should remain UP during the swing! What? Up? Yes, up. How can that be? Well, if your head is down, where is your chin? Nearly on your chest. During the backswing, your lead shoulder must pass under your chin (or at least try to) if you are to make a full backswing. That is impossible with your chin plastered down on your chest. There’s no room for your shoulders to rotate. Likewise, with the downswing. On the other hand, if you maintain your spine angle with your chin up your head will remain stable, your shoulders can rotate fully, and your contact will improve.
Keep your head up and maintain your spine angle until after impact. Once impact takes place, allow your head to turn and rise as you extend into a smooth balanced finish.
If you have any questions or comments, please let me know. Most importantly, have fun out there!