MANY golfers struggle to move their body weight correctly when playing.

Although many fairways and greens have slopes which don’t help getting it right, we need to think it over beforehand, so let’s get the weight moving correctly during the practice swing in preparation for the full shot.

Having the body experience the movement, and the leg muscles feel what you will do, helps tremendously.

It can’t be a small movement with the hands or a poor attempt to move the club head only a foot back and forward; it has to be a full proper concentrated practice swing with a commitment to finish the job and in good or near perfect balance.

I can’t stress enough the positive power of a brain that has a clear picture and a body which has the feel of the exact movement ready to perform.

It’s like a gymnast having a fast run up to the spring board without having a premeditated thought of the tumbles and finish that has to be executed. If they don’t work it out beforehand, they will do themselves an injury.

In the golfer’s case it will result in a poor shot and the only damage will be to their confidence.

You don’t have to take too long to prepare the shot. Our instincts have been finely-tuned for making much more technical movements.

We have a head with clever imagination and freedom to move around every day. Don’t complicate a simple back and forward hitting of a golf ball to be anything more complicated.

The golfer’s address position, and how good or bad we stand, has a huge impact on the results. Whether you are off line, crouched or bent forward, straight-legged with feet pointing out or straining ready for hitting something hard, these inconsistencies either help or hinder our swing.

A good golfer usually looks ready and has a tidy golfer’s position; head held up with the chin away from the body and arms hanging comfortably down from the shoulders at address.

The bending forward to reach the ball with the club is done by a bow forward from the hips rather than a bend from the waist. There is no crumpling of the stomach area and the spine is relatively straight.

Being as tall as possible is best. Standing tall and athletic will help you move your arms around your body. The wider the arc we can create with a club will make our ball travel further.

Try and think of a weight on the end of a piece of string. The longer the string, the bigger circle we can make, therefore more power in the motion brings increased momentum. I teach the kids about the old days with a chestnut on a long shoe lace.

I work with all my pupils encouraging them to use momentum through their game. Not everybody has the ability or body to coil like a spring on the way back and release this energy to hit a golf shot.

I especially work on the forward movement towards the target. There is no reason for the golfer to be travelling away from the target or finish on the side away from where they are hitting. A right-handed player must allow the weight and momentum to finish on the left leg.

The longer the club, then the more weight will be shifted right to left during the swing. I encourage you to move up to 70 per cent onto your side which is loaded up on the backswing, then 100 per cent on the the finishing leg.

You should take advantage of the summer weather and fine conditions of the golf courses. Playing without heavy clothing and putting the ball on manicured greens is wonderful.

This game should be enjoyable and, if at any time you feel confused or don’t know how to digest or fix a problem, you must seek help from a PGA professional. They will have trained and learned about your problem and should find an easy-to-explain solution to help.

Keep the emails coming in and if you want to try a one-to-one golf lesson then please get in touch.

Is there anything you’d like to ask Chris to help improve your game? Contact 729061 or email professional@dunfermlinegolfclub.com.