September 1, 2026 5:00 pm

When you watch PGA Tour professionals on TV hitting shots at full power, there is one thing they all do without exception: they complete the follow-through.

They finish with their weight on the front foot. Their back foot is upright, with the sole of the shoe facing away from the target. Their belt buckle, or belly button, is facing the target, and the club shaft usually finishes down their back.

 

Why it changes on the course

Many golfers I coach produce a similar finish on the range. Then I take them onto the golf course, and that is where the similarity ends. The follow-through becomes curtailed or even non-existent. The weight transfer stops, as though they have hit a brick wall immediately after making contact with the ball.

I know why this happens. It is perfectly understandable, but that doesn’t make it right.

On the range, there are no real ramifications for failure. Hit a bad shot and another ball appears from the Power Tee. You simply go again, with no punishment meted out. On the golf course, however, a poor shot can mean loss of ball, loss of face, loss of patience and, indeed, loss of mind.

It is easy for me to say, “Complete your follow-through and ignore the consequences,” but I understand how difficult that can be.

A few years ago, I started playing tennis. Being the sporting nerd that I am, I used to visit the club on my own and practise my cross-court topspin volleys. If I say so myself, I became quite proficient, on my own.

Then my mate stood on the other side of the net and had the temerity to hit the ball back at me. Suddenly, I couldn’t complete the follow-through. What had been a devastating, unreturnable volley became a meek tap across the court, which he buried with ease.

So, believe me, I do get it.

Commit to the finish

On your next round, choose your target, commit to the shot and make that balanced finishing position your goal. You don’t need to swing harder; simply allow the swing to finish.

Make that follow-through position work for you. The results may startle you.

Categorised in: Tip of the month, World of Golf London