Right Toe Lift Drill (Backswing Posture)
Curated PGA Drill by Kerrod Gray Golf
Backswing
3 sets of 10 slow rehearsal reps
Golf club, alignment stick (optional)
Intermediate
Why This Drill Works (Kinetic Mechanics)
Loss of posture is often caused by an insufficient or flat hip turn. Lifting the trail toes and pushing the trail hip back forces the golfer to rotate on a tilted axis, ensuring the spine maintains its original inclination to the ground. This drill increases hip turn and tilt, which keeps the 'butt line' back, allowing the club to drop down on plane.
How to Perform the Drill
Follow these step-by-step instructions. Rehearse slowly to build proper motor patterns before adding full swing speed.
- 1
Step 1
Right Hip Movement: From address, focus on the right hip. As you take the club back, ensure your right butt cheek moves slightly back and towards the target to create depth in your hip turn (2:34).
- 2
Step 2
Lift Right Toes: As the club moves back, begin to lift the toes of your right foot (3:21).
- 3
Step 3
Swing to the Top: Continue lifting the right foot toes as you swing to the top. This encourages the trail hip to push further back and away from the ball, helping you stay bent over (3:40).
- 4
Step 4
Check Posture: Stop at the top and check if your butt line has moved off its original starting point or if your head has stood up (4:02).
- 5
Step 5
Practice: Make slow swings, focusing on the sensation of your right hip moving back and the toes of your right foot lifting up (4:14).
What Good Feels Like
Focus on smooth tempo and maintaining body connection through impact. Your body and club should move as a single synchronized unit.
Common Mistake to Avoid
Rushing transition before completing backswing or lunging upper body forward towards ball at impact. Keep movement controlled.
Swing Faults & Ball Flights Addressed
Comprehensive Guides Featuring This Drill
Fix early extension by keeping your trail-side glute and hips turning back and down instead of thrusting forward toward the ball. Build real backswing depth, then use wall or chair contact drills to feel your pelvis stay back through impact. This preserves spine angle so the club has room to release without you standing up.
Fix golf posture by hinging from the hips, not rounding the upper back (C-posture) or over-arching the lower back (S-posture), with a neutral spine tilted over the ball. Then train yourself to keep that tilt through impact, because posture you lose mid-swing costs you the same strikes as posture you never had.
