The Snead Squat (Rotation & Lateral Shift)
| Target Fault | Focus Area |
|---|---|
| Poor Weight Shift | Ground Force |
Why This Drill Works (Kinetic Mechanics)
The Snead Squat is a complex combination of rotation and lateral shift, with rotation being the primary move that creates the squat appearance. It is not just squatting the knees or spinning around the trail foot. The left side must pull around while the hip moves forward laterally. It is difficult to replicate and requires significant flexibility and hip mobility (6:04-6:10), so practice slowly and focus on the mechanics.
How to Perform the Drill
The coach gives no set rep count. Our general guideline: 3 sets of 10 slow rehearsal reps, then half swings with a ball, adding speed only once the steps feel natural.
Initiation (Rotation First): From the top of the swing, initiate the downswing primarily with rotation of the hips.
Lateral/Pull: Simultaneously, feel the left hip and knee perform a combination of rotational and lateral movement, focusing on the left side pulling around the lead hip.
Trail Side: Allow the right knee to stay behind the left, rather than spinning around the back foot.
Feel Check: Practice slowly, focusing on the forward lateral hip movement combined with rotation, instead of just squatting the knees.
Swing Faults & Ball Flights Addressed
Comprehensive Guides Featuring This Drill
Improve weight shift by loading pressure into your trail foot early in the backswing, then shifting it to your lead side to start the downswing: before the arms or club move. Most golfers do this backwards: they reverse pivot going back, then hang on the trail foot at impact. Fix the sequence with step and pressure drills, not a lateral slide.
Clubhead speed comes from a wide backswing that gives the club room to build speed, a downswing that starts from the ground and the hips, wrist angle held long enough to release speed at the ball, and overspeed training that teaches your body to move faster. Swinging harder with your arms rarely adds speed and often costs you a solid strike.
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