Right Foot Back — Golf Drill

Trail foot back. Filmed by golf.studio. Video page

The "right-foot-back" technique has become a game-changing drill embraced by top instructors and tour professionals alike for addressing some of golf's most frustrating swing faults. As demonstrated by experts like The Logical Golfer, who shows how tour pros like John Ram incorporate this positioning into their warm-up routines, and insights from Meandmygolf about preventing the common mistake of getting "jammed on the right side," this simple adjustment can transform your ball-striking consiste

How to practise it

  1. Set up with right foot pulled back 6 inches Address the ball normally, then drop your right foot straight back. Keep your shoulders square to the target line.
  2. Make slow swings without moving right foot Focus on keeping the right knee back throughout the swing. Notice how this prevents you from standing up in the downswing.
  3. Hit balls at 75% speed maintaining position Strike balls while keeping that right leg back. Feel how your weight naturally transfers to your left side.
  4. Graduate to normal stance with same feeling Return to regular setup but maintain that sensation of the right knee staying back through impact.

What is the right-foot-back drill and how can it help my swing?

The right-foot-back drill involves positioning your right foot behind your left foot during practice swings or warmup. As shown in The Logical Golfer's analysis of tour pros, players like Adrien use this drill during warmup to promote better weight transfer and prevent getting 'jammed' on the right

Why do I keep getting stuck on my right side during my downswing?

Getting jammed on your right side is a common issue where golfers struggle to shift their weight properly through impact. According to Meandmygolf, this creates a pattern where you 'start left, go right, come back left' but end up coming over the top, leading to inconsistent ball striking.

How does the right-foot-back drill help me stop shanking the ball?

The right-foot-back position helps control the path of your hands and arms through impact. As Malaska Golf explains, shanks occur when your hands move closer to or farther from the ball than at address, and this drill helps maintain consistent positioning and prevents the club from moving too far in

How each of them teaches it

Coaches who demonstrate the right foot back drill, each linked at the second they start.

  1. Golf Strong Hit Bombs: This Simple Drill Solved My Early Extension 😳 (from 0:45). Set up with your trail foot stepped back to encourage pivoting over the ball and maintaining chest posture through transition.
  2. Malaska Golf: 3 Easy Ways to Stop Shanking #golf #golfswing #golfdrills (from 0:11). Drop your right foot back and leave it back during the swing to create more room for the arms and fix the swing arc.
  3. Golf Mates: This is why you are not a Single Handicap Golfer? (from 7:22). Pull the trail foot back about one foot from the target line at setup to pre-set the hips in a turned position, making it easier for senior golfers to create a full backswing.
  4. Matt Baker Golf | Malaska Certified Coach: How to Direct Momentum in the Downswing (Stop Holding Lag) (from 7:00). Hit shots with the trail foot pulled back to isolate the arms and clubhead momentum, preventing the common error of firing the right hip too early.
  5. Golf Mates: How to hit DRIVER longer - free power (from 3:58). By pulling the trail foot back about 12 inches from the target line, you preset the hips in a turned position to allow for a deeper backswing and easier rotation.
  6. The Logical Golfer: Most amateurs walk to the first tee and hope for the best. Placing the right foot (trail foot) back on its toe to force the majority of the weight onto the lead foot during the chip.
  7. Meandmygolf: This Downswing Mistake Was Throwing His Entire Swing Out (from 8:34). Drop the trail foot back to a toe-down position to quiet the lower body and force the upper body to work more effectively on top of the ball.

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