For amateur golfers, the reverse pivot is one of the most common swing faults. They think it has a lot of power, while, in reality, it doesn’t.
In fact, the reverse pivot makes hitting the ball too much work!
If you’re ready to learn how to fix a reverse pivot and have a golf swing that gets you into a powerful position you can repeat, you’re in the right place.
What is a reverse pivot?
A reverse pivot in golf is when a golfer shifts his body weight during a swing in the opposite direction he should. During a proper golf swing, a golfer (right-handed) should move their weight onto the right side at the start of the swing. On the flip side, a golfer with a reverse pivot load up their left side as they swing the club back.
In addition to favoring their left side, many players find that their upper bodies are in the wrong position, causing various issues, including slices or thin shots.
Is stack and tilt a reverse pivot?
The Stack and Tilt swing has been a subject of much discussion and debate in the golfing community. One common question is whether the Stack and Tilt swing is a reverse pivot. While the two techniques may seem similar at first glance, they are quite different.
A reverse pivot is a swing flaw that occurs when the golfer’s weight moves away from the target during the backswing, causing them to lose their balance and create an unstable foundation. This leads to inconsistent ball striking and a lack of power.
In contrast, the Stack and Tilt method is a swing technique that emphasizes a more centered and stable position throughout the swing. This is achieved by keeping the weight more on the front foot during the backswing and downswing, which allows the golfer to maintain a consistent axis of rotation and generate more power through the ball.
While the Stack and Tilt method may share some similarities with a reverse pivot in weight distribution, the underlying principles and mechanics of the two techniques are fundamentally different.
Why is a reverse pivot bad?
The reverse pivot causes major issues in a golf game and makes it difficult for golfers to hit long and straight golf balls. Below are some of these issues and why you should improve your pivot:
- A reverse pivot often results in thin shots with no Golf divot and a lower ball flight than expected. This can be frustrating for golfers and make achieving the desired distance and accuracy challenging.
- A reverse pivot can cause the golf club to come Over the top of the plane, resulting in an open clubface at impact. This makes it harder to release the club properly, leading to inconsistent ball flight and direction.
- Lack of power! This is one of the most inefficient moves in your golf swing. A proper pivot is vital in generating maximum Club head speed and a solid impact.
How to fix a reverse pivot
To fix a reverse pivot, you must learn how to properly transition your body weight and understand the proper plane in your Golf swing sequence. You may also want to check out the Single plane golf swing post I recently wrote for AEC Info.
Here are some steps to follow:
Step 1: Check your weight at setup
Make sure you have a balance of weight between your feet. Also, ensure your weight is not too far forward on your toes or too far back on your heels.
Step 2: Perfect the takeaway
Many golfers have difficulty making a correct weight transfer because they pick the golf club up with their hands. When you pick up a club straight up and forget to make a proper turn, the reverse pivot will sneak up on you. I like to think of it as a low and slow takeaway.
The Proper golf stance starts with a good Golf posture and a smooth takeaway.
Step 3: Feel the weight transfer
Even though you feel your weight is 50/50 at the address position, your right side will load up as you swing back and then transfer to the left at impact and after. Any golfer on the PGA Tour is a good example to watch regarding proper weight transfer.
Step 4: Understand what impact looks and feels like
Many players reverse pivot because they don’t understand the proper core and body rotation required to correct impact position.
Impact occurs with weight on the left side, but if you want high club head speed and power, your head needs to be behind the ball when you make contact. When you pivot incorrectly, this isn’t easy to do.
Tips and drills to correct your reverse pivot
Sometimes all it takes is a golf swing drill to fix your reverse pivot. Here are a few of our best tips and drills to correct this swing mistake.
- Put your feet together and hit some shots; you will feel the pivot exaggerated, and it will be hard to reverse pivot.
- Try a drill where you load up all your weight on the right side and then transfer it to the left side as you hit; it will feel like you are stepping onto the left side.
- Take your practice off the course and use a physio ball to help improve body awareness and weight transfer; golf fitness is an incredible way to create a consistent golf swing.
- Use Alignment sticks to make sure you rotate as opposed to hip slide. Sometimes, that’s all a player needs to feel to eliminate the improper pivot swing.
- Find a way to elevate your front foot (left foot for a right-handed player); this simple drill makes it impossible to pivot incorrectly; doing this with a few practice swings can help.
What does a reverse pivot do in golf?
A reverse pivot causes the entire backswing to be underpowered and creates a more upright or over-the-top motion. When reverse pivoting, players are at a higher risk of injury and are not getting the perfect golf backswing or a proper rotation.
We are all searching for the perfect golf swing, and unfortunately, if you are not making a lateral shift of your weight as part of an effective turn, you could be reverse pivoting. One of the best tips in golf is to feel your right side load up on the backswing and then transfer it forward to the left foot on the downswing and follow through.
Does a reverse pivot cause a slice?
A reverse pivot is one of the many causes of a slice. Anytime you have to hit golf shots from a position where your club is incredibly upright and you fail to shift your weight, the tendency is for the clubface to be open.
As important as it is to get your club to a square clubface position, chances are you won’t be able to do this until you fix your reverse pivot. Feel like your weight shifts from the balanced position to the right leg and back to the left. Also, ensure your club is not too upright of a golf swing plane.
You may also want to check out some of the Golf swing plane training aids we reviewed here.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, you now have the resources to fix your reverse pivot swing. For some golfers seeing a visual of your mistake is all it takes to make an effective fix. Take a video of your swing, then pay close attention to the first motion and where your weight is transferring.
The reverse pivot is quite apparent and something you will see almost immediately. If you can diagnose the reverse pivot, you are already well on your way to making a fix.
