What Is a Forward Press in Golf?

The forward press in golf is one of those subtle moves you see great players make without even realizing it - a quiet engine that powers a smooth, rhythmic swing. This article will break down exactly what a forward press is, why it's so valuable for your game, and provide a clear, step-by-step guide to adding this powerful trigger to your own swing.

What Exactly Is a Forward Press? A Simple Definition

At its core, a forward press is a small, intentional movement of the hands, arms, and sometimes hips toward the target just before you start your backswing. It's a "trigger" move that breaks the stillness of your address position and kicks off the entire golf swing in a fluid, connected motion.

Think of it like a basketball player shooting a free throw. They don't just stand perfectly still and then launch the ball. They dip their knees first - a small, preparatory action that builds momentum. The forward press works on the same principle for golf.

Benefit 1: Kickstarts a Smooth, Rhythmic Takeaway

One of the hardest things for many golfers is starting the backswing from a dead stop. Standing motionless over the ball often leads to tension in the hands and arms, which then results in a jerky, disconnected takeaway. The club is snatched away from the ball rather than moving back in a smooth, one-piece motion.

The forward press solves this problem beautifully. By creating a little bit of movement away from the intended swing direction first, it builds momentum for the start of the backswing. It's a natural counter-movement that helps everything flow together. The end of the forward press becomes the starting gun for the backswing, ensuring your hands, arms, and torso move away in sync.

Benefit 2: Establishes the Feeling of "Leading with the Body"

A good golf swing is a sequence. The ideal downswing starts from the ground up: your hips begin to unwind, followed by your torso, then your arms, and finally the club. The forward press provides a mini-rehearsal for this sequence before you even take the club back.

When you press your hands and bump your lead hip slightly toward the target, you are subconsciously telling your body, "This is the direction we're going to end up in." It encourages your lower body to be the initiator of the downswing. This helps prevent the dreaded "early extension" where your hips thrust forward too soon, robbing you of power and consistency.

A smooth move that flows directly into your takeaway.

How to Do a Forward Press: A Step-by-Step Guide

Incorporating the forward press doesn’t have to be complicated. The goal is to make it a natural, ingrained part of your pre-shot routine. Here’s a simple breakdown of how to perform the move effectively.

Step 1: Get Your Setup Right

You can't have a good forward press without a good starting position. Before you think about a trigger move, make sure your fundamentals are solid:

• Athletic Posture: Stand with your feet about shoulder-width apart for a mid-iron. Bend from your hips, not your waist, and let your arms hang down naturally from your shoulders. Your weight should be balanced and centered.
• Club position and grip: Remember: position the club first, then take your grip. If you do that, the hand pressure on your glove for right-handers will fall into your fingers. Your hands will be more secure.
• Neutral Hands: Have the club resting behind the ball with your hands in a neutral position, generally aligned with the back of the golf ball or slightly in front of it.

Step 2: The "Press" of the Hands and Arms

This is the main component of the move. From your address position, allow your hands and arms to move smoothly and gently toward the target. For a right-handed golfer, this feels like moving your hands forward an inch or two until they are roughly in line with your lead (left) thigh.

It’s a very slight movement. You are not shoving your hands forward forcefully. The clubhead should remain behind the ball. All you're doing is establishing that good hands-forward "impact position" a bit prematurely. At the same time, this is something you don't have to worry about so much at setup. Don't worry, the setup does that for you.

Step 3: Add the Subtle Hip Movement (Optional but Recommended)

As your hands move forward, allow your lead hip (left hip for a righty) to "bump" slightly toward the target along with them. This is not a big sway or slide, it’s a very small rotation or shift of your hips that mirrors the movement of the hands.

This little hip bump is what really solidifies the feeling of the lower body leading the action. It gets you off of a static starting point and encourages that weight shift that is so important for power and solid contact on the way down.

Step 4: Flow Seamlessly into the Takeaway

The end of your forward press is the beginning of your backswing. There should be no pause between the two movements. Treat it like a pendulum: as your hands reach the peak of their forward press, use that energy to initiate the takeaway. The club, arms, and shoulders should start moving back together as one cohesive unit.

The entire sequence should feel like a rhythmic "rock and go." Rock forward (press), and then go back into your backswing.

Variations for Different Shots: Putting vs. Full Swings

The forward press isn’t just for full iron shots, it's a valuable tool with other clubs as well, though the application and intent can vary slightly.

Forward Press in Putting

This is where many golfers first learn the move. On the greens, a forward press promotes a much purer roll. By pressing your hands forward slightly before you start the stroke, you accomplish two things:

1. It Delofts the Putter: This ensures the ball is not scooped or launched into the air. A slightly descending or level strike gets the ball rolling end-over-end immediately instead of skidding or bouncing at the start.
2. It Connects the Stroke: Pressing your hands locks your wrists in place and encourages a more "arms-and-shoulders" dominated rocking motion. It takes the small, twitchy muscles of the hands out of the equation for better distance control and consistency.

Forward Press for Full Swings (Irons and Wedges)

As discussed, for irons and wedges, the forward press is typically a subtle movement. It helps to set the clubface square at impact and ensures you're hitting down on the ball, creating that satisfying divot after the ball. This downward strike is crucial for compressing the ball and generating spin, giving you better control and stopping power on the greens.

Forward Press for Drivers and Fairway Woods

With drivers and fairway woods, the forward press is often less pronounced, as the goal is usually to sweep the ball off the tee or turf rather than hit down on it sharply. However, some players still use it as a trigger. For drivers, it can help ensure a smooth takeaway and prevent a "casting" motion, where the club is thrown out too early. This helps maintain lag in the downswing, which is key for maximizing clubhead speed and distance.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

While the forward press is a beneficial move, it's easy to overdo or misunderstand, leading to common swing flaws. Here are three mistakes to watch out for:

Mistake 1: The Press Is Too Big

The forward press should be a small, subtle movement. If you exaggerate it, you risk shifting too much weight onto your lead side and getting "stuck" there. This makes it difficult to transfer your weight back to the trail side during the backswing, leading to a reverse pivot and loss of power. Remember, it's a trigger, not a significant weight shift at this stage.

Mistake 2: Hands and Body Out of Sync

The beauty of the forward press lies in its connection. If your hands move forward without a corresponding slight bump of your hips, you can create tension and disconnect. This can lead to an "armsy" swing where your body doesn't properly rotate, resulting in inconsistent contact and direction. The goal is for everything to move together in a harmonious rhythm.

Mistake 3: The Jerky, Disconnected Move

The forward press is meant to create a fluid transition. If it becomes a sudden, jerky movement, it defeats its purpose. This often happens when golfers try to consciously "hit" the ball from the press rather than letting it flow into the backswing. Think of it as a gentle rock, not a violent lunge. The smoother the transition, the more effective the trigger will be in setting up a powerful, consistent swing.

The forward press is a small but mighty tool in a golfer's arsenal. When executed correctly, it can transform your swing from static and jerky to dynamic and fluid, improving your rhythm, promoting proper body movement, and ultimately leading to more consistent and powerful shots. By understanding its purpose, practicing the steps, and avoiding common pitfalls, you can unlock this subtle secret to a better golf game. So, the next time you step up to the ball, remember the quiet power of the forward press and let it be the catalyst for your best swing yet.