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.
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 a/---s="prettyprint">
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.
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 a`"`----">I will talk more about common pitfalls later in this guide, but just remember this one important thought to avoid them at all times:
a smooth move that flows directly into your takeaway
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.
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:
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 "a bit-p" s. At the same time, this is something you just don't have to worry about so much at setup. Don't worry, the setup does that for you.
/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.
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.
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.
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:
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