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PGA Golf Coach Carolin tackles one of golf’s most persistent myths — that you should keep your head down throughout the swing. In this video, she breaks down exactly how the head should and shouldn’t move at each stage of the swing, from setup through to impact. If inconsistent contact is holding you back, this could be the explanation you’ve been looking for.
Coach Carolin – Game Improvement
Coach Carolin walks through the correct head movement pattern at every phase of the golf swing, using a mirror-based drill to make the concept easy to practise at home. She explains why a steady head in the backswing, a slight dip at the start of the downswing, and keeping the head behind the ball through impact are the keys to solid, consistent striking. This video suits any golfer who has been told to “keep their head down” and wants to understand what the head should actually be doing instead.
Key Takeaways
Keep the head steady in the backswing — it’s the shoulders that do the work Rather than letting your head sway laterally, focus on turning your lead shoulder towards your trail foot to load weight into your right heel without your head moving more than half an inch.
Keep the head steady in the backswing — it’s the shoulders that do the work Rather than letting your head sway laterally, focus on turning your lead shoulder towards your trail foot to load weight into your right heel without your head moving more than half an inch.
At the start of the downswing, allow a slight dip The best ball-strikers drop their head just a touch as they shift weight into a small squat on the front leg — this is the only deliberate up-and-down head movement you want to introduce.
Keep your head behind the ball through impact to create separation Your hips should lead through the “magic line” at impact while your head stays back, creating the separation between upper and lower body that generates power — moving your head forward kills that separation entirely.
Try practising your swing movement in front of a mirror at home — no club needed — and use a piece of tape or a marker line to track whether your head is staying where it should through each phase. This video is particularly valuable for mid-handicap golfers who struggle with inconsistent contact and have long been told to simply “keep their head down” without understanding why that advice can do more harm than good.
