Sports
How elite amateur trains balance in the swing — and why it works
Earlier this week we looked at how elite players train connection to keep their swings organized under pressure. Now, the focus shifts to balance and backswing coil, the foundation that allows speed to show up naturally.
Working with Jase Summy, a standout at the University of Oklahoma and a 2025 Walker Cup player, this drill shows how controlled practice builds a motion that holds up when it matters most.
Why elite players work on balance
When balance breaks down, timing is usually next. Golfers start making last-second compensations with their hands or upper body, leading to inconsistent contact and misses that feel unpredictable. Elite players don’t wait for those issues to appear in competition. They train against them in practice.
This drill intentionally slows the swing down just enough to expose instability. By removing the urge to swing at full speed, it allows players to focus on posture, sequencing and finishing in control.
Setup
Summy begins with a light resistance band looped around his lead arm and anchored under his lead foot. The band provides subtle feedback without altering posture or setup, allowing the swing to start from a neutral, athletic position.
How it works
As the swing moves back, the band stays lightly engaged, encouraging the arms and torso to move together. The goal isn’t restriction, it’s awareness. If the arms separate or the motion gets rushed, the band immediately reveals it.
Because the band is anchored under the lead foot, resistance increases naturally as the arms move back. As the upper body begins to rotate, this setup also helps the hips feel more internal rotation during the backswing. The result is a subtle “check” that encourages the body to turn rather than allowing the arms to lift independently.
For many golfers, the backswing becomes overly arm-driven. This drill exposes that tendency quickly. If the arms try to move on their own, tension spikes and the swing feels forced. When the torso turns correctly and the arms stay connected, the resistance remains manageable.
Elite players like Jase use this exercise because it blends lower-body rotation, upper-body turn, and arm structure into one coordinated motion and rewards the correct movement.
Carryover to the downswing
The same concept applies on the way down. As the lower body leads and the torso unwinds, the band helps keep the core engaged without pulling. When balance or timing breaks down, the resistance becomes immediately noticeable.
How this can help you
For amateurs, this drill simplifies a complex backswing concept. Instead of thinking about turn, connection, or sequencing, the band provides instant feedback, often in muscle groups that haven’t been engaged before. The real value isn’t just showing how the swing looks, but how a good turn should feel.
Try it for yourself and you’ll soon start to ingrain the proper backswing and downswing feels.
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