By Erika Larkin on 4/17/13

Do you bob up and down in your swing?

Do you sink down into a squat in your backswing only to spring up in your follow through?

Do you stand up in your backswing and then dive down to the ball to make contact?

I see this with many students and a lot of times they don't even realize they are doing it. Moving vertically compromises consistency and power because if you're busy moving up and down it takes away from rotational movement and speed.

To check and see if you are a "Bob" ... video tape yourself OR just swing with your eyes closed (you will get instant feedback on where your body is moving). Then, here are tips for eliminating vertical movement in your swing:

• Turn don't lift in your backswing- try to get a good hip and shoulder turn to avoid standing up


• Keep your lead shoulder lower in the backswing and tilted down to the ball. In the downswing try to keep your back shoulder lower and tilted.


• Work on keeping your hips back through the swing- practice body turns with your arms crossed your chest and your rear against a wall to feel a constant connection. If your hips stay back, your spine will have to stay down in your posture which prevents bobbing.


• Watch yourself in a mirror as you swing and try to keep you head the same height throughout the backswing.


• Have a friend touch the top of your head gently with their hand or a club. As you swing keep an even connection with it and avoid coming away from or pushing against it.


• Take some baseball swings as practice swings and feel your body turn on one level


• Hit some shots off your knees to feel a steadier posture throughout your swing.

Erika Larkin is the Director of Instruction at Larkin Golf Learning Community at Stonewall Golf Club in Gainesville, Virigina. She was named the 2012 Middle Atlantic PGA "Teacher of the Year" and the 2011 "Top Golf Pro" by Washingtonian Magazine... and she's oobgolf's newest columnist. She will be writing on a variety of topics including instruction, so if you have a question for her or an idea for a column, email her at ErikaLarkin@pga.com. Enjoy!