Master Your Golf Swing Follow Through for Longer, Straighter Shots

You've just made solid contact with the ball, but something's off. The shot doesn't feel quite right, and you can't seem to find that satisfying "crack" sound you hear when the pros hit it. Here's the thing most weekend golfers miss: your follow through is just as important as everything that comes before it.

Think of your golf swing like throwing a football. You don't just chuck it at the receiver and stop – you follow through with your arm, letting your whole body complete the motion. The same goes for golf. Your follow through isn't just some fancy finishing pose you see on TV. It's the secret to turning those frustrating mishits into shots that make your buddies ask, "When did you get so good?"

Why Your Follow Through Matters More Than You Think

Most weekend golfers treat the follow through like an afterthought. They're so focused on trying to crush the ball that they forget the swing doesn't end at impact. But here's what separates the guys shooting in the 80s from those stuck in the 100s: understanding that your follow through is like the closing argument in a court case – it seals the deal.

Your follow through tells the complete story of your swing. If you can get to a good follow-through, or finish, position, then chances are high that the rest of your swing was done properly. When you watch the pros on TV, notice how they hold their finish position until the ball lands. They're not just showing off – they're proving to themselves (and us) that their swing was under control from start to finish.

The follow through is kinda like the trailer of a movie. It gives you all the clues about what happened in the main feature. If your finish position looks awkward or unbalanced, it means something went wrong earlier in your swing. But when you nail that perfect follow through, it's almost guaranteed that everything before it was spot-on.

Let me explain what happens in your body during a proper follow through. While it does occur after the ultimate impact with the ball the follow through is still an integral part of the golf swing and one that should not be sloppily executed. Your body continues the rotational movement that started in your downswing, allowing all that stored energy to transfer through the club and into the ball.

The Five Pillars of a Weekend Golfer's Perfect Follow Through

After analyzing hundreds of swings from weekend golfers, I've identified five key elements that separate the good finishes from the train wrecks. Master these, and you'll start seeing immediate improvements in both distance and accuracy.

1. Get Your Club Behind Your Head (Not Wrapped Around Your Neck)

The first element in a good follow-through is making sure the club finishes behind your head and shoulders. For right-handed golfers, your hands should end up on the left side of your head, with the club shaft resting comfortably behind your head or over your right shoulder.

Here's the thing: if your club is finishing low, around your waist or chest level, you're probably coming over the top or decelerating through impact. The club should naturally swing up and around your body, not get stuck halfway through the motion.

Think of it like you're putting on a jacket – your arms naturally swing up and around. That's the same motion you want in your follow through. If you're struggling with this, try some practice swings where you focus solely on getting the club to finish high and behind your head.

2. Plant That Weight on Your Front Foot

This is huge for weekend golfers. In general, about 80% of your weight should be resting over the front foot (left foot for the right-handed player) at the follow through. If you're finishing with your weight on your back foot, you're leaving serious power on the table.

I see so many weekend golfers trying to help the ball into the air by leaning back and scooping. That's backwards thinking. The loft on your club is designed to get the ball airborne – your job is to hit down and through the ball, not up and under it.

Practice this: after each swing, try to lift your back foot off the ground. If you can't do it easily, you're not transferring your weight properly. When you're doing it right, you should be able to maintain consistency with this weight transfer on every swing.

3. Get That Back Heel Up in the Air

Going along with finishing on your front side, a good follow-through means the back heel (right heel for the right-handed player) is raised in the air. Only your back toe should be touching the ground at the finish.

This isn't just about looking cool – it's about physics. When your back heel comes up naturally, it means you've properly shifted your weight through the swing. It's almost impossible to get your heel up if you haven't transferred your weight correctly.

Think of it like a pitcher throwing a fastball. Watch any MLB pitcher, and you'll see their back leg come up and around after they release the ball. Same principle applies to your golf swing.

4. Face the Target Like You're Talking to It

Your chest should be facing your target at the end of your follow through. Making sure that your chest is facing the target means that you have rotated through the golf swing. This shows that you've completed the rotation that started in your backswing.

A lot of weekend golfers stop their rotation halfway through, which robs them of power and accuracy. Your body should feel like it's facing the target, almost like you're having a conversation with the flag stick.

When you're practicing, pick a specific target (not just "somewhere out there") and make sure your belt buckle is pointing at it when you finish. This simple checkpoint will help you rotate properly and develop a more powerful swing.

5. Stay Balanced Like You're Posing for a Photo

Finally, you should be able to hold your finish in perfect balance until the ball lands, if you needed to. This is the ultimate test of whether your swing was under control.

If you're stumbling around after your swing, it means you were probably swinging too hard or your timing was off. The goal is to swing with controlled aggression, not wild abandon.

Try this drill: after each swing, hold your finish position and count to three. If you can do it without wavering, you've got the balance part down. If you're wobbling like a newborn giraffe, you need to slow down and focus on control over power.

The Most Common Follow Through Mistakes (And How to Fix Them)

Let's talk about the follow through mistakes I see almost every weekend golfer make. These are the swing killers that keep you from breaking 90 and leave you wondering why golf is so frustrating.

The "Chicken Wing" Finish

This is when your lead arm (left arm for righties) bends dramatically at the elbow during the follow through, making you look like you're doing some weird dance move. When the elbows get too high, the follow-through gets to be too forced.

The chicken wing usually happens because you're trying to control the ball too much or you're afraid of hitting it too hard. Instead, let your arms extend naturally through the swing. Think of it like you're sweeping something off a table – your arms should extend smoothly, not bend and contort.

The "Falling Backwards" Finish

Too many golfers don't have a good follow through or lose balance because their weight never shifts from the trail foot. This usually happens when you're trying to help the ball up in the air by leaning back and scooping.

The fix? Trust your club's loft and swing down and through the ball. Practice hitting balls with your feet close together – this will force you to stay balanced and transfer your weight properly. You'll be amazed at how much better your ball striking becomes.

The "Quit at Impact" Finish

Some golfers put all their energy into getting to impact, then basically stop swinging. This creates a weak, inconsistent shot that lacks power and accuracy. This is in contrast to golfers who simply quit their swings after impact, which highlight deceleration or blocking issues.

Think of your swing like cracking a whip – the power comes from the smooth acceleration through the entire motion, not just to one point. Keep your arms and body moving through the ball and to a full finish.

The "Low and Slow" Finish

When your club finishes low, around waist or chest height, it usually means you're coming over the top or your swing path is too steep. When a follow-through is too low, with the club finishing below the shoulder line, it can indicate several different errors have occurred.

To fix this, practice swinging with the feeling of throwing your club over your shoulder (don't actually let go!). This will help you get the club to finish in the proper high position.

Simple Drills That Actually Work for Weekend Golfers

Let's be honest – most golf drills are designed for people who can practice every day. You need drills that work with your schedule and don't require a lot of equipment. Here are my go-to drills for weekend golfers who want to improve their follow through without spending hours on the range.

The "Baseball Throw" Drill

This one's genius because it uses a motion your body already knows. Throwing a baseball is pretty simple for most people and can help with the right foot weight shift you need in the golf swing.

Stand in your golf stance and throw a baseball (or tennis ball) toward your target. Notice how your weight naturally shifts to your front foot and your back heel comes up. That's exactly what should happen in your golf swing.

Practice this a few times, then make some golf swings while trying to recreate that same weight shift feeling. You'll be shocked at how much more power and balance you get.

The "2x4 Balance" Drill

Get a 2x4 piece of wood and lay it flat on the ground. Stand on it in your golf stance and hit some balls. If you can hit a shot and not fall off the 2×4, then you have good enough balance throughout your golf swing to finish in a proper follow-through position.

This drill forces you to swing with control and balance. If you're swinging too hard or your weight transfer is off, you'll step off the board immediately. Start with slow, controlled swings and gradually increase your speed as you get better at staying balanced.

The "Toe Tap" Test

After each swing, immediately try to tap your back toe on the ground three times. If you can tap the toe, without hesitation, and remain standing throughout the follow-through position, then you have correctly finished on your back toe.

If you can't lift your back foot easily, it means you have too much weight on it. This is a quick way to check if you're transferring your weight properly. The easier it is to tap your toe, the better your weight transfer.

The "Hold and Push" Drill

Hold your follow through position for five seconds after each swing. Have a friend give you a gentle push from behind. If you fall forwards easily then you have enough weight on the front side of your golf swing.

This drill is particularly useful for understanding whether you're actually finishing with your weight forward or just think you are. It's amazing how many golfers think they're transferring their weight properly until they try this drill.

How Different Clubs Affect Your Follow Through

Here's something most instructors don't tell you: your follow through should look slightly different depending on what club you're hitting. Understanding these differences will help you choose the right club and execute better shots.

Driver Follow Through

With your driver, you want a full, high finish because you're trying to maximize distance. The ball is on a tee, so you can afford to have a slightly more upward angle of attack. Your follow through should be the most dramatic – full extension, high finish, and maximum rotation.

The key with driver is to trust the loft of the club and swing through the ball, not at it. Many weekend golfers try to lift the ball up, which actually creates a lower, weaker ball flight. Sometimes it's better to leave the driver in the bag, but when you do use it, commit to a full follow through.

Iron Follow Through

With irons, you want a slightly more controlled follow through. You're hitting down and through the ball, so your finish might not be quite as high as with a driver, but it should still be complete and balanced.

The key is to feel like you're taking a divot after the ball, not before it. This means your weight needs to be moving forward through impact, which creates that proper follow through position. When you're practicing your iron play, focus on hitting the ball first, then the ground.

Wedge Follow Through

With wedges, especially on shorter shots, your follow through will be more abbreviated. But it should still be proportional to your backswing. If you take the club back to waist height, it should finish around waist height on the other side.

The mistake many weekend golfers make with wedges is trying to help the ball up by flicking their wrists. Instead, focus on a smooth acceleration through the ball with a balanced finish. Good short game is all about consistent contact and proper follow through.

For more information on club-specific techniques, check out this comprehensive resource from Golf Distillery which provides detailed technical analysis of follow through mechanics.

Mental Game: Building Confidence Through Better Follow Through

Here's something that might surprise you: improving your follow through can actually boost your confidence on the golf course. When you know you can consistently get to a good finish position, it takes pressure off the rest of your swing.

Think about it this way: if you're focused on getting to a good follow through, you can't be tensing up or trying to steer the ball. Your body naturally has to swing smoothly and accelerate through the ball to get to that finish position.

I've found that weekend golfers who focus on their follow through tend to have fewer blow-up holes. Staying focused becomes easier when you have one clear, simple swing thought: "Get to a good finish position."

The mental benefits extend beyond just swing mechanics. When you hold your follow through and watch your ball fly toward the target, you're demonstrating confidence and commitment to your shot. This kind of body language not only looks good to your playing partners but also reinforces positive feelings about your swing.

Here's a simple mental trick: before each shot, visualize yourself holding a perfect follow through position. See yourself balanced, weight forward, club behind your head, watching the ball fly toward your target. This kind of visualization helps program your body to complete the swing properly.

Golf psychology experts often recommend focusing on the follow through because it's something you can control. You can't control where the ball goes once it leaves the clubface, but you can control how you finish your swing.

Advanced Follow Through Techniques for Lower Scores

Once you've mastered the basics, there are some advanced concepts that can help you take your game to the next level. These aren't necessary for every weekend golfer, but if you're looking to consistently break 90 or even 80, these tips can make a difference.

Reading Your Follow Through

Your follow through position can tell you exactly what happened during your swing. The golf swing follow through tells the story of every golf swing. It tells the player what went right or what went wrong.

If you finish with your weight back and your right shoulder high, you probably came over the top and hit a slice. If you finish with your weight forward but your right shoulder very low, you might have hit a hook. Learning to read these signs can help you make quick adjustments on the course.

Professional golfers use this kind of feedback constantly. As Hank Haney said in Golf Digest, "Watching a pro golf tournament can be as educational as it is entertaining. When the camera focuses on a player hitting a full shot, pay attention to how he or she finishes the swing. You can even hit pause on your DVR and guess whether it was a draw, fade or straight shot before seeing where the ball ends up".

Matching Your Follow Through to Your Shot Shape

If you're trying to hit a draw, your follow through should be slightly more around your body, with your hands finishing a bit lower. For a fade, you want a slightly higher finish with your hands more to the left side of your head.

This is advanced stuff, but it's worth understanding if you want to play smarter golf. You don't need to manipulate your swing dramatically – just small adjustments to your follow through can help you curve the ball when you need to.

Using Follow Through for Course Management

Different course situations call for different types of follow through. When you're playing in windy conditions, a more controlled, abbreviated follow through can help you hit lower, more penetrating shots. When you need to hit a high, soft shot over a bunker, a full, high follow through helps create the trajectory you need.

This is where course management and swing technique intersect. The better you understand how your follow through affects ball flight, the better you can adjust your shots to match the course conditions.

For detailed analysis of swing mechanics and follow through positions, the Left Rough provides excellent technical breakdowns with video analysis.

Equipment Considerations for Better Follow Through

Your equipment can actually help or hurt your ability to achieve a good follow through. Here are some things to consider when evaluating your clubs and setup.

Shaft Flex and Follow Through

If your shaft is too stiff for your swing speed, you might find yourself trying to help the ball up in the air, which can lead to a poor follow through. Conversely, if your shaft is too flexible, you might have trouble controlling the clubface through impact and into the follow through.

Choosing the right clubs for your swing speed and ability level can make a huge difference in your ability to achieve a proper follow through. Many weekend golfers are playing with clubs that are too difficult for their skill level.

Grip Size and Follow Through

Grips that are too small can cause you to over-grip the club, creating tension that prevents a smooth follow through. Grips that are too large can make it difficult to release the club properly through impact.

The right grip size allows you to hold the club with moderate pressure throughout the swing, which promotes a more natural follow through. If you're constantly battling tension in your hands and forearms, your grip size might be part of the problem.

Club Length and Balance

Clubs that are too long or too short can affect your posture and swing plane, which in turn affects your follow through. If your clubs don't fit properly, you might find yourself making compensations that prevent a natural finish position.

Getting properly fitted isn't just for low handicappers. Even weekend golfers can benefit from clubs that match their height, swing characteristics, and skill level.

For more information on equipment selection and how it affects swing mechanics, check out this resource from Skillest which covers the relationship between equipment and swing technique.

Practice Routines That Fit Your Schedule

Let's be realistic – you're not going to spend hours every day working on your follow through. But you can make significant improvements with just a few focused practice sessions. Here are some practice routines designed specifically for weekend golfers.

The 15-Minute Follow Through Session

This is perfect for before a round or during a quick range session:

1. 5 minutes of baseball throws (10-15 throws)
2. 5 minutes of slow-motion swings focusing on finish position
3. 5 minutes of regular swings with the hold-and-count drill

This short session will get your body remembering the proper follow through positions without wearing you out before your round.

The Living Room Drill

You can practice your follow through at home without hitting balls:

1. Stand in front of a mirror with a club
2. Take slow-motion swings focusing on your finish position
3. Check that your weight is on your front foot and your club is behind your head
4. Hold the position for 3-5 seconds

This is particularly useful during the off-season when you can't get to the range regularly. Training at home can be just as effective as range practice for working on positions and fundamentals.

The Pre-Round Routine

Before each round, spend a few minutes on these follow through fundamentals:

1. Take 5 practice swings with eyes closed, focusing on feeling the proper finish
2. Hit 10 balls with the specific goal of holding your follow through
3. Pick one follow through thought for the round (balance, weight forward, high finish)

This routine helps you take your practice to the course and gives you a specific swing thought to focus on during your round.

The Weekend Warrior Plan

If you only get to practice once or twice a week, make follow through a priority:

• Spend 25% of your practice time on follow through drills
• Work on one specific element each session (balance one week, weight transfer the next)
• Keep a simple practice journal to track which drills help most

Effective practice doesn't require hours of time – it requires focused attention on the right things.

Key Takeaways for Weekend Golfer Success

Your follow through isn't just the end of your swing – it's the foundation of consistency and power that every weekend golfer needs. When you focus on finishing in a balanced, controlled position, everything else tends to fall into place.

Remember, golf is ultimately about making solid contact and getting the ball to go where you want it to go. A proper follow through is your insurance policy against the wild, uncontrolled swings that lead to big numbers on the scorecard.

The beauty of working on your follow through is that it's something you can practice anywhere – in your living room, in your backyard, or at the range. It doesn't require perfect conditions or expensive equipment. It just requires a commitment to finishing your swing properly.

Start with the basics: weight on your front foot, club behind your head, balanced finish. Master these fundamentals, and you'll be amazed at how much more consistent and powerful your shots become.

Most importantly, remember that improvement takes time. You're not going to transform your swing overnight, but with consistent focus on your follow through, you'll start seeing results within a few practice sessions. Becoming a better golfer is a journey, and mastering your follow through is one of the most important steps you can take.

The next time you're on the course, make it a point to hold your follow through and really feel what a balanced finish position is like. You might be surprised at how much this simple focus can improve not just your ball striking, but your confidence and enjoyment of the game.

Frequently Asked Questions About Golf Swing Follow Through

What is the most important part of a golf swing follow through? The most important part is getting your weight properly transferred to your front foot. About 80% of your weight should be on your front foot at the finish, with your back heel raised in the air. This ensures you've accelerated through the ball rather than hanging back and scooping.

How high should my club finish in my follow through? Your club should finish behind your head and shoulders, with your hands around shoulder height or above. The club shaft should rest comfortably behind your head or over your opposite shoulder. If your club is finishing low around your waist or chest, you're likely decelerating or coming over the top.

Why do I lose my balance in my follow through? Balance issues in the follow through usually indicate you're swinging too hard or not transferring your weight properly. Try slowing down your swing and focusing on moving your weight to your front foot through impact. Practice holding your finish position for 3-5 seconds after each swing.

Should my follow through be different for different clubs? Yes, your follow through should vary slightly by club. Driver swings should have a full, high finish for maximum distance. Iron shots require a more controlled finish with weight forward. Wedge shots may have a more abbreviated follow through, but it should still be balanced and proportional to your backswing.

How can I practice my follow through at home? You can practice follow through at home by taking slow-motion swings in front of a mirror, focusing on getting your weight forward and club behind your head. Try the baseball throw drill to feel proper weight transfer, or practice holding your finish position for several seconds to improve balance.

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