Photo credit: iStock Photo / OtmarW
If you have sore feet, you know that playing a round of golf can be painful and challenging. You could just ride around the course in a golf cart to alleviate the pain from walking. But, pain in your big toe, forefoot and heel can actually affect your golf swing, too.
For a consistently good golf swing, you need to position your feet correctly for proper balance and hip turn throughout your swing. But foot pain can affect your foot positioning.
Proper Golf Stance
For a correct golf swing stance, grip the club and step up to the ball with your feet shoulder-width apart. Your weight should be evenly distributed on both feet. For a driver, 3-wood or 5-wood shot, the ball should be positioned off the inside of the left heel. If you’re using an iron shot, the ball should be 3-4 inches inside the left heel. Your right foot and golf club should be perpendicular to your target line. If your right foot is flared out too much, you’re likely to over-rotate and lose your balance when swinging. Your left foot needs to be flared toward the target about 20 degrees or more. As you pivot your body during the swing, you’ll face the target fully forward.
As you swing the club back, your hips will turn so the majority of your weight is on your right foot. When you swing your club down, hit the ball, and swing the club upward, your weight will transfer to your left foot. As you finish, your weight will be firmly on your left foot. Your right foot will pivot, so your heel is over your toes.
Effect of Foot Pain on Your Swing
Several painful foot conditions can affect your balance, follow-through and weight transfer during your golf swing.
- Balance – Plantar fasciitis is an inflammation of the plantar fascia – the thick tissue on the bottom of your foot. It can cause heel pain, making it difficult for you to maintain a firm stance during your golf swing. If you suffer from plantar fasciitis, you may pull sharply to the left or right during your swing and lose control over the direction of your ball. Achilles tendonitis and arch pain can also cause an awkward stance, leading to instability in your balance and an unsteady swing.
- Follow-through – Arthritis in your big toe can make it painful for you to correctly follow-through on your golf swing. And if you cut your follow-through short, your shots may not go where you want them to go.
- Weight transfer – Morton’s neuroma is the compression of the nerves in the ball of your foot that causes the nerves to thicken and enlarge. This condition can cause pain when you shift your weight from one foot to another while swinging your club. Metatarsalgiaisa condition in which the five long bones in the mid-foot area become inflamed. This can also cause pain during weight transfer. When you can’t transfer your weight correctly, your swing will be awkward.
Solutions for a Pain-free Golf Swing
Most of these conditions can be treated with:
- Stretching exercises
- Medications
- Cortisone injections
- Ice
- Physical therapy
- Changes to your shoes
However, more severe cases may require surgery.
Another solution is to wear custom foot orthotics, like ezWalker® Custom Fit Orthotics, in your shoes. ezWalker® Custom Orthotics can help correct your body posture, stabilize your balance, relieve pain during follow-through, and evenly redistribute your weight on your feet. ezWalker® Custom Orthotics are specifically made for each of your feet, so they properly support your arches. With ezWalker® Custom Orthotics, you’ll walk from lateral heel to medial forefoot for better bio-mechanics of your entire body. And, you’ll experience reduced pressure on the balls of your feet.
Your best golf swing really does begin with healthy feet. Order your ezWalker® Custom Fit Orthotics from the WalkEZStore today by clicking this link.
Because … when your feet feel good, you feel good.®
Disclaimer: The information included in this article is for educational purposes only. It should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
