The Most Reliable Way To Fix Standing Up In The Golf Swing!

If you’ve ever felt like you’re standing up out of your posture during your backswing—or if you’ve been hitting the top of the ball—you’re not alone. A common issue among amateur golfers is losing spine angle or posture through the swing. Fortunately, there’s a simple drill that can help you stay grounded and balanced, leading to better ball striking and more consistent contact. In this post, we’ll walk you through a fun and effective backswing drill demonstrated by Tatum at the Crosby Club in San Diego and explain why lifting the toes of your back foot might just be the fix you need.

The Importance of Maintaining Posture

One of the most critical fundamentals in a solid golf swing is maintaining your posture throughout the motion. Many golfers are told that they “stand up” during their swing, especially in the backswing, and are led to believe it’s all about their chest lifting. While this can happen, the real culprit is often improper weight distribution—specifically, rolling too far forward onto the toes instead of keeping the weight centered or slightly in the heels.

When you lose your balance and your posture in the backswing, several things can go wrong. You might hit the top of the ball, chunk it fat, or even lose control over the direction of your shots. That’s where this drill comes in.

Understanding the Toes-Up Drill

To help golfers feel grounded and maintain proper posture, Tatum uses a clever drill: lifting the toes of the trail foot (right foot for right-handed players) slightly during the backswing. This might sound odd at first, but here’s what it does:

Encourages Heel Pressure: By lifting the toes, you naturally shift pressure toward your trail heel, helping you feel more connected to the ground.

Prevents Standing Up: This shift helps keep your hips and chest in the correct posture, avoiding the common mistake of rising up during the swing.

Promotes Balance and Rotation: It allows for a better coil in the backswing without pulling your upper body out of position.

This is an excellent drill for players who tend to lift their chests or straighten their legs during the takeaway and transition.

Drills to Help You Stay in Posture

1. Toes-Up Backswing Drill

Setup: Address the ball as usual, focusing on maintaining your normal posture.

Execution: As you begin your takeaway, feel the toes of your trail foot (right foot for right-handers) lifting slightly off the ground. This shift will move pressure into your heel and keep your spine angle intact.

Swing Through: Continue your swing normally, focusing on keeping your posture as you rotate back and through.

Tip: This drill might feel awkward at first, but that exaggerated motion can help you develop better awareness of your posture and balance.

2. Wall Drill for Posture Awareness

Setup: Stand near a wall or any vertical surface with your backside lightly touching it—your hips should be making contact.

Execution: Make slow, practice backswings, keeping your right hip (for right-handed players) in contact with the wall as you rotate. This creates a clear checkpoint to prevent early extension or lifting.

Follow Through: As you come back down, your hips should still brush the wall, indicating that you’ve stayed in your posture and resisted moving closer to the ball.

Tip: If you struggle with this, try exaggerating the feeling of pushing your hips back into the wall during your swing.

Conclusion

Losing posture during the backswing can lead to all kinds of ball-striking issues. But by using drills like the toes-up backswing and the wall drill, you can retrain your body to stay grounded and balanced throughout the swing. These drills provide instant feedback and help you maintain pressure in the right places—especially in your trail heel—so you can stay down through the shot and strike the ball cleanly.

It may feel a little weird at first, but as Tatum showed, the results speak for themselves: a crisp strike, improved accuracy, and a lovely little draw. Give these drills a try during your next practice session—you just might unlock a new level in your game.