Think about a batter in the box, or a tennis player getting ready to return a serve. Rarely will you see one standing still, like a statue. They're moving around, subtly swaying or rocking back and forth. You can spot it in some of the best golfers around too.
Lee Trevino is the best classic example. Look at how much he's moving and shuffling his feet, right until the moment he starts his golf swing...
Ludvig Aberg is perhaps the best modern example...
What is 'jogging' (and why is it good?)
This shuffling, or sidestepping, is what Golf Digest Best In State Teacher Joe Plecker calls "Jogging." It quite simply is when you lift each foot slightly off the ground before you start your swing, but without moving the rest of your body.
You can watch Joe's full explanation in his really interesting video below (and in the Golf IQ podcast he recently appeared on here), but there are a few reasons why this is good:
- Jogging moves your pressure subtly from one foot to the other
- This allows you to build momentum throughout your body
- Golfers can then use this momentum to take the club away with more force
- A faster, forceful takeaway creates more stretch in your muscles
- Which then leads to more clubhead speed
- Without it, golfers tend to start their golf swings more with their wrists
This isn't theory, either. Teachers have found this by measuring thousands of golfers on force plates. It's why you see the best golfers in history figure this out intuitively. Go for a little jog before you swing, and you'll move better because of it.