How to Use Your Legs for More Club Speed

Written By Martin Du Toit

Golf Swing Analysis: Feel How to Use Your Legs for More Speed and Power

Why the Legs Matter in the Golf Swing

At ATX Golf Performance, we teach that most power is produced from the ground up. The legs don’t just support your stance—they drive the sequence that builds speed and consistency. When the legs aren’t engaged, the arms and hands do too much, leading to weak contact, timing issues, and even injury risk.

The good news? You don’t need to be an athlete to use your legs properly. By focusing on feels and sequence, any golfer can start learning how to let the legs fuel their swing.

The Role of the Legs: A Step-by-Step Sequence

1. Setup – Building a Stable Base

Feel: Your feet press into the ground evenly, with light pressure toward the inside of your arches. Knees are gently flexed—not squatting, just athletic.
Why it matters: A solid base allows you to rotate without wobbling or collapsing.

2. Backswing – Loading the Trail Leg

Feel: As you turn back, pressure shifts gently into the inside of your trail foot (not the outside edge). Your trail knee stays flexed and stable, resisting sway.
Why it matters: This creates stored energy, like compressing a spring.

3. Transition – The First Move Down

Feel: Imagine starting the downswing by “stepping” into your lead heel. The hips shift slightly toward the target before the arms move.
Why it matters: This move engages the legs to initiate the chain of motion—hips first, torso second, arms and club last.

4. Downswing – Driving Rotation with the Lower Body

Feel: The lead leg straightens gradually as the hips rotate open. The trail knee drives toward the target, chasing the lead knee.
Why it matters: This uncoiling motion generates torque, allowing the upper body and club to accelerate without forcing.

5. Impact & Finish – Posting on the Lead Side

Feel: At impact, weight is fully into the lead leg, balanced through the heel and inside forefoot. After the strike, the trail heel is off the ground, hips and chest are open, and your body is facing the target.
Why it matters: This “post up” stabilizes the strike and ensures you’ve transferred all stored energy into the ball.

Feels to Unlock Leg Power

  • “Step then swing.” Feel like your downswing begins with a step into your lead heel before anything else moves.

  • “Chase the knees.” Imagine your trail knee chasing your lead knee as you turn through.

  • “Post and pose.” At the finish, feel tall and stable on your lead leg, balanced enough to hold your finish.

Beginner-Friendly Drills

1. Step-Through Drill

  • Start with feet together.

  • As you swing back, step into your lead foot and swing through.

  • Focus on rhythm: step → swing.

2. Heel Pressure Drill

  • At the top of your swing, pause.

  • Begin the downswing by pressing your lead heel into the ground.

  • Feel the chain reaction—hips open, torso follows, then arms release.

3. Split-Stance Drill

  • Set up with your trail foot slightly back, almost like a step behind.

  • Hit half-swings from this position, feeling the lead leg support the finish.

  • This exaggerates the sensation of “posting up” on the lead leg.

Why ATX Golf Performance Coaches Train Legs First

Many golfers spend years chasing swing changes without realizing their legs are under-used. Our Golf Swing Analysis identifies how you load, shift, and rotate from the ground—and we give you simple, feel-based cues to retrain movement. Once the legs drive the motion, you’ll feel more balanced, more powerful, and more consistent.

** Ready to unlock ground-up speed and power?**
→ Schedule your Game Evaluation at ATX Golf Performance.

Martin Du Toit
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