How a Water Bottle Can Help With Weight Shift in the Golf Swing

Mastering the weight shift in the golf swing is a tricky proposition for a lot of amateur and beginner golfers, since many of us (incorrectly!) sway instead of rotate - which is one of the major factors for mishits.

While there are a lot of different golf drills out there that can help fix your game, as a visual learner who loves instant feedback on the driving range, this water bottle hack from top-ranked golf coach Jason Baile really helped improve my sequencing and footwork - leading to better golf shots in no time.

In the video below, Baile describes the easy drill - which, literally, includes resting a bottle of water against the inside of the trail foot - and then describes why it's an effective training tool for all golfers.

Try This Drill for Proper Footwork in the Golf Swing

The key to proper footwork in the golf swing is mastering your weight shift, so Baile explains how this water bottle drill eliminates mishits due to hanging back - which a lot of amateur players do.

"If you're one of those people that just hang back and don't get the lower body shifted laterally quite soon enough, this is a great drill for you," Baile says.

By resting a water bottle against the inside of your trail foot, Baile says you're able to practice shifting your lower body (and avoid sliding!) from the back to the front of the golf swing.

"We want to get the [lower half] shifted very early in the downswing, moving the pressure from the inside of the [trail foot] over to the [lead foot], allowing the trail foot to bank and try to knock that water bottle over by impact," Baile explains.

So if the water bottle isn't knocked over, your golf swing isn't operating properly - which is why this drill is a perfect way to get instant feedback.

"Feel like there's a little pressure on the [lead foot], maybe 55 percent, and move that to the trail leg in the backswing," he says. "Use that pressure to load the backside and shift the pelvis downhill to the left before the club hits the golf ball."

While it might feel a little silly doing this on the driving range with other people around, it's a simple way to help fix annoying mistakes in your golf swing. From improving your footwork to mastering the weight shift, you'll be able to get more consistent contact in no time.

Craving more golf swing tips and golf instruction? Be sure to subscribe to Rainmakers Golf on YouTube for more relatable swing advice to help your game improve.

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This story was originally published April 28, 2026 at 2:28 PM.