Why You’re Struggling to Create Power in the Golf Swing

If you’ve ever been told to “get more forward shaft lean” at impact, there’s a good chance you’ve tried to manufacture it with your hands at address. According to Coach Carolin, that’s exactly where many golfers go wrong. In her video, she explains that forward shaft lean is not something you force with your arms — it’s a byproduct of proper body movement and weight shift through impact. YouTube Video

One of the biggest misconceptions in golf instruction is the idea that you can preset impact conditions at setup. In the video, Coach Carolin addresses a common question from golfers: if you want forward shaft lean at impact, should you already set up with the handle pressed forward? Her answer is no. She explains that simply leaning the shaft forward at address does not mean that position will appear at impact, especially if the body is not moving correctly through the ball. YouTube Video

Forward Shaft Lean Comes From Motion, Not Manipulation

The key takeaway from the lesson is that forward shaft lean is created by the body shifting forward, not by the hands pushing ahead. Coach Carolin demonstrates that when your body’s center moves toward the target while maintaining the club-hand relationship, the shaft naturally leans forward. In other words, better impact is often the result of better lower-body motion — not more hand action. YouTube Video

That matters because many amateur golfers try to “fake” compression by forcing their hands forward at address or in transition. But as Coach Carolin points out, if your weight shift is poor, that position won’t hold up through the strike. Instead, your body will compensate, and you’ll likely arrive at impact with a scooping motion, poor compression, and reduced power. YouTube Video

Why Most Amateurs Lose Power at Impact

In the video, Coach Carolin identifies poor lateral weight shift as one of the main reasons golfers fail to create forward shaft lean and compression. She explains that some players simply turn back and then spin out, while others sway too far off the ball and never get properly back to the lead side before rotating. Both patterns make it difficult to strike the ball with the kind of forward lean and pressure that better players produce naturally. YouTube Video

This is an important distinction for recreational golfers. If you’re trying to hit the ball farther, cleaner, or with more authority, the fix may not be in your hands at all. It may be in how you load into your trail side and then transfer into your lead side. Coach Carolin’s point is simple: improve the weight shift, and the impact conditions improve with it. YouTube Video

A Simple Drill to Improve Weight Shift

To help golfers feel this movement, Coach Carolin shares a drill using a narrower stance. She recommends bringing each foot in by about two inches, starting with the club slightly forward, and focusing on loading into the trail leg going back and then loading into the front leg going through. The goal is not to preset forward shaft lean, but to let it happen naturally as a result of moving pressure correctly through the swing. YouTube Video

This kind of drill is useful because it simplifies the motion. Instead of thinking about angles, positions, or complicated swing mechanics, the golfer can focus on a feel: load back, then load forward. For many players, that creates a much more athletic strike and helps eliminate the urge to scoop at the ball. YouTube Video

A Warning for Woods and Hybrids

Coach Carolin also makes an important point about woods and hybrids. She notes that many golfers exaggerate forward shaft lean with these clubs, which can actually hurt performance. Since hybrids and fairway woods already have less loft, delofting them further by pressing the hands too far forward can make solid contact even more difficult. YouTube Video

Instead, she explains that setup with these clubs should feel more neutral, with the body creating a slight “K” position by bumping the hips a bit forward and letting the right shoulder sit lower. From there, a good weight transfer through the ball will produce the appropriate amount of shaft lean without forcing it. YouTube Video

The Real Source of Power

What makes this lesson valuable is that it reframes power as something created by sequence and motion rather than effort. Many golfers chase distance by trying to hit harder or by forcing impact positions. Coach Carolin’s instruction suggests a more effective path: improve how your body moves through the shot, and power will show up as a result. YouTube Video

If you struggle with thin shots, fat shots, or that frustrating scoopy look through impact, this is a concept worth exploring. Better players don’t create power because they manually shove the handle forward. They create power because they shift, sequence, and deliver the club in a way that allows the shaft to lean naturally. YouTube Video

Final Thoughts

If you’ve been trying to create more power by manipulating your hands, this may be the reset your golf swing needs. Forward shaft lean is not something you force into the swing — it’s something your body produces when your weight shift is working correctly. Focus less on pressing the handle forward and more on moving into your lead side through impact, and you may finally start to see the compressed, powerful strike you’ve been chasing. YouTube Video