Padraig Harrington states the ‘most dangerous’ thing any non professional golfer can do in their swing

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Not only is Padraig Harrington enjoying something of a second wind in his career on PGA Tour Champions, but he has also become one of the most popular voices on YouTube when it comes to sharing tips for how to improve.

Of course, Padraig Harrington recently made the promise that he could get anyone in the game to single figures if they followed his golf tips on YouTube. And there are not many better players to listen to, with the Irishman winning three major titles during his career. He also won the US Senior Open back in 2022.

Harrington is still playing on the DP World Tour from time to time, and it does appear that he remains competitive when it comes to distance off the tee at the age of 53. He was fifth for driving distance during the first day of the Bahrain Championship this week.

Harrington’s no-nonsense approach to teaching will resonate with many. The 2021 European Ryder Cup captain is not one to mince his words. So it is no surprise that he has had little problem identifying the biggest mistake amateurs tend to make.

Padraig Harrington suggests the ‘most dangerous’ mistake amateurs make

Speaking on The Scoop, Harrington was asked to pick out the most common advice the everyday golfer should really ignore.

“Probably the most dangerous thing an amateur can do is try and keep their head still or their feet still. You don’t want to lock things down. You’re trying to swing a golf club the same way you swung any stick as a kid. Plenty of movement, get that movement going, get that speed going, and then, we can tidy it up later on,” he said.

“But if you lose that athleticism and that dynamic bit of your swing, you don’t ever get it back. So I would say, feet still, head still, long backswing, not using your hands, they would all be the common ones. And keep your head down is just a disaster. Your head floats naturally, just as it would if you were swinging at a baseball or a tennis ball, you wouldn’t be trying to lock it down. Things don’t work when you lock anything down. Everything should be kind of relaxed at the golf swing anyway.”

The advice Tiger Woods gave amateur golfers

Anyone who has played a decent amount of golf in their time will have inevitably heard the phrase, ‘you lifted your head’ from one of their playing partners after topping the ball off the tee.

But clearly, taking that advice on board will not get an amateur anywhere in the long run.

In some respects, Harrington’s advice matches with something Tiger Woods has suggested to amateurs. Woods implored everyday golfers to always keep things simple and commit to the shot you are attempting.

There may be a sense of freedom which comes from that advice, just as it does from Harrington’s encouragement to not lock everything into place during the swing.