Please could someone recomend some drills to stop the head moving backwards away form the target during the downstroke. I have been hitting balls with a straw in my mouth to monitor the head position. On video if the head stays relatively still I tend to lose my height through impact. Any help would be appreciated.
MB,
Moving the Head backwards during the Downstroke is a Sway (the Fourth Snare 3-F-7-D), and it is the product of a malfunctioning Pivot. Before diving into work on that problem, though, make sure your head is set properly to begin with.
Do you set your Head position first at Impact Fix, and then attempt to keep it Stationary? Or do you, like most people, start with your Head in an Adjusted Address position that ignores a proper Impact Fix position (and therefore cannot possibly be maintained through Impact)? My guess is the latter.
So, what is a good Head position at Impact Fix?
First, a plumb line from your chin to the ground should fall precisely between your Feet. Your Head should form the tip of an isosceles triangle whose base is the Feet. Most people hang back -- probably in response to instruction that emphasizes that the Head should be 'behind the Ball' and even 'over the right knee.' Consequently, their Head and Feet form a right triangle.
Second, the Head should be located a good deal lower than most people's 'normal' Address position. The exact position will be dictated by the amount of Knee Bend and Waist Bend. In turn, these are determined by the distance the Hips must move to enable the Right Forearm to return precisely to its pre-selected Impact Fix Angle of Approach (pointing at the Plane Line well in front of the Ball).
Bottom Line: Most people -- even good players -- move their Head entirely too much during the Stroke. And one of the primary reasons is that they have failed to set it properly in the first place.