Although the ankle is the most injured body part of an
athlete, very little is ever done to strengthen the stabilizing muscles
that prevent rolling in and out. Golfers are no exception in neglecting
ankle strengthening. They seldom sprain their ankle swinging the golf
club, but strength of ankle muscles is very significant to maintaining
positions that establish balance, and create a powerful and efficient
golf swing.

During the backswing, the moment a golfer allows body weight to
move outside the neutral position of the ankle that was established at
address a power leak is created. It then becomes a challenge to
transfer weight in the forward swing with any consistency.

Although this lateral displacement of weight often occurs as a
compensatory move due to hip inflexibility, it may be accentuated (or
even caused) by weakness of the ankle evertors (or muscles that tilt
your ankle up on the little toe side).

The ankle position of the forward foot (closest to your target)
is a major factor in successful delivery of power at impact. At this
“moment of truth” when tremendous force is created from the feet upward
your ankle should hold fast to its neutral position. Strength of the
ankle evertors becomes a major factor at this point as the body mass is
quickly rotating and moving toward the target.

If your weight has moved outside the “power zone” and your
ankle has rolled to the outside, you have once again created a power
leak. The stronger and better trained your ankles are:

• The more power you can deliver at impact
  
• The better your ability to maintain proper spine angles
  
• You can more effectively resist compensatory moves in the swing
  

Perform this as an exercise and hitting drill. You will gain
strength, improve footwork, establish better golf balance and increase
swing power as you move from the backswing, into your forward swing, to
impact and to the finish position.

The exercise---

Take your normal address position. Contract the outside muscles
of each lower leg in order to flare up the outside of each foot
slightly. Strive to maintain this “flared up” position with each foot
as you hit a golf ball with a shortened half swing. As you move toward
impact the back foot ( R foot of right handed golfer ) will naturally
move out of the starting position as the heel leaves the ground to
establish the normal follow through position. Just beyond impact the
forward foot (L foot of right handed golfer ) will flatten but do not
allow your weight to transfer to the outside of the foot. Your follow
through is shortened to parallel to the ground for this drill/exercise.
Repeat with 10 to 20 swings or until your leg muscles fatigue to the
point of not being able to adequately hold your feet in the proper
flared positions.

Remember: During your swing keep proper spine angles, maintain
a good solid position of the back knee during your backswing, rotate
your center of gravity within the balance zone, and accelerate through
impact just as you would in a normal swing.