This is probably one of the most common misconceptions with respect to the golf swing. Just about all golfer's when starting out are told to shift their weight to their back foot then shift their weight to their front foot. This information might be fine for the golfer starting out but as you continue to develop your golf swing, this excessive lateral motion needs to be eliminated.

The weight should transfer not shift. What I mean by this is that as the club swings back the weight will move slightly into the back foot. The weight should never move over top or outside of the back foot, but instead will remain towards the inside of it. This positioning will allow the golfer to move into their front side prior to impact. Again, it is very important to remember that there should be no conscious effort to shift the weight away from the golf ball during the backswing. Try to resist this temptation and the weight will transfer slightly into the back foot.

A great way to practice is to pick you back heel up off the ground. This will set the majority of the weight on the front foot. Make golf swings this way and you will notice that the shifting of the weight is overrated and a misconception.