Shagbag, thank you for your question!
Being consistent in the game of golf has been long sought after by everyone who attempts to play the game. It doesn#%92t matter if we have just begun the game or are a seasoned professional; we all look for a consistent strike on the ball, touch around the greens and a dependable putter to keep us playing the best we can.
Building consistency has simple answer and something most of us can#%92t always do, but being consistent with our practice and working on the right things to help build consistent ball striking is a must in the improvement in every player. The more time you can spend on the range working proper fundamentals the more consistent you will become. Repetition is key!
There are a number of things you can begin to work on from a consistency standpoint, so lets take it one step at a time.
You have asked about help with balance and finishing on the left side. There is a large quantity of drills that can help with those areas and many you may have heard of before.
Balance in the golf swing has a lot to do with swinging within yourself; or not trying to make a swing you can#%92t produce with your body stature. Sure I can try to swing as hard as Tiger Woods, but will I stay in balance with my stature and strength; I think not. Especially as we get older we can not rely solely on distance because we just do not have the strength and flexibility we used to have.
One fun drill I always like to do with my students when their balance is a bit off is to hit balls in a fairway bunker without digging in their feet in. I first learned this drill from David Leadbetter and it was a fantastic way for golfers to work on balance on a volatile surface below them. Swinging in the sand or wet ground with tennis shoes on will really make you be careful through the swing and stay within yourself and balanced. If you are too aggressive you will slip and slide around too much to keep your swing consistent. You will have to find your own special rhythm, whether fast or slow you have to sequence the movements of the golf swing to create the most power for your swing. Jack always liked to swing like your lifestyle was, meaning if you are a fast paced go getter, maybe your golf game and swing should mimic that and be very quick like a Nick Price swing, or if you were a laid back guy with not many cares like a Freddie Couples swing accordingly, smooth and effortlessly. Work on your personal rhythm for improved balance. Also, use the feet together drill. It#%92s a great way to feel the club swing and to keep great balance. Check out Lisa Ann#%92s article about it on the site. http://www.tees2greens.com/Instruction.aspx?id=267
Finishing on your left side or producing the proper weight shift is all about thinking athletically. For example, when throwing a baseball for a right handed player, you rare back to your right side and stride forward to your left as you thrown the ball timing the shift to get the most power behind your throw. If you stand flatfooted you might be able to be very accurate with your throw, but it will have no power whatsoever. So be sure to think athletic!
Now that you have the mental image of being athletic, try a drill I love to do with my students that are having a hard time getting to their left side and beginning the weight transfer through the swing. It#%92s almost like dancing and my students have a lot of fun with it, I know you have seen this drill one or twice.
When you make the backswing truning to the right side I want you to completely lift your left foot off the ground, then as you begin to swing the club back to the ball you will transfer your weight back to the left side ending with all of your weight on the left foot and your right foot off the ground. Almost like a dance move, from foot to foot. This drill will help improve your timing through impact and teach you how to transfer your weight while keeping your balance through to the left side.
Try these couple of drills then we can begin to work on some other areas soon.
Always, if at anytime you can upload a video to the site or provide a link to your golf swing video posted online, we will have a much better opportunity to help you improve and work on problem areas. So get to work and have fun; Good Luck!