The Swing Drills, Part 2
LEFT FOOT DRILL
You will need a bucket of balls, a pitching wedge, 8-iron, 6-iron, 4-iron (rescue-club), three wood, and driver. What I want you to understand from this drill is that your swing does not go out-to-in. Your current swing arc is crossing the ball-target line from the outside only because you are late in transferring your weight to your front foot. When you have your weight in the correct place your swing path is in the right place.
1. Set up in a square stance (both feet parallel to the ball-target line) and place 80-90 percent of your weight on the front foot.
2. Address the ball on the inside edge of your front foot.
3. I want you to pay close attention to your takeaway. Make your normal rotation. Your shoulders should make a 90 degree rotation. Stop the club waist high. The leading edge of the club should match your spine angle.
4. Practice this takeaway a couple of times.
5. Now, hit the ball. You should experience a crisp shot, and the club will have approached the ball from the inside.
When you get to the three wood, choke down on the club to the bottom of the grip for the first 5 balls, then hit 5 full length. Repeat that process with the driver (use a tee).
STEP AND SWING
The goal of this drill is to establish a distinction between the weight shift and the beginning of the downswing. You will learn to transfer the weight to your front foot before you begin the downswing. This will happen because you will have to step before you hit the ball. In this drill it is important to work up and down the bag. Starting with your highest lofted club, and changing after each swing. The changing of the clubs before each shot is random practice and causes your brain to rethink before each shot.
This is proven to be the most effective learning technique. Remember to swing, don't hit.
1. Place the ball in its normal set up position.
2. Stand with both feet together where you would normally place your back foot.
3. Take a normal (as possible) backswing and stride forward to hit the ball. Plant the front foot before you swing.
Don't be sloppy about this. Pick out targets and attempt to hit the ball to those targets. The only difference in your setup is the position of your left foot. What we are trying to learn is moving the weight forward. Do not forget the rotation of your shoulders in your backswing.
COCKING DRILL
The purpose of this drill is to limit the looseness players get at the top of the backswing. By making the wrist cock at the start of the swing you will get familiar with a new position at the top of your swing, one that does not dip or cross the line.
1. Using a 7-iron to start, take your normal stance and address the ball in its normal position.
2. Cock the club in front of you until it is parallel to the ground.
3. Using your shoulders, rotate the club back until you have turned your shoulders 90 degrees (make sure that you do not move your hands).
4. Lift the club normally to the top of your backswing.
5. Fire your hips and shoulders and swing through to the finish. (Your club head should come from the inside, contacting the ball squarely on the ball-target line.)