Secrets of the Swing; Practice
Practice Practice which has purpose will enhance the effectiveness of instruction. The golf teacher can help the student to develop practice routines which will reinforce the information learned during the lesson. Practice with purpose has the following characteristics: 1. Goals; the student will set goals for each practice drill. In the beginning goals will be simple, for example: Level 1: hit x/10 balls in desired direction. Level 2: hit 10 balls, track ball flight/trajectory (straight, left, right). Level 3: hit x/10 to a target. Level 4: hit x/10 balls, vary target and distance. 2. Practice trials are recorded; student can track progress. 3. Golf teacher can set homework and check progress at the beginning of the next lesson. It is essential that shots played in practice emulate those which will be played on the course. The primary way of achieving this is to treat every practice shot as though it were executed as part of a round. This means the golfer will follow their pre-shot routine with every practice shot. To reiterate the pre-shot routine will include, at a minimum, the following actions: a. Stand behind ball and pick a spot, leaf or twig, on the line 1 metre ahead of ball. b. Set clubface and shaft square, at right angles, to target line. c. Align body parallel to target line.
Guidelines To achieve an acceptable level of success the learner must accumulate a significant amount of time practising on-task drills. Mastery is directly related to the amount of correct practice engaged in by the learner. Drills are an indispensable part of any teaching programme. Drills help students to master technique through repetitive practice. It is expected a drill will: 1. Help the student better understand their swing and its component parts. 2. Encourage the student to correctly execute the technical aspect of the action. 3. Focus on one specific component of the golf swing. Interest in a drill can be maintained by making the activity game-like and by setting goals such as ?/10 balls stop in the target area. Practice drills also help the learner to perform components of the swing which they find difficult but do not challenge a professional. Examples:
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Secrets of the Swing; Practice 1. 2. 3. 4.
Feeling the swing tempo as a pendulum with rhythmical timing. Feeling the correct and different action of both hands to and through impact. Correct posture and position at impact. Arms and shaft speed for a feeling of control and distance.
Each drill is designed to allow the student to focus on one component of the swing. The outcome will be successful only when this component of the practice drill is executed correctly.
Description of arc of swing Some of the practice drills include an instruction about the length of the swing. These instructions can be explained by using a clock face to describe the arc. BACK SWING TO FORWARD SWING
COMPARATIVE POSITION OF HANDS
Quarter to quarter | 1/4 to 1/4
20 minutes to the hour to 20 minutes past the hour
Below hip level.
Half to half | 1/2 to 1/2
15 minutes to the hour to 15 minutes past the hour
Level with hip.
Three quarter to three quarter | 3/4 to 3/4
10 minutes to the hour to 10 minutes past the hour.
Level with shoulder.
10 minutes to the hour to 20 minutes past the hour.
Level with shoulder to below hip level.
Mixed example: Three quarter to one quarter
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Secrets of the Swing; Practice
Practice Drills
Putt
Sand
✔
Fairway
✔
Drive
✔
Chip/pitch
1. Left hand/arm only
Angle of Attack
Name
Angle of Club Face
No.
Line of Swing
Use this table to select the practice drill suited to the component of your swing on which you are working.
✔
✔
✔
2. Right hand/arm only 3. Windmill drill 4. Feet together 5. Impact bag 6. 1/4 to 3/4 swing 7. Feet together 8. Extension drill 9. Baseball drill 10. Boxes 11. Tip toe drill 12. High Tee drill
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Secrets of the Swing; Practice
Description of Practice Drills 1. Left Hand and Arm Only Purpose: to learn control of left hand and arm and to sweep ball through low angle of attack. Set up: 1. Grip club and address ball. 2. Remove right hand from grip and hold onto underside of left forearm above wrist with palm facing up. Action: 1. Half (1/2) swing back. 2. Sweep ball. 3. Quarter (1/4) swing through. Feeling of action: Left hand and arm aligned with shaft and controls the square clubface release angle at impact. At the end of the swing the shaft points back to the body. See practice drill # 6.
2. Right Hand and Arm Only Purpose: to learn control of right hand and arm and correct right-hand release. Set up: 1. Grip club with right hand and address ball. Action: 1. Three quarter (3/4) back swing. Right wrist will bend back as right elbow bends slightly out. 2. Sweep ball. 3. Three quarter (3/4) follow through. Shaft points back to body. Feeling of action: Right hand and club face at right angle (900) to shoulder tilt during the back and through of the swing.
3. Windmill Drill Purpose: to show that the majority of control and distance is generated from correct use of the hands and arms. Set up: 1. Grip club and address ball. Action: 1. Swing club with hands and arms only: three quarter (3/4) swing. 2. Sweep club. 4
Secrets of the Swing; Practice 3. Wrists release the club head through the ball. 4. Release the club to create a circle in front of the body. 5. Finish near set up position. Feeling: 1. Swing feels like it is back through and circle.
4. Feet Together Purpose: assists body pivot and balance. Set up: 1. Grip club and address ball off left heel. 2. Heals 80 cm (3 inches) apart. 3. Left foot open (300). Action: 1. Three quarter (3/4) swing. 2. Sweep ball. 3. Push backside in through impact which assists fuller hip turn. Feeling: 1. Body in balance. 2. Finish with weight more on left foot.
5. Impact Bag Purpose: to perfect the most important aspect of the swing, impact, the moment of truth. Set up: 1. Set impact bag forward of centre—usual address position. Action: 1. 2. 3. 4.
Grip club. Address bag as though it were the ball. Three quarter (3/4) back swing. Hit impact bag and hold position.
Feeling at Impact: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
Square club face. Left arm and shaft are aligned. Head straight and centred. Hips more open than shoulders. Feet and knees tending toward the target. Balance: weight even.
6. 1/4 to 3/4 Swing Purpose: to gain a feel for the head of the club controlling the swing and the action of the hands. Set up:
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Secrets of the Swing; Practice 1. Address the ball. 2. Move clubhead forward of the ball—approximately 1/4 through. This position is the same as the finishing position in practice drill # 1 Left Hand and Arm Only. Shaft will be pointing approximately to a spot 1 metre on the target line in front of the ball and shaft pointing to the body. Action: 1. 3/4 swing—back over the ball. 2. Sweep the ball. 3. Allow club to sweep through the ball. Feeling: 1. 2. 3. 4.
Be aware of the weight of the clubhead as it moves in a smooth pendulum action. Feel the clubhead control the hand action. There should be no additional force during impact. The action is similar to the back swing and hitting of a baseball.
7. Three Tees Feet Together Purpose: to sweep club low on a straight line. Set up: 1. Place three (3) tees 220 cm (9 inch) apart in a straight line to the target. 2. Place club above centre tee. Action: 1. Swing back with three quarter (3/4) swing. 2. Sweep the 3 tees towards the target with half (1/2) follow through.
8. Extension Drill—push action Purpose: to create width in the swing. Set up: 1. Address the ball. 2. Pull butt of club to body. Action: 1. Turn back in one-piece action.
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Secrets of the Swing; Practice 2. At half (1/2) way push away butt of the club with hands straight from your body. 3. Swing back further one quarter (1/4). 4. Sweep the ball. Feeling: 1. Swing three quarter (3/4) back and through. 2. Sense the width of the swing.
9. Baseball Drill Purpose: to emphasise the correct pivot and width in the swing. Set up: 1. 2. 3. 4.
Address the ball. Lift the club vertically to waist height with arms and hands only. Maintain body posture. Shaft slightly more aligned with left arm.
Action: 1. Turn back keeping same left arm and shaft line position as at address. 2. Swing down. 3. Sweep through the ball.
10. Boxes Purpose: to sweep club low on a straight line. Set up: 1. Lay two cardboard boxes parallel to target line, slightly more than club head width apart. 2. Address the ball. Action: 1. Sweep back and through without contacting boxes.
11. Tip Toe Drill Purpose: to learn balance and correct pivot. Set up: 1. Address ball. 2. Stand on toes. Action: 1. 2. 3. 4.
Turn/pivot backswing in balance. Begin downswing by placing left heel on ground. Sweep through the ball. Finish in balanced position.
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Secrets of the Swing; Practice This focus for this set of drills is to assist players to develop a feeling for the rhythmical nature of the golf swing. Many professionals describe the ball getting in the way of the swing.
12. High Tee Drill Purpose: to gain the feeling of a smooth body rotation and pendulum action, back and through. Set up: 1. Place ball on 150mm (6 inch) tee. 2. Use 7-iron. 3. Grip club and address ball. Action: 1. Swing club and hit ball. 2. Do not touch tee. Feeling: 1. Pivot with straight spine. 2. Maintain posture. Note: helps to prevent tilting and swaying.
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Secrets of the Swing; Practice
Record Sheets A selection of record sheets to be used as a guide for your practice. Select and use the ones which best match the focus of your practice session. You will be able to monitor your progress.
Golf Practice Record Set number:
1
2
3
4
5
Club:
Date: Venue and Weather:
Shot (ball flight and distance)
How (one aspect of swing)
Rating
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Set number:
1
2
3
4
5
Club:
Date: Venue and Weather:
Shot (ball flight and distance)
How (one aspect of swing)
Rating
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Set number:
1
2
3
Club:
4
5
Date: Venue and Weather:
Shot (ball flight and distance)
How (one aspect of swing)
Rating
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
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