Andrew Rice Golf

Posts Tagged ‘golf drill’

How to set up the Impact Drill

This is a version of a drill that I have presented many times, but each time I use it, it impresses upon me the importance of a proper strike on the golf ball. In using Trackman I have come to learn that the correct attack angle (an upward or downward hit) with an iron should be anywhere between 4 and 5 degrees down. If you have ever topped shots or alternated between thin and heavy strikes, you are more than likely getting scoopy through impact and this drill is right up your alley.

This drill will get you to do the following through impact:

• Get the weight shifted onto the front foot
• Lead the hands ahead of the clubhead
• Hit down on the ball
• Take divots in the right place – after the ball!

All you need is a small piece of one of those swim noodles that all the kids like to use in the pool. Secure the strip of noodle into the ground by pressing tees through the center as illustrated. It may take a little experimenting, but eventually you’ll find the appropriate distance to line the balls up from the noodle. Before long you should start to see a consistent line of divots occuring on the target side of the golf ball – a positive sign! If you find yourself hitting a few of the dreaded “hosel rockets” your grip is too weak; Essentially you now need to scoop the face in order to square the clubface through impact. Get it stronger!

Objective: Ball first, divot second

Some additional drills to help with impact:

• The Impact “Drag” Drill
• Hip Thrust Drill
• The Towel/Line Drill for Compression
• The Hip Slide and Why it is Important
• Golf’s #1 Impact Exercise

Take a look at the excellent illustration of Tom Watson at impact - no flip there!

Correct Foot Action through Impact

Correct foot action throughout the golf swing is indicative of a body that is working well. A body that works well will create the opportune space necessary for the arms and the club to get into the slot – the delivery point where the club has virtually no choice but to do the right thing through impact.

Here is breakdown of what to look for:

As the club gets into the delivery position the outside of the back foot raises up off the ground – it banks in towards the target. The heel should not be coming off the ground at this point. The foot works in this fashion due to the forward, sliding/driving motion in the hips.

At impact the heel should start to roll off the ground due to the fact that the hips have driven as far forward as they can and now they have started to rotate. It is this rotation, and only this rotation, that gets the heel to begin ascending.

Into the finish the foot is fully rolled up onto the toe due to the hips fully facing the target. Because the hips drive to the target to start the downswing and rotate to the target to finish the swing the heel on the back foot will never move away from the target.

Here is a very good drill to give any golfer a greater awareness of what the feet are doing throughout the swing. This drill will not only improve your footwork, but also how you shift and transfer your weight throughout the swing. Here it is:

The Bottle/Heel Drill

 If executed correctly the finish should look like this with the bottle still standing due to the proper “bank and roll” action of the back foot.

This is one of the most integral elements of the golf swing – the upper body must stay centered over the ball.  By doing so, you will increase your ability to get that weight on the front foot at impact and deliver a downward, compressing blow to the back of the ball.

The Wall/Pivot Drill

Here is an excellent drill that I created that not only gets the golfer to stay centered, but also encourages the shoulders to pivot correctly.  Just like the drills from yesterday, it can and most likely will, be done indoors.

View the HD video HERE

As you can tell I have a few new toys – my Youtube channel and my son Justin’s new Flip video.  I will be posting multiple new drills over the upcoming weeks, so please subscribe to my Youtube channel HERE. Go ahead, make my day!