→ Level 1: Build the foundation to gain distance
→ Train 5 aspects to create speed and power
Next Step: Taking the 5 aspects to the next level
– Phase 1: Solid Impact
– Phase 2: Turning, Loading Properly
– Phase 3: Balance
– Phase 4: Tempo/Transition
– Phase 5: Exercise for Proper Sequencing
Phase 1: Solid Impact
Step 1: Pitch Shot, Drill 1 – Start small, pitch shots
– Warm up with pitch shots (add impact ball for better results).
– 20 pitch shots, 20 -40 yards distance
– 30 pitch shots, ladder drill warm up for full swing practice. Hit 50, 60, 70 yard shots with your wedge (whichever club you would use from this distance on the golf course). Hit 1 one ball to the 50 yard target, 1 ball to the 60 yard target, 1 ball to the 70 yard target. Then go back down the ladder, 70, 60, 50. Repeat this process 10 times for a total of 30 shots.The first step in hitting it solid is to START SMALL.
Amateurs often do not spend enough time hitting basic pitch shots when practicing. If you can establish the core fundamentals a pitch shot requires to hit it solid, you will improve your distance and accuracy in the full swing.
Why do pitch shots improve impact over full swing practice?
It is slower and smaller, which allows you better feel to ensure you are doing the proper technique. When you speed up the swing and make a longer back swing, players tend to do different things that put them in bad positions. They then have to manipulate the down swing and their impact position suffers as a result.
– Creates proper impact position
– You will compress the golf ball
Proper Pitch Shot Technique
1. Set up square to slightly open stance with your feet
2. Get the ball position center of your stance
3. Limit the amount of movement in your lower body – a steady foundation (lower body) improves your consistency of contacting the ball solid.
4. Turn properly without swaying your legs or any up and down movement with your upper body
5. Relax and swing your arms as your body turns
6. Be confident and accelerate through the shot
Every golfer should warm up with at least 25 shots with pitch shots from 20-30 yards. You can start at the short game area at your course and improve your feel around the greens while improving your impact position.
Step 2: Impact Drill 2, Driver Face Tap
When I do club fitting, I will use face tape to judge how solid they are hitting it. Without hitting it consistently in the center of the club face you will not achieve your peak distance. When people complain about hitting it short, the first thing I will do is put face tape on the driver and have them hit 10 balls. Most of the time the tape on the face of the driver will look like the picture provided. Your goal is to use face tape periodically. Try to improve the pattern on your face tape each time you use it previous to the time before.
– Buy face tape
– Hit 10 balls full swing with driver to warm up
– Hit 10 balls full swing with the driver with face tape sticker on it. Keep the sticker to compare the solidness to practices in the future.
– Total – 20 shots hit
Phase 2: Balance
Step 1: Balance Drill 1, The Pose
It might sound silly but the first step to training your balance is to learn how come to a balanced finish in the swing. Balance is the foundation for everything in the golf swing. With poor balance, your swing path, contact, tempo and everything inbetweeen will be bad.
– Hit 10 full swing 7 irons
– Hold your finish for a count of 3 after the ball lands
This will make you adjust your tempo, to eliminate over swinging – swinging within yourself, which leads to better sequencing and more solid shots.
Step 2: Balance Drill 2, Alignment stick under the feet
– Place alignment stick under the arches of your feet
– Hit 20 full swing shots
– Each shot, be aware if your weight is going towards your toes or your heels throughout the swing (Should stay centered, in your shoe laces)
Phase 3: Turn in posture
Turning in posture is one of the hardest thing for golfers to learn, but it doesn’t have to be! With just one simple drill at home, you can practice this every day to improve turning in posture and hit it more solid.
What is a correct back swing turn?
Keeping your lower body stable, while turning the shoulders 90 degrees. Studies of the best players in the world show that the average PGA Tour player, turns their shoulders 90 degrees, while their hips turn less than 40 degrees. This allows you to coil properly, creating a rubber band effect to explode through.
Backswing – turn with the shoulders, eliminate lower body sway
Downswing – explode with the hips and lower body, eliminate yanking with the hands and arms
Step 1: Turn in posture drill 1, club in elbows
3 sets of 10 (back and through is 1 rep)
– Get any golf club
– Set up like you would for a 7 iron
– Put a golf ball in the middle of your stance
– In the bent over position, turn back with a stable lower body.
– Turn 90 degrees with the shoulders until the end of the club in your elbows is pointing at the golf ball
– Turn down and through with your hips until the other end of the club is pointing at the golf ball
Step 2: Posture drill 2, club in elbows – explode through
3 sets of 10
– Everything same as above
– When you complete your backswing in posture, explode through as hard as you can while maintaining your balance.
Phase 4: Tempo/ Transition
Step 1: Tempo Drill 1, Feet Together
– 10 shots, 1/2 swings
– 15 shots, 3/4 swings
– 25 total shots
Step 2: Transition Drill 1, Gabe Trainer – Long Release (can be done at home with ball)
– 25 full shots with long release
The Gabe Trainer Details (Used by 35 PGA Tour pro’s daily)
Extra Tempo, Orange whip (can be done at home)
– 20 swings with good smooth tempo, same pace on back swing and downswing
– focus on transition from back swing to downswing, lead with the lower body, do NOT yank with your arms to start down swing
Buy the orange whip
Feet Together Drill
Orange Whip
Phase 5: Sequencing
The sequencing of your arms and body is crucial to optimizing your power and hitting solid shots. The Gabe swing trainer and impact ball are a great way to establish the correct positions for sequencing. The drill below is a way to really advance your sequencing to create more power. Jason Day said he does this every morning in order to build speed through proper sequencing.
Step 1: Sequencing with Alignment Sticks
5 sets of 5 swings, swinging forward
5 sets of 5 swings, swinging backwards
3 full swing Drivers
– Grip the alignment stick like you would a golf club
– Set up like you would to a golf shot, keeping the alignment stick approximately 1 foot above the ground at address
– Turn in posture properly on the backswing
– Swing as hard as you can on the follow through while staying in balance
– Repeat this for 5 swings
– Turn to the opposite hand (If right handed, swing left handed)
– Follow the same process as the previous 5 swings
– Hit 3 full swing drivers with that feel from the alignment stick swings
– Repeat this for 5 sets
When you take this on to the golf course the main swing thought is tempo. Tempo and having a smooth transition gives you the best opportunity to hit it solid and sequence your swing properly.
If you enjoyed this drill, the next step is to complete level 2 for power and speed training.
What’s in level 2
→ Advanced training of the 5 phases
→ Attack angle drill to launch it high with top spin
→ Advanced balance drill, probably the best drill ever!
→ At home impact drill
→ Combining drills into one swing to achieve the ultimate power move