Below is a collection of drills for students to reference. I will typically send a direct link for students to practice after a lesson. Still, students should come here and look for old drills to keep them grounded and consistent.
I encourage all students to do drills 3 to 5 times a week. Most of these can be done indoors and only take a few minutes. Consistency and repetition of correct technique is the key to success in golf.
Takeaway Drills
This takeaway drill will help you get in the perfect triangle position
If you’re struggling to keep your arms in the right position at the top of the swing, try this drill.
Using the body in the take away
Still working on the first move in the takeaway, try this drill. Get a 2×4 about 8 inches long. Place it behind your club and push it away from the ball as you take the club away. Focus on using your core and shoulders to make the block move, not your arms.
First move in the take away
The first move in the golf swing will help set you up for success. Use this drill to practice the L1 position and avoid some common mistakes like dragging the club on the inside.
Keeping your shoulders and arms in a triangle is vital to a good takeaway
One of my favorite (and cheap) teaching aids is a wooden dowel. In this drill, you can use it to form a triangle in the takeaway and learn how to point the right elbow to the ball in the downswing.
Many suffer from “the sway” in the backswing.
If you’re one of those who sway excessively in the takeaway, use this simple drill to stay centered over the ball.
Use this positions drill to get to the perfect top of the backswing
If you’re having a hard time getting to the top of the swing, use this position drill. The thing to remember – Don’t over do it..
How to get a better 90-degree angle at P2
A key part of the take away is the P2 position (left arm parallel). There should be a 90-degree angle as you set the hinge. Try this drill to get the feel you need.
Try to avoid collapsing your left knee in the takeaway.
The left knee should point forward in the takeaway. This will help you keep your foot down and avoid swaying backward.
Position Drills
This is my favorite drill! Use the wall to form the perfect posture in the golf swing
You can do this drill anywhere. Use a wall to keep your head still and stay in posture throughout the golf swing.
This simple drill will help you get better at the top AND transition to the perfect downswing
This drill will help you get your right arm in to the correct position at the top. Make sure you keep your left are straight and stay in your golf posture.
Use an alignment stick to avoid the overswing
The right arm should stay in front of you in the takeaway. At the top, avoid raising your elbow to get a bigger take away. You can use an alignment stick to get the right position at the top.
Your right elbow should stay close the body at the top of your swing.
The right elbow will determine how far you take your club back at the top of your swing. This exercise will help you figure out haw far back you should go.
Try this quick trick to get a flat wrist at the top of your backswing
One quick and easy trick to help improve your right wrist at the top of the swing, try this.
Avoid arching your back
The back should never be arched at any point in the golf swing. Doing so will lock your hips and make it hard to move into position. Do this fun drill to avoid arching your back at the top of your swing.
How to move the hips correctly in the backswing
The hips are secondary in the backswing. Use this trick to keep your hips in the perfect position throughout the backswing.
Avoid over turning in the backswing
Yes, its possible to turn too much in the backswing. If you are going past parallel, there is a big chance you are arching your back and falling toward the target. You want to stay in posture and behind the ball at the top of your swing – going any further will not help you hit it further!
Towel to get the perfect turn
One of my favorite drills to get the perfect rotation in your backswing. Use a towel to pull your back swing up with your right arm and then down with your left arm.
Use a mirror to check your positions
If you have a mirror, it can be a great way to help your golf swing. It will give you real-time feedback and allow you to practice your positions inside over the winter.
Top of the backswing position drill
To get the perfect position at the top of your backswing, do this drill. Don’t forget to turn the club around or you’ll have a dent in your wall 😉
Stay in posture
If you are lifting your upper body in the take away, or struggling to get down to the ball to make solid contact, try this drill. It will give you the feelings you need to stay in posture. Don’t feel shy to bring a 6ft PVC pipe to the driving range. I cut mine in half and got a connector.
Try to keep the back straight and the chin up at address. This will help.
If you want to understand how straight and tall you should stand above the ball try this. The back should be relatively straight but still comfortable. The head slightly up with enough space below your chin for your shoulders to rotate through.
Struggling to keep your head still above the ball, try this.
An alignment stick is the most useful teaching aid in golf. Here you can use it to keep your head still through the takeaway.
Avoid locking your right leg in the backswing
The right leg should straighten slightly but it should not lock out. This could cause injury and makes it really hard to transition into a smooth downswing.
Keep the hands at the right position at the bottom to build compression and speed through the swing
This simple drill will help you keep your hands where they need to be through the impact zone. Low and close to your body will lead to massive compression and control of the golf ball.
Sequencing Drills
Use an exercise ball to work the hips backwards
Us this drill to build fast twitch response and fire those hips back in the transition.
Basic golf sequence
If your timing and transitions are a little off, you can use this drill to get back those feels.
Move your hips back in the transition to avoid early extension
This drill is key to keeping your hip sequence in the correct position. Avoid standing up early and hitting the ball off your toes. You should feel your weight go backway through the impact zone.
A powerful swing starts with the hip
As you get to the top of your swing you can start the downswing with your hips. The hips fire a fraction of a second before your bring your arms and shoulders down into the slot. This drill will help you generate effortless power and speed.
Weight shift with a step through
This is a great drill to help shift your weight through impact. Remember to step forward with your lead foot just before your club gets to the top of the backswing.
Hip transition using an exercise ball
If you have early extension or simply struggling to stay in your golf posture through transition, try this exercise. Use an exercise ball pressed against a wall and feel it move and slide toward the target as you shift your weight in transition.
This exercise routine will help you hit the ball farther – the right way!
The hips form the speed in the golf swing. If you can move your hips a little faster and with correct form, you WILL hit the ball farther. Try this exercise and build those muscles.
This is a great drill for the right arm feel in the golf swing.
Use this simple drill to learn how to move your body ahead of the ball, while lowering your right elbow and firing the hands to the ball. This will generate speed and compression on the golf ball.
Gain better sequencing with the lower body
There are three things to think about regarding the lower body in the golf swing. From the top of your swing: 1 press with your left foot, 2: bump your hip toward the target, and 3: kick your hip back.
Get more distance and consistency by adding width to the backswing
If you want more consistency and distance with both irons and driver, try this drill for more width in the backswing.
To help sync up your hips and hands, try this
To keep your hips in the right position at impact you should avoid firing your hips toward the target too soon. Start the downswing by pushing your left glute back but quickly bring your arms down toward to the ball to beat your right hip. This drill will make that simple and easy to understand.
Use a stick and some ribbon to get perfect rhythm
This is a kid favorite. Using a short piece or dowel with a 7ft ribbon attached, try to create a “SNAP!!!” at the top of your golf swing. Its fun!
Use an exercise band to get your arms moving down
The key move with the arms is to move them down in the transition from the top. This allows you to get into the attack slot to hit it far and straight.
Weight Shift Drills
Use a foam roller to help shift your lead leg back
In the transition and through impact you should push your lead leg backward. You should feel the weight in your heel instead of your toes. Use a foam roller to work this in.
Jump correctly to use the ground in the golf swing
Learn to jump correctly and you will use the group more effectively in the golf swing.
Ground force pivot drill
Learning to use the ground as you turn in your pivot can be hard. Use this feel drill to understand how to shift your weight and pivot back to the ball.
Improving your weight shift and feel
Using a weight such as a kettle bell or paint can will help you feel the rhythm of shifting your weight from backswing to follow through.
Learn how to shift your weight using a balance board
This pressure plate from WhyGolf is a great tool for learning how to shift your weight in the golf swing. Think of someone throwing a baseball – first step, then throw the ball. This left move is the step before the swing.
Your weight should move forward towards the ball as you begin your downswing.
This little drill offers big results. As you get to the top of your takeaway, life your left foot and step it back down as you transition into the downswing.
Tennis ball cut in half can help with weight shift
To get a better feel for your weight shift in the takeaway and transition into the finish, try this drill. Cut a tennis ball in half and place each half under your foot.
Jump!
Using the ground to push in the golf swing is not always easy. The timing of the jump is key. The sooner you can start the push, the better you will use the ground force to hit the ball far.
Impact Drills
Keep your shoulders facing the ball at impact
The shoulders should be facing the ball or slightly open at impact. If you get too fast with your rotation, you may leave your hands and club behind. Do this drill to stay in position with your shoulders at impact.
Releasing the club through impact
Holding on to the wrist angle too long through impact can cause miss-hits and low ball flight to the right. Do this simple drill to feel the club release.
Get that bend in the elbow at impact
To get the ideal impact you should see a bend in the right elbow. Use this quick drill to gain that feel you need.
How to release the club through impact
To square the club at impact you need a good release. Watch this video and practice the follow through position to form a powerful and consistent release.
How to get that perfect “C” position at impact
Keeping your spine angle and head position at impact can be challenging. Use this quick drill to feel the right level of bend at impact.
Right elbow at impact
Imagine skipping stones on a lake. To do it well, you have to keep your elbow tight against your hip and low to the ground. The elbow leads the throw to generate speed. The same is true for the golf swing.
Driver Drills
Position at the top for driver
The position at the top is different for driver than irons. Imagine a line from the ball, which is forward in your stance, up through your spine. Stay behind the line throughout your takeaway.
How to stay behind the ball with Driver
With driver you should try to hit up on the ball. Sometimes the swing looks good but your hands are too far forward and your club shaft is too far in front of the ball. This drill will help with that. You can use a pile of pillows if you don’t have a hitting bag.
Driver setup
At the range do this: get a small bucket of balls and approach each shot with intention. Check you driver set up and make sure every position is correct. Trust the process, after a few balls, you will be amazed what a difference it makes.
This back-and-forth drill will help you learn to release the driver and square up the clubface
Having a hard time keeping the driver straight. This drill will help you time the release better for driver and fairway metals.
Rhythm is the most important thing with Driver.
Warning! Do not try to hit your driver as hard as you can… Rhythm is how you get massive distance. Use this drill to build rhythm in your driver swing and once you have the rhythm, then you can speed it up.
Get into the slot with driver using these two drills.
One of the biggest mistakes with driver is the over-the-top swing. This 2-step drill will have you hitting the ball long and straight.
How to release the driver through impact
Here is another way to work on your driver swing. This simple drill will help you feel the club turning around your body with driver. Avoid leading with your hands and let the club catch up as it comes around your body.
Club Face Drills
Square the clubface with a tennis racket
If you’re having a hard time getting the clubface square at impact, a tennis racket may help.
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