Even though I write articles on golf instruction I still believe it is very difficult to learn a motion by reading about it. Imagine learning to dance by reading a book. We’re talking rhythm, timing, tempo, and balance- the fundamentals of all motions that are learned through feeling, seeing, and hearing. You can definitely learn static positions – grip, aim, stance, posture – and I can discuss how the motion feels to myself or others, but you will never “get it” unless you have drills or aids that enable you to understand the motion. You then need an instructor to make sure you are doing the drill correctly and that it is a proper one for you. That is why I endeavor to keep drills as simple as possible and related to familiar movements that parallel other sports or hobbies.
A really easy drill for direction and one especially popular with kids is the Baseball Drill. Most all right-handed golfers have no problem hitting the ball to the right (1st base). You don’t have to do a lot of things correctly for this to happen. But very few golfers understand left or 3rd base. In order to feel what straight is you need to be able to make a swing that starts the ball left, not hooks, and finish in a balanced position. In this way you learn to over-rotate your body to get the club back inside on the follow-through. This is not “over the top” which is an unbalanced move.
Most golfers’ tendencies are to get the club too inside on the downswing so the club head gets stuck behind their body. This results in a blocked shot or a pull-slice as the arms do not stay in front of the body.
By actually aligning to 2nd base and then hitting the ball to 3rd base on your imaginary baseball diamond, and then intentionally hitting the ball to 1st base, you will begin to gain an understanding of 2nd base- or straight. Of course you must spend a considerable amount of time hitting left and then right to get the feel. I should know. I spent three solid years doing this due to loads of faulty instruction. I now can go play and hit the ball to my target with no practice or warm-up.
Over-exaggerating a motion is the key. You do need the eye of a good instructor, though, who understands ball flight laws and how the body works to create them. Unfortunately, to correct a slice, most pros will tell you to strengthen your grip or, worse yet, swing more from the inside. Neither cure addresses the cause of a slice – the path of the arms and club are not moving inside on the takeaway to square at impact and back to inside on the finish!
I’ve gotten lifetime slicers to hook the ball in 15 minutes with this drill. So, the next time you’re practicing – think 3rd base – and use your body and not just your arms to do so.
Good golfing.
Kati Biszantz, LPGA Class A/Life Member, 30 years experience, Golf Magazine Top Regional Instructor.
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