John Lucas
Drills can 'step up' your game
Published on Wed, Jul 28, 2010 by John LucasRead More Lucas
Here are some drills that you can practice on the range that should help your game. Stand on just your left foot: Start without a ball at first until you can keep your balance. Then put balls on a low tee and hit some pitches, gradually increasing the swing arc as your proficiency improves. Obviously this will help with your balance but also it helps you to maintain a good spine angle as you weight must be centered. Be sure and keep your grip light and your arms free of tension.
Take your right hand off after impact: This drill promotes a good release and teaches you to let the swing go left after impact (a very important fundamental). This is a must exercise for all you slicers out there. Start by removing the right hand at the finish, then gradually sooner, until you can release it just after impact.
Place a tee in the butt end of your grip: Scratch a line in the ground on your target line, then place one of the long tees in the hole at the end of your grip. Swing the club back until the left arm is parallel with the ground, have the tee point at the line on the turf then on the through swing have the tee pointing at the line at the halfway point. This will teach you the proper swing plane, proper cocking and recocking of the wrists and correct arm rotation.
Place a 2x4 along the target line. Place the ball just inside of the board and start by hitting chips, then increasing the swing. This helps you experience the inside to inside path the club head must take to hit proper solid golf shots. I prefer to use the long child's pool toy made of Nerf ball material as it doesn't hurt if your club strikes it. A cardboard box or PVC pipe also work well.
Rules teaser:
In a foursomes (alternate shot) match, a player teed off on the next hole while his partner was practicing putting on the previous green.
Ruling?
Last column's teaser:
A player hits a short putt holding his putter in one hand while holding the flagstick in the other hand. Ruling? No penalty.
John Lucas is the golf professional at SkyRidge Golf Course and can be reached at john98382@olypen.com.
Take your right hand off after impact: This drill promotes a good release and teaches you to let the swing go left after impact (a very important fundamental). This is a must exercise for all you slicers out there. Start by removing the right hand at the finish, then gradually sooner, until you can release it just after impact.
Place a tee in the butt end of your grip: Scratch a line in the ground on your target line, then place one of the long tees in the hole at the end of your grip. Swing the club back until the left arm is parallel with the ground, have the tee point at the line on the turf then on the through swing have the tee pointing at the line at the halfway point. This will teach you the proper swing plane, proper cocking and recocking of the wrists and correct arm rotation.
Place a 2x4 along the target line. Place the ball just inside of the board and start by hitting chips, then increasing the swing. This helps you experience the inside to inside path the club head must take to hit proper solid golf shots. I prefer to use the long child's pool toy made of Nerf ball material as it doesn't hurt if your club strikes it. A cardboard box or PVC pipe also work well.
Rules teaser:
In a foursomes (alternate shot) match, a player teed off on the next hole while his partner was practicing putting on the previous green.
Ruling?
Last column's teaser:
A player hits a short putt holding his putter in one hand while holding the flagstick in the other hand. Ruling? No penalty.
John Lucas is the golf professional at SkyRidge Golf Course and can be reached at john98382@olypen.com.
© 2009 Sequim Gazette. All rights reserved. 147 West Washington, Sequim, WA 98382 • 360.683.3311 • Email the Webmaster