Golf Instruction

BOX DRILL INDOORS OR OUT

By RANDY CHANG

Touring pros work endlessly on distance control when putting. The 2 most important aspects of distance control are, 1. Hitting your putt consistently in the center of the putter face. 2. Maintaining the sense of even tempo back and through and matching the distance you take the putter back with the distance you follow through.

We have all seen the tee drill that the pros use to help with hitting solid putts. This drill not only does the same but also makes you aware and helps you focus on path and distance control.

Get that box of your favorite golf balls you purchased recently and let us use it as a teaching aid! Start with a straight 5–6-foot putt which by tour standards is made approximately 70% of the time.

Set 2 sleeves parallel to each other leaving anywhere from ¼ to an 1/8 of an inch from the toe and heel of your putter head (pic below). Then, set the box behind the hole approximately 2 feet.

Practice making strokes without hitting the sides of the sleeves which will train your eyes, arms, and shoulders what a straight back and straight through path feels like and hitting the ball in the center of the putter face. Make sure your head and knees stay perfectly still with minimal wrist movement and maintaining constant pressure in your hands.

Once you have mastered the path and center contact, pay attention to tempo and length of stroke. We want to have the sense that you match the distance you take the putter back with the distance you follow through (pic). We see players either take the putter back real short and then accelerate or push the ball to the hole or take it back long and stop or hit at the ball. Either way leads to inconsistency in distance control. You also want to pay attention on an even pace going back and through, either a short or fast pace, ala Brandt Snedeker. Or a long smooth stroke like a Ben Crenshaw and Phil Mickelson. The reality is the putter will follow through farther than you take it back due to swinging the putter head with tempo and momentum through the impact area. But you want to feel like you are matching the distance and speed of the putt with the distance and speed of your stroke!

Find the combination of length of stroke and tempo without hitting the sleeves of balls and without hitting the box on the 30% of putts you may miss during this exercise. Move the sleeves back farther and farther to work on lag putting. The one last mechanical tip is, keep your head down and listen for the putt to drop into the hole!

RANDY CHANG, PGA Director of Instruction Journey at Pechanga & Randy Chang Golf Schools. www.randychangpga.com

BUILDING SPEED AND POWER

By DR. ALISON CURDT

Using the ground properly to increase power and distance on shots has been a hot topic talked about in the golf industry. With the advent of technology, such as BodiTrack, instructors can know measure how much pressure a golfer puts into the ground in order to maximize efforts. Ground force reaction (GFR) has been discussed, debated, and taught to students who wish to use their legs better in the golf swing. I’ve come up with an easy explanation to help students understand this concept quicker so their golf game improves.

The load, squat, jump sequence is an easy way to describe the proper use of the legs to help students use the ground more effectively to improve power and speed. This ultimately translates to more distance for the student. There are two simple drills I prescribe that students can use in order to feel how much leg motion can be utilized in the swing. Players who lack distance and control often over-use their upper body (hands and arms) and unfortunately this creates more variance in the golf shots. Using larger muscle groups, such as the core, legs, and hips create more reliable sources of motion. The first drill to practice with is the Single Leg Swing Drill. Line up the golf ball with your lead leg, and pull back your trail leg so the toe in on the ground (See Picture 1). Next, you will make some swings utilizing your legs and upper body (see Picture 2). Most players will start

Pic. 1

Pic. 2

this drill only swinging their upper body. What will happen naturally is the lead knee will flex in the downswing in order to maintain stability and balance. Next, it will begin to straighten, or “post,” right before impact so you’re able to swivel and rotate through. You can pick up clubhead speed with the drill immediately which will solidify the benefits and impact of using the ground quickly.

An easy way to understand the flexing and pushing into the ground to create force in the golf swing is through the use of a jump rope. If you look at the pictures of me demonstrating jumping rope (Pictures 3-4), you’ll see the knees flex right before I jump over the rope. As I leap into the air, the legs extend. The movement of knee flexion to extension is what creates the force and energy to propel my body into the air. Golfers use this same extension action to create energy and power in the golf swing.

Pic. 3

Pic.4

This idea will certainly challenge those who believe you should “keep your head down,” throughout the swing. Over the years we have seen many examples of tour players who squat lower in the downswing, then extend and “jump” through impact and into the finish position. This creates massive gains in power. Look at some of the game’s longest hitters: Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson, Lexi Thompson, and Brittney Lincicome. Working on these two concepts will help you solidify the idea of ground reaction forces, and simplify how to use your legs in the swing to maximize power.

DR. ALISON CURDT, PGA Master Professional, LPGA Master Professional. www.alisoncurdtgolf.com