John Wood of Salgados explains and demonstrates this training technique easily carried out with only a ball and a golf club
– September 25, 2014
John Wood is a fully qualified British PGA and the resident golf professional at Salgados Golf Club near Albufeira. In this drill, John encourages golfers to focus on the key role of arm and body movement for an effective, repeating swing on the golf course. John explains and demonstrates how this training technique can easily carried out with only a ball and a golf club.
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Place a ball between your arms as shown to feel the space needed for an effective turn into the back swing. This will also enhance the feeling of your body working together with the arms. The drill can also be very effective if you have not played for a while as it’s a useful reminder of just how important it is to use the body for an effective backswing and follow – through. Crucially, this drill gives you a sensation of having more time to swing – a vital dimension of the consistent golf swing.
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WRONG Here you can see that the space created when using the ball has ‘disappeared’ and as a result there is a cramped feel to the set up. The outcome is a restricted swing and inaccurate, inconsistent shots.
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CORRECT Here you can clearly see the space between the arms with the ball. From this position you will have a definite feeling of having the time and ‘freedom’ to make an effective swing. This also allows your hands to work through the swing naturally and ‘collect’ the ball as the club moves through impact. Recreate this feeling when you swing normally without the ball and feel the difference!
Begin by using a pitching wedge for this drill before moving to an eight iron. Regularly practising this technique will lead to real improvement in your game as you swing with greater freedom and confidence resulting in more consistent shot making on the golf course.