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The Smart Path To Better golf

Practice What we have learned

BY GEOFF GREIG

Now it is time to take some of the pictures and ideas we have been exploring and transfer them into muscle memory. This week we are going to learn a drill designed to help you swing the clubhead on the correct path consistently.

Since most of us learn fastest using visual images, the primary focus of this drill is to SEE the correct path to swing the clubhead on. All you need for this exercise is your driver and a few golf tees. Lay down a series of tees (preferably six, three before impact and tree after) pointing toward the target on the correct inside out arc (see graphic below). Begin by simply executing full swings at a comfortable pace paying close attention to the clubhead swinging along the correct downswing path. As your confidence grows, gradually increase the pace of you acceleration in THE IMPACT ZONE until the accuracy of your path begins to decrease. This is the maximum acceleration you should ever attempt to use when swinging a club on the course.

To increase the effectiveness of this drill use visualization to make the swings more realistic. Picture your favorite brand of golf ball on the path and picture yourself on the first tee of your home course. Go through your usual routine but, as you step up to the ball focus only on swinging the clubhead on the correct path at the correct pace. Do not worry about the ball flight or what your body is doing, focus only on the direction and acceleration of the clubhead in the impact zone. Do your best to make your practice as realistic as possible. If you consciously work on this drill on a regular basis over a period of time, you will achieve dramatic results.

I feel it is very important to do this exercise with the driver and without the golf ball. Since the driver is least forgiving of all the clubs, correct path of the clubhead is critical to good ball striking. In addition, when we master correct path with the driver it will be that much easier to do the same with the shorter clubs. If we attempt to put a real golf ball into before we have truly mastered swinging the clubhead on the correct path there is a strong tendency to focus on hitting AT the golf ball as opposed to swinging the clubhead. We can only achieve correct path when we consistently swing the clubhead to the target and stop merely trying to hit the ball. Hitting AT leads to outside in, swinging leads to inside out.

Remember, consistency and focus in practice leads to success and enjoyment on the course.

Til next time.