Be Your Own Drill Sergeant

Jeff Fisher
Director of Instruction
Fisher Bryan Golf Academy at Longbow Golf Club
Mesa, AZ
jfisher@obsports.com

More Information

Most everyone who plays golf has a good idea of what has to happen in the swing. Certain parts turn, certain parts lift and certain parts shift. The problem however, often comes because golfers have the incorrect sequence of motion.

A common error that I see that has to do with incorrect sequence is the body turning in the downswing before the weight has shifted and the arms have lowered. This can cause a number of problems depending on each golfer’s tendencies. This misstep in sequence can either cause the club to move out over the top or end up stuck behind the body. Neither is a good thing for consistent shotmaking.

A great drill to help with this is what I call the “two club drill”. Take one club in each hand and take your normal address posture with both arms hanging in front of your chest but separate from each other. The idea is to make a swing, back and through, and try to keep the clubs a consistent distance apart and not let them touch.

Starting in the takeaway you will need to make sure that both arms, as well as your chest, start the motion, otherwise you will get your first clank of shafts making contact. If you get past the takeaway continue to the top of the backswing and you will be in the position you see in Picture 1.

As you begin the downswing your arms must start to rotate back towards the ball while your weight shifts forward but your chest stays coiled. If you allow your chest to begin to turn too early your arms will get stuck and you will get another clank! If you make it past the transition smoothly you will end up in the impact position you see in Picture 2.

Continue past impact with the body turning and arms swinging in sync with each other and you will find yourself in the follow through position you see in Picture 3. If you make it all the way to this point without having hit the two shafts together you have done a pretty good job of creating correct sequence.

Start by doing this drill in slow motion. Not only will that help you get it right but you will also be able to feel where the clubs are at any point in the swing and you will develop a better feel for the correct sequence. If the clubs are a bit heavy to do it this way then turn the clubs upside down, grip them near the hosel, and swing the grip end instead. The drill will work the same only lighter.

The golf swing doesn’t have to be difficult to understand. If you commit to a few drills that are specific to what you are trying to change in your swing then you have a much better chance of playing better golf.

Jeff Fisher is Director of Instruction at the Fisher Bryan Golf Academy at Longbow Golf Club. Jeff can be reached at 480.414.9330 or jfisher@obsports.com.