Keep It Simple on the Course

Mark Oswald
General Manager
The Highlands at Dove Mountain in Marana, AZ.
Marana, AZ
oswaldpga@gmail.com

More Information

I teach with drills and positions on the practice tee, but when you play on the course, keep it simple.  

Use drills and positions to improve your practice time and your golf swing. When on the practice tee use ½ and ¾ swings to improve your impact and positions of the club during the swing to help you repeat these motions on the course. Take practice swings, swing in slow motion, stop and look at your club halfway back and then at the top of the backswing. Use video to get a picture of where the club is and where you want it to be in these positions and then duplicate these positions during these practice drills.

On the course use simple swing keys. I prefer keys that help promote thoughts that will help keep the swing rotational and promote good weight shift and balance such as:  
• Back to target (on the backswing), front to target (on the downswing). This drill helps to promote a rotational swing around the body and full turn.
• Left shoulder to chin (to promote full shoulder turn on the backswing), and Right shoulder to chin (to promote a full turn on the follow through). This is for the right handed golfer, reverse for the leftie. This drill again helps to promote a full turn for power and increases the ability to swing the club on line with your target.
• Right foot, Left foot. Again for right handed golfer. This drill promotes weight shift during the swing for maximizing power.
• Hold your finish facing your target. This drill promotes turn, weight shift and balance. Three very important keys to the golf swing.

Remember it is good to challenge your swing and mind on the range with new thoughts, drills and positions but on the course keep it simple, visualize success and hold your finish. 

For more help with your golf game, contact Mark Oswald at oswaldpga@gmail.com.