Instruction
10 simple drills to correct complex faults
There is certainly no shortage of golf training aids on the market, and some are quite good. I have used a few over the years, but mostly I stick to drills that can be done anywhere with little or no equipment.
My reasoning? I like to get my students to feel what they need to do while holding their own clubs and swinging at real golf balls, and I like to use the natural setting of the range or golf course to re-train swings.
Below, I’ve listed 10 of my favorite drills that my goflers have used to get better over the years. Chances are, one of the drills below can help you get on the path to better golf. If you’re struggling, there’s no reason not to give one of them (or a few of them) a try. They can be done just about any time, anywhere and won’t cost you a dime.
The Release Drill
Golfers hear a lot about release, but it is still quite confusing to many of them. Basically, the release involves unhinging the wrists and rolling the forearms into the shot. It can be difficult to square the face when one is swinging on too steep of a vertical plane due to the fact that the forearms “reverse rotate,” which for a right-handed golfer involves a high left arm and a low right arm (the “held off” look in the finish). If you do that, you need to feel the proper rotation of the arms in the downswing.
So try this: Place your left hand (for righties) on the grip in its usual place. Then place your right hand down on the shaft and make some swings. Start about waist high, like you’re making a baseball swing. Then bend at the waist and try a few golf-looking swings. Take note of what your arms are doing. You will feel the right forearm rolling drastically over the left. Then do it less severely: both hands on grip but still split apart. Then ease into your regular grip and see if you can get that same feeling. In fact, you might even hit some balls with a slightly split grip!
The Back to the Target Drill
The myriad of players who come “over the top” and are working on swinging more from the inside might try this drill.
Set up square to the target. Now turn 45 degrees to your right (if you’re a righty) with your back basically turned facing the target. Now aim the club face slightly to the right of the target (about half the amount of your body) and try to make some swings along your body line. This, of course, will be well “inside-out” of the target line. You should start to see the ball draw a little. Once you’re able to do that consistently, work your swing direction back toward the target line.
The Ball on a High Tee Drill
I use this a lot for swings that start down too steeply with the butt end of the shaft pointed straight at the ground — not at the ball or outside it — and for people who have difficulty making a level backswing turn. Learn to make some baseball-type swings; feel like you’re playing tee-ball (kids game) and you’ll develop a lower arm swing into impact.
Take note that this drill is similar to the sidehill drill listed below with the ball above your the feet.
The Swish Drill
The Swish Drill is as easy as it gets. Many golfers move their upper bodies OUT before they start their arms DOWN. If you’re one of them try this: Take a fairly aggressive practice swing and listen for the swish sound. Now, try to hear the swish well behind you!
The Swish Drill is a good way to learn to get your arms down a little earlier in the downswing, and more from the inside. For those of you with a release that is too early and casting from the inside, listen for the swish well out in front of you. This will keep you from releasing too early.
The Feet Together Drill
I have seen just about every swing type imaginable over my many years on the lesson tee. Basically, they break down into two groups: Players with too much arm swing and those with too much body movement.
This drill is for the latter group: If the arms are too “locked up” to the body with insufficient swinging action, try this: Put your two feet together (touching each other) and hit some 6 irons or 7 irons. Do it off a low tee until you get a feel for it. You’ll notice that when you overuse the body (swaying, dipping, getting in front of the ball, etc.) you’ll lose your balance. Use this drill to get a FREE arm swing. You’ll also notice that you’re hitting the ball darn near as far as you do in a regular stance!
The Driver Off The Ground Drill
This is used mostly for the more advanced player, but effective in any case. For those of you who release too early and come too much from the inside, try this drill: Hit some drivers without a tee. You’ll find it necessary to move the golf ball well forward in your stance and slightly open the club face. Basically, you’ll be hitting out-to-in slices, but you will feel what swinging more left is like.
Moguls
I am convinced that most every swing shape can be re-trained on a hill: a simple grass covered, dirt mound like a skiing mogul. The hill will create every uneven lie encountered in golf. Here’s the ones you may consider using:
- If your swing is too upright, hit balls on the sidehill with the ball ABOVE your feet.
- If your swing is too flat, hit balls on the sidehill with the golf ball BELOW your feet.
- Do you tend to release too early or come from under the plane? The downhill lie is your drill.
- Do you tend to come over the top or get in front of the golf ball? The uphill lie is perfect for that.
The Tee Drill
Having trouble shanking the ball or hitting shots off the toe of the club? Try this simple drill: For shanks or heel hits, place a tee INSIDE the ball and try to hit it! For toe hits, place a tee OUTSIDE the ball and try to hit it. It will give a sense of doing the opposite of what you are used to doing (which is what drills are for anyway)!
The Upswing Drill
This is one of my favorites. If done correctly, it is VERY effective. If out-to-in is your swing flaw, try this: Take a normal stance with a driver and place the club on the ground in line with your right heel (for righties) about 3 feet away. Now make some swings SHARPLY UP to right field (or well to the right or where you’re aiming.
Note: The swings must be very acutely UP! Do several of these and you’ll feel a new path, and a new shallow angle of attack for those too steep. Remember UP and IN-TO-OUT!
The Anti-Yip Drill
Some golfers get a condition we call the chipping yips, which are a sudden flip of the wrists that causes the club head to get well ahead of the hands. It results in chilly dips, double hits, etc. Try this: Chip a bag of balls with your eyes closed. Chip another bag with a cross-handed grip (also known as a left-hand low grip). Heck, chip a bag doing both if you want. See if this helps your problem.
There are hundreds of drills, these are just some of the most common I use. When doing any drill, you CANNOT do too much of it. In fact, you cannot overdo any swing change at first, so EXAGGERATE AWAY!
One last thought: If you find that one of these drills helps you, stay with it. But don’t pass it on to a friends unless they have the same swing problem as you.
As always, feel free to send a swing video to my Facebook page and I will do my best to give you my feedback.
There may be no more painful affliction in golf than the “yips” – those uncontrollable and maddening little nervous twitches that prevent you from making a decent stroke on short putts. If you’ve never had them, consider yourself very fortunate (or possibly just very young). But I can assure you that when your most treacherous and feared golf shot is not the 195 yard approach over water with a quartering headwind…not the extra tight fairway with water left and sand right…not the soft bunker shot to a downhill pin with water on the other side…No, when your most feared shot is the remaining 2- 4-foot putt after hitting a great approach, recovery or lag putt, it makes the game almost painful.
And I’ve been fighting the yips (again) for a while now. It’s a recurring nightmare that has haunted me most of my adult life. I even had the yips when I was in my 20s, but I’ve beat them into submission off and on most of my adult life. But just recently, that nasty virus came to life once again. My lag putting has been very good, but when I get over one of those “you should make this” length putts, the entire nervous system seems to go haywire. I make great practice strokes, and then the most pitiful short-stroke or jab at the ball you can imagine. Sheesh.
But I’m a traditionalist, and do not look toward the long putter, belly putter, cross-hand, claw or other variation as the solution. My approach is to beat those damn yips into submission some other way. Here’s what I’m doing that is working pretty well, and I offer it to all of you who might have a similar affliction on the greens.
When you are over a short putt, forget the practice strokes…you want your natural eye-hand coordination to be unhindered by mechanics. Address your putt and take a good look at the hole, and back to the putter to ensure good alignment. Lighten your right hand grip on the putter and make sure that only the fingertips are in contact with the grip, to prevent you from getting to tight.
Then, take a long, long look at the hole to fill your entire mind and senses with the target. When you bring your head/eyes back to the ball, try to make a smooth, immediate move right into your backstroke — not even a second pause — and then let your hands and putter track right back together right back to where you were looking — the HOLE! Seeing the putter make contact with the ball, preferably even the forward edge of the ball – the side near the hole.
For me, this is working, but I am asking all of you to chime in with your own “home remedies” for the most aggravating and senseless of all golf maladies. It never hurts to have more to fall back on!
Over the last couple of decades, golf has become much more science-based. We measure swing speed, smash factor, angle of attack, strokes gained, and many other metrics that can really help golfers improve. But I often wonder if the advancement of golf’s “hard” sciences comes at the expense of the “soft” sciences.
Take, for example, golf instruction. Good golf instruction requires understanding swing mechanics and ball flight. But let’s take that as a given for PGA instructors. The other factors that make an instructor effective can be evaluated by social science, rather than launch monitors.
If you are a recreational golfer looking for a golf instructor, here are my top three points to consider.
1. Cultural mindset
What is “cultural mindset? To social scientists, it means whether a culture of genius or a culture of learning exists. In a golf instruction context, that may mean whether the teacher communicates a message that golf ability is something innate (you either have it or you don’t), or whether golf ability is something that can be learned. You want the latter!
It may sound obvious to suggest that you find a golf instructor who thinks you can improve, but my research suggests that it isn’t a given. In a large sample study of golf instructors, I found that when it came to recreational golfers, there was a wide range of belief systems. Some instructors strongly believed recreational golfers could improve through lessons. while others strongly believed they could not. And those beliefs manifested in the instructor’s feedback given to a student and the culture created for players.
2. Coping and self-modeling can beat role-modeling
Swing analysis technology is often preloaded with swings of PGA and LPGA Tour players. The swings of elite players are intended to be used for comparative purposes with golfers taking lessons. What social science tells us is that for novice and non-expert golfers, comparing swings to tour professionals can have the opposite effect of that intended. If you fit into the novice or non-expert category of golfer, you will learn more and be more motivated to change if you see yourself making a ‘better’ swing (self-modeling) or seeing your swing compared to a similar other (a coping model). Stay away from instructors who want to compare your swing with that of a tour player.
3. Learning theory basics
It is not a sexy selling point, but learning is a process, and that process is incremental – particularly for recreational adult players. Social science helps us understand this element of golf instruction. A good instructor will take learning slowly. He or she will give you just about enough information that challenges you, but is still manageable. The artful instructor will take time to decide what that one or two learning points are before jumping in to make full-scale swing changes. If the instructor moves too fast, you will probably leave the lesson with an arm’s length of swing thoughts and not really know which to focus on.
As an instructor, I develop a priority list of changes I want to make in a player’s technique. We then patiently and gradually work through that list. Beware of instructors who give you more than you can chew.
So if you are in the market for golf instruction, I encourage you to look beyond the X’s and O’s to find the right match!
Most pros take months, even years, to win their first tournament. Lottie Woad needed exactly four days.
The 21-year-old from Surrey shot 21-under 267 at Dundonald Links to win the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open by three shots — in her very first event as a professional. She’s only the third player in LPGA history to accomplish this feat, joining Rose Zhang (2023) and Beverly Hanson (1951).
But here’s what caught my attention as a coach: Woad didn’t win through miraculous putting or bombing 300-yard drives. She won through relentless precision and unshakeable composure. After watching her performance unfold, I’m convinced every golfer — from weekend warriors to scratch players — can steal pages from her playbook.
Precision Beats Power (And It’s Not Even Close)
Forget the driving contests. Woad proved that finding greens matters more than finding distance.
What Woad did:
• Hit it straight, hit it solid, give yourself chances
• Aimed for the fat parts of greens instead of chasing pins
• Let her putting do the talking after hitting safe targets
• As she said, “Everyone was chasing me today, and managed to maintain the lead and played really nicely down the stretch and hit a lot of good shots”
Why most golfers mess this up:
• They see a pin tucked behind a bunker and grab one more club to “go right at it”
• Distance becomes more important than accuracy
• They try to be heroic instead of smart
ACTION ITEM: For your next 10 rounds, aim for the center of every green regardless of pin position. Track your greens in regulation and watch your scores drop before your swing changes.
The Putter That Stayed Cool Under Fire
Woad started the final round two shots clear and immediately applied pressure with birdies at the 2nd and 3rd holes. When South Korea’s Hyo Joo Kim mounted a charge and reached 20-under with a birdie at the 14th, Woad didn’t panic.
How she responded to pressure:
• Fired back with consecutive birdies at the 13th and 14th
• Watched Kim stumble with back-to-back bogeys
• Capped it with her fifth birdie of the day at the par-5 18th
• Stayed patient when others pressed, pressed when others cracked
What amateurs do wrong:
• Get conservative when they should be aggressive
• Try to force magic when steady play would win
• Panic when someone else makes a move
ACTION ITEM: Practice your 3-6 foot putts for 15 minutes after every range session. Woad’s putting wasn’t spectacular—it was reliable. Make the putts you should make.
Course Management 101: Play Your Game, Not the Course’s Game
Woad admitted she couldn’t see many scoreboards during the final round, but it didn’t matter. She stuck to her game plan regardless of what others were doing.
Her mental approach:
• Focused on her process, not the competition
• Drew on past pressure situations (Augusta National Women’s Amateur win)
• As she said, “That was the biggest tournament I played in at the time and was kind of my big win. So definitely felt the pressure of it more there, and I felt like all those experiences helped me with this”
Her physical execution:
• 270-yard drives (nothing flashy)
• Methodical iron play
• Steady putting
• Everything effective, nothing spectacular
ACTION ITEM: Create a yardage book for your home course. Know your distances to every pin, every hazard, every landing area. Stick to your plan no matter what your playing partners are doing.
Mental Toughness Isn’t Born, It’s Built
The most impressive part of Woad’s win? She genuinely didn’t expect it: “I definitely wasn’t expecting to win my first event as a pro, but I knew I was playing well, and I was hoping to contend.”
Her winning mindset:
• Didn’t put winning pressure on herself
• Focused on playing well and contending
• Made winning a byproduct of a good process
• Built confidence through recent experiences:
- Won the Women’s Irish Open as an amateur
- Missed a playoff by one shot at the Evian Championship
- Each experience prepared her for the next
What this means for you:
• Stop trying to shoot career rounds every time you tee up
• Focus on executing your pre-shot routine
• Commit to every shot
• Stay present in the moment
ACTION ITEM: Before each round, set process goals instead of score goals. Example: “I will take three practice swings before every shot” or “I will pick a specific target for every shot.” Let your score be the result, not the focus.
The Real Lesson
Woad collected $300,000 for her first professional victory, but the real prize was proving that fundamentals still work at golf’s highest level. She didn’t reinvent the game — she simply executed the basics better than everyone else that week.
The fundamentals that won:
• Hit more fairways
• Find more greens
• Make the putts you should make
• Stay patient under pressure
That’s something every golfer can do, regardless of handicap. Lottie Woad just showed us it’s still the winning formula.
FINAL ACTION ITEM: Pick one of the four action items above and commit to it for the next month. Master one fundamental before moving to the next. That’s how champions are built.
PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “The Starter” on RG.org each Monday.
Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more Tips!
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Martin
Mar 15, 2014 at 10:00 am
Thanks for the great article Dennis. I spent a few evenings doing the “back to the target” drill in my den and I can now draw the ball. I’ve been a serial slicer in the past, but now I finally feel like I have some control over the curvature of my shots. I think after about fifteen more buckets of range balls I should be good to go. Thanks again!
Dennis Clark
Mar 18, 2014 at 5:11 pm
You’re welcome; that drill, done correctly, is the BEST anti-slice drill there is.
Mike
Mar 1, 2014 at 6:04 pm
I really need the “Back to target” drill. I reread it four times and I just didn’t get it. I got back to target, no problem. But then aim the club face just right of that target Behring you? Totally lost. Is it just me?
Dennis Clark
Mar 1, 2014 at 6:13 pm
It doesn’t read just right of the target behind you…it reads “just right of the target” Meaning this: let’s say the target is 12 o’clock. Aim your body line at 2 or 3, and your club face at 1. If the body is aimed right of the face and you swing along your body, it will be in to out relative to the face. And produce a draw/hook. Got it?
RG
Mar 1, 2014 at 4:06 pm
Always a pleasure to read your articles, Dennis. All killer, no filler.
Dennis Clark
Mar 1, 2014 at 6:04 pm
Just like my lessons :). Come on by if you’re in FL. Thx.
Andy
Feb 27, 2014 at 10:18 pm
Dennis, you are my favourite GolfWRX contributor. Every single one of your posts are matter-of-fact, no beating around the bush information. Your drills are effective and most importantly, applicable. Your articles inspire me to become a better golfer.
Thanks and keep up the good work.
Dennis Clark
Feb 28, 2014 at 7:37 am
Thx Andy. That’s why I write them!!
mark
Feb 27, 2014 at 7:59 pm
As a teacher also excellent and simple
Dennis Clark
Feb 27, 2014 at 9:16 pm
Thx. A teacher should know the subject in all it’s complexity and teach it in all it’s simplicity.
Andy
Feb 27, 2014 at 11:28 pm
Einstein was talking about golf when he was talking about that.
Dennis Clark
Feb 28, 2014 at 9:31 pm
Now there would be a fun lesson! He gets to ask about golf and I get to ask about everything else. I loved his pacifist ideals..
Tristan Stijn
Feb 27, 2014 at 6:42 pm
Thanks for the drills! For some golfers this is much better than theory.
Just don’t quite get the upswing drill, can someone explain this in other words. Do I just place the club like in the picture and start a swing from there? A push in this case?
Dennis Clark
Feb 27, 2014 at 7:05 pm
Yes, it is hard to describe but easy to do; maybe I’ll do a video to illustrate it better. Place the club as I’ve show, then swing sharply up to say, 2 o’clock if your target is 12. Does that help? Or swing UP at the first baseman if you’re at home plate…I hope you get the picture
Tristan Stijn
Feb 28, 2014 at 3:32 pm
Thanks Dennis! Went to the range today and it really works. From the position on your picture I take the club straight up to the normal top of the backswing and than swing in to out. Somehow it changes your path for the better. Thanks again, great drill!
David Smith
Feb 27, 2014 at 1:08 pm
Very good, thank you for these drills!