Drill: My Favorite Drill

By | on April 4, 2014 | 31 Comments |


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Paul Wilson is the creator of Swing Machine Golf and founder of Ignition Golf. Paul's golf swing technique is based on the Iron Byron swing machine. YouTube Channels: Paul Wilson Golf and Ignition Golf Tips. Please Join me on Google+

31 Responses to “Drill: My Favorite Drill”

  1. December 1, 2012

    RodThompson

    Paul,
    Seem to have some difficulty with the fairway woods. I use 4,7 an 9. this drill is a part of my pre-shot routine. I didn’t realize it was a drill but now will put more time into doing this leisurely swing. Thank you for being persistant about my becoming a part of your program.
    How important is all that material you sell. Hate to invest more, hate not to get all that I can out of your swing philosophy.
    Thanks for being you.
    Aloha,
    Rod

    • December 1, 2012

      Paul Wilson

      Rod,

      People typically hit fairway woods too hard so they end up topping them. If this is you watch this tip:

      Topping Fairway Woods: https://ignitiongolf.com/cure-topping-fairway-woods/

      My main full swing videos take you step-by-step through 10 lessons. I like to think of the Ignition Golf as Swing Machine Golf advanced because I go in depth on every facet of the golf swing because I have unlimited time to do so but they are in no particular order. So the tips supplement the full swing and short game videos.

      If you want to follow my method step-by-step then the full swing DVDs would be advisable. You can find a code on the members page as soon as you log in for 25% off. Please let me know if you have any other questions about them.

  2. December 1, 2012

    JuliaGorman

    Since my trip to Las Vegas and a head full of info, that is the drill I have been using on the golf course – I told you you could read my mind! Before every shot I have been doing dry swings, mostly to get the feeling of loose wrists – now I will concentrate on the body and the wrists. I have been hitting the ball really well since my lessons, and have added yardage. Thanks again. Julia

    • December 2, 2012

      Paul Wilson

      Julia,

      Glad you are doing well. These changes will definitely get your swing to a whole new level. It’s just going to take a little work. Keep at it.

  3. December 2, 2012

    terencebenson

    G’day Paul,
    How do you feel about this “old” idea :- Take your address. Raise the club up to maybe shoulder height, swing as you suggest. Then take another swing at chest height bringing your posture towards the address position. Progress further toward the address position and swing at waist height, then knee height. Finally the club goes down behind the ball and just repeat those swings.
    Some old pro in the dim and misty past used this as a teaching drill.
    Regards
    Ben

  4. December 2, 2012

    barrybower

    Paul
    Having a hard time getting the initial lower body move incorporated into my swing , been working on the drills for months ,showing some improvements but slowly. would it help if in the drill ,i super exagerate the lower body move in practise,on the course my shots often result in pull hooks can feel the arms alot in these shots.

    • December 3, 2012

      Paul Wilson

      Barry,

      Everyone ha a hard time turning off the arms and feeling the legs powering the swing. I wish I had the magical answer other than understand what you are supposed to be doing and why you should be doing it. Then telling yourself not to use the arms. The problem is that people keep wanting to hit great shots. So they try it a few times and don’t see great shots so they go back to their old swing. Others hit a few good ones then want more so they try hitting harder with the arms. When playing people keep swinging at top speed. Top speed to the average person means hitting with arms. So trusting the new feeling and swinging easier on the course is hard to do.

      What you need to do is slow down not drive the legs harder. You are not good at it yet so if you drive the lower body harder you will also hit with the arms. You need to turn on the legs while keep the arms turned off but you need to get used to it and good at it first. So keep doing the drill below until you are good at it and can get your ball going almost as far as before with a feeling of nothing:

      DRILL: This Is The Best Drill You Should Be Doing Right Now: https://ignitiongolf.com/drill-three-quarter-distance/

      When you go to play you should not be trying to hit it at more than 50%. This will get you to forget distance on the course and allow you to turn the arms off.

      Finally, you need to be doing tons of practice swings at home working on the swing positions and drills. This is always good because it will take your swing to the next level (if you are working on perfecting the swing positions).

      Reminder: You can always do a video golf lesson with my assistant so we can check to see if you are in position or not. Yes, there is a fee because it takes our time to do it but you can eliminate doubt that you are working on the right thing of not. Find out more here: http://paulwilsongolf.com/las-vegas-golf-lessons/video-golf-lessons.htm

  5. Paul,

    After bombing my drives yesterday guess what, I started today’s round trying to hit drives with my upper body. So what did I do? Made myself do your favorite drill three times before every shot. It helped me power my swing with my legs and relax my arms and shoulders.

  6. Paul,

    Continued doing the three practice swings above the ball before each shot. Scored 85 even though I left a half dozen putts on the course.

    Started with slight pulls. Was able to adjust to hit many fairways in the center. Each day gets a bit better.

    Tomorrow I play Muirfield Village (Jack’s course in Dublin OH, site of the PGA Memorial tournament). Hope to bring the Swing Machine Golf swing with me.

    • Paul,

      Played Muirfield Village today. Hit every fairway but one with my driver. Still trying to figure out my irons. It is easier to keep from falling towards the ball with the driver. Since my irons are shorter my miss is a shank as my weight ends up over my toes. Any suggestion how to keep my balance with the shorter irons?

      • Cameron,

        I replied to one of your previous questions. In doing so, I wondered about your round at Muirfield. That’s pretty consistent with the driver. You do realize you only have one swing? Not sure what you are trying to figure out with your irons. If you are hitting your driver that well you should be hitting the irons that well too.

        Take a look at your setup with the irons. I would think you are too tilted. You need to feel tall like the driver. This taller feeling will stop the weight from falling forward. Think about it, if your body mass is ahead of your toe line the weight can easily roll too much forward. So feel tall at setup. Coil in a circular motion going back feeling the shoulders are level to the ground at the top (they will still be tilted it’s just a feeling) then uncoil in a circular motion the other way. You can also feel the loading of the weight to the back instep too. This really should not be an issue. Give it a try.

        • Paul,

          I agree, I use the same swing for all clubs. It is my setup that I am struggling with. Lower irons and lies where the ball is below my feet is giving me trouble. I suspect it means I am not set up as stable as I need to me. With my driver I am standing taller given the length of the driver. I haven’t figured out how to “stand taller” with the shorter irons or when the ball is below my feet. In either case I end up on the balls (toes) of my feet and shank the shot.

          Per your post I need to make more of an effort to stand taller. If I am standing taller and my clubs are shorter or the ball is laying lower (below my fight) do I use more knee bend to reach the ball?

          • July 31, 2013

            CameornWolff

            Paul,

            Just read your fix for shanking from your digital book. If I understand it correctly, one does have more forward tilt for lower clubs in order to reach the ball. However, one must still keep the weight at the laces (arches) of the foot through the backswing and the unwinding during the downswing.

            Is this true for lies where the ball is below ones feet, or does such a situation also require additional knee bend?

          • July 31, 2013

            Paul Wilson

            Cameron,

            It is tricky to set up tall with shorter clubs this is why most people mess it up. Once they bend over too much their body mass is outside the too line too much thus allowing the weight to roll to the toes at the top. Just think about your chest. Feel it pointing outside the ball 6-8 feet. Lift the grip of the club up so you can set up to the lower clubs. Most people have the club too low so they can only do a low set up. Lift it up and build around the club.

            Watch:

            How to Set Up With Different Golf Clubs: https://ignitiongolf.com/setup-different-clubs

            And:

            Ball Below Feet: https://ignitiongolf.com/shot-ball-below-feet

            Ball Above Feet: https://ignitiongolf.com/ball-above-your-feet

          • August 2, 2013

            CameornWolff

            Thanks Paul. Your links have answered my questions. Now, I need to try them at the range and on the course.

    • Cameron,

      I love the fact that you could fix your own golf swing. I think when I tell people my method allows you to fix our own golf swing they don’t believe me. Oh well, you and I know it’s true.

      I hope you enjoyed your round.

  7. January 31, 2014

    DaveLeier

    Hi Paul:
    Well the light finally went on today !! I did this drill 2-3 times before each ball that I hit, to engrain the proper “powerless arms” feeling. Wow ! what a difference ! I’m only swinging what seems to be 75-80% (to keep under control) and the drives are actually going farther than my old stiff arm “grunt” swing !! Like NO effort at all!! I tried to really speed up my hips on a few shots but they started to go a little off line so I dialled it back to about 80% and they started going straight again. I want to get faster hip rotation under control so is the best way to do it , is to go gradually increase the speed each week????

    • February 1, 2014

      Paul Wilson

      Dave,

      I love it when the light bulb goes off. As you have found out, I am presenting the information and answers. It is just up to the person to hear it, understand it and feel it a few times. Once they do they will no stop wanting this feeling.

      I would stick with this easy feeling and slow speed for a little. You will know when it is time to go a little faster. When it is time you increase the leg drive a little. If you blow it right this is too hard and you are not ready for it so slow back down. If this is okay you should probably increase one more time to get you to top speed. You body only rotates at around 2.5 mph in a pros swing so turning faster by .5mph is how you should be thinking of these increases. Visually this would be unnoticeable to someone watching you yet the ball would travel farther. In other words even though you are increasing the swing would still look slow. I think you get it. Give it a try and keep watching your ball for feedback.

  8. February 1, 2014

    Dave

    Paul: Thanks for the reply.
    You were absolutely right ! At about 80% every thing seems “right”. I must admit though that I did try a few “BOMBS” (human nature I guess) and I found that most of them did wander to the right. As well when I tried to speed up the turn, I found myself beginning to SLIDE ( bump the hip) to the front leg, instead of turning. Oh well back to 80%, and absolutely no thought process for the swing. I LOVE IT !!!!! I’ll work on the small increases as you suggest. Thanks so much !!!!

    • February 2, 2014

      Paul Wilson

      Dave,

      Yes, sick to this level for a while until you are good at it. Then you can let it rip in the future. When the amount of effort is less than the return you know you need to back off.

  9. February 3, 2014

    Dave

    Paul:
    I’ll do as you say, I plan to hold this speed for at least a month until its ABSOLUTELY engrained !
    Thanks again and I’ll see you in the first week of March with an update !
    Dave

  10. March 10, 2014

    Dave

    Hi Paul: Well here it is the first week of March, I think my speed has improved quite a bit, as my drives are 10-15 yards longer without any extra effort. I found that when the ball starts going offline (mostly to the right) then thats my signal to backoff. I can’t put a percentage on my present swing/hip speed, but suffice to say that whatever the speed is, it FEELS right ! I’m also intensifying my core muscle workouts to aid in the overall process. Thanks so much for your recent replies. Now it’s on to your scoring clubs and routines !!!!!

    • March 10, 2014

      Paul Wilson

      Dave,

      Good stuff. I am assuming you were doing practice swings indoors which is the best way to work on your swing.

      Stick to this speed for now. As you get confident, you will go a little faster without even thinking about it.

  11. Paul,I practise your drill at home very often ,with different clubs ,and the result show on the golf course with long effortless ,straight drives .I try to increase the hip speed with the ULTIMATE SWING TRAINER tubings ,but it’s slow to come,Yard by Yard .i know you don’t like the MOMENTUS weighted driver ,but I Still use it at the end of a practise session ,when I have sufficiently warmed up ,so not to bring harm on myself .
    I also often practise with the POWER FAN ,which has the advantage of preventing you from casting from th

    • Raymond,

      If it worked everyone would use it plus you would be hitting really long drives.

  12. Paul, You mention to swing “up” a little bit ( 4:04 min into the video). Is this done just on the driver or very club and wedges?

    • Jim,

      Do this mainly with driver. If you want to do it with irons as a drill I am okay with this (slightly up) so it helps you stay behind the ball. Don’t do this as you hit your ball with irons otherwise you will top everything.

  13. February 18, 2015

    terrybadger

    So here are some questions:

    To loosen my wrists i need to loosen my grip, but when the club rattles in my hands that is too loose, right?

    i have trouble keeping my elbow straight during the swing while trying to keep powerless arms. Could wearing an athletic support bandage on my left arm help me get to the correct feeling? i seem to tighten the muscles in my shoulder at the same time i am using my triceps to keep the arm straight (and i don’t mean stiff as a board straight).

    i am beginning to get the feeling of my left arm springing off my left side as a result of my lower body turn. Is this what you feel? i think i remember Chi Chi Rodriguez answering this was how it felt ti him, and he was able to hit it far for a small golfer.

    thanks for your help,
    ter

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