The Only Drill that Matters.

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." - Will Durant, American writer and historian.

Just when you think you have got it all sorted, you only need to show up and follow your own advice. It turned out to be the worst session I have had at the range for many, many weeks. I’ve had part of the session go off, but I’ve been able to sort it within a ball or two.

On this session I tried everything possible to find my swing. I checked my grip, the address, made sure the face looked at the ball on the takeaway, I just couldn’t get the feeling. No matter how many practice-swings I took, that swing feeling especially on the downswing, it felt off. I got to the end of the bucket of 100 balls, I was shocked, absolutely shattered.

I usually start with a sand wedge, the short game with which I have struggled. Chipping and short pitches worked well enough, so well I was happy with my progress. The full swing with a sand wedge, from the start didn’t feel on. Not to worry I will come right, my grip and address are good, the swing will be as well. No such luck.

I couldn’t leave the range, not until I found something. The second bucket didn’t change anything. I was halfway through the bucket when I took a breather. No point carrying on, something was fundamentally missing. The first drill I promote is the rocking drill. This drill helps me with rhythm. With this drill, keep in mind, what happens with my feet, hips, torso, and shoulders. The best part, I don’t have to remember anything, except for how the takeaway started and how the downswing also starts, the rhythm remains the same.

Hallelujah, the practice swings are much improved. The big swing is back, the contact sounds good, the ball launches skyward, straight but a slight pull to the left. I continue to swing with rhythm, rhythm the only thought in my head. I tweak this and that for contact and power. The tweaks make sense and are effective. For me, it is because of the rocking drill, I put at the top of my list as the first drill to practice, before a session at the range and for a warmup drill before I hit a ball on the course.

There is a caveat, the short game, is more technical. It’s a game within a game. Rhythm plays a part, but the technical approach is more consistent in the small game. Players find what suits them in the short game. There are so many options, that the only consideration is getting the ball in the hole, with the least number of strokes.

Practice the rocking drill, at first to find your rhythm. Then keep rocking, as if you have a club in hand, incorporating the swing elements that add distance and accuracy.

Good luck out there.