Skill Building Drills and Exercises

[alfriday101]

This winter I am concentrating on improving my skill, as opposed to my technique.  I am going away from playing golf swing to playing golf.  Below are a few of the full swing drills and exercises that I have found for improving skill.  I have done most of them and I am getting better.  I do find it interesting that working to improve skill results in better technique.  I find the drills fun and worthwhile.   

 

Do any of you wise MGS readers have additional drills or exercises that have helped you?  Please add to the list. 

 

 

High, Medium, Low.  Hit three shots with the same club to a target, each with a different trajectory. 

 

Fade, Straight, Draw.   Hit three shots with the same club to a target, vary shot shape on each shot.

 

Short, On, Over.  Pick a green size target.  Using the same club, hit one ball short, one on and one over the target. 

 

Heel, Toe, Center.  Hit three shots with the same club to a target, making contact on a different place on the clubface. 

 

20, 50, 75% and full Speed.  Hit four shots (full swings) with the same club, one at each speed. 

 

Light, medium and high grip tension.  Hit three shots with the same club, one at each tension in the grip.

 

9 Iron Distance Challenge.   Hit a full or ¾ 9 iron and note where it lands.  Take each longer club in the bag and hit one ball to the spot where the 9 iron ball landed. 

 

Eyes Closed.  Face ball and take two practice swings.  Step up to ball and hit with eyes closed. 

 

One Foot Drill.  Hit shots with weight on front foot (keep toe of back foot on the ground). 

 

Feet Together Drill.   Hit balls with feet touching together.

 

One Arm Shots.  Hit balls using only the left and then right hand.  Especially good for chips and pitches. 

 

Two Ball Drill.  Place two balls 6 inches apart.  Hit first ball.  Immediately step up and hit second ball.  (Can also add additional balls.)

 

Step Distance.   Hit a club toward a target, starting at 25% percent distance.  Hit each following shot longer than the previous.  See how any shots you can hit before reaching max distance with the club.  (The driver variation is to hit to 125, 150, 175…in distance until maxing out.)  Start over if ball does not go father than precious shot. 

 

Fat, Thin, Solid.  Hit three shots with the same club to the same target, one thin, one fat and one center of clubface.       

 

Play the Course on the Range.   Play your home course on the range, in exact order, using the clubs as they would be used if playing the course.  Each club hit to a specific target. 

 

Alternating Club Drill.    Hit a short iron to a target.  Hit a long club to where the first ball landed.   Pick two different clubs and repeat. 

 

Thin, Regular and Rough Lie Drill.   Hit three shots with same club to same target, one each from different lie.