Struggling to gain more clubhead speed? Flip the script this offseason with the Swoosh Drill!
Are you an “early releaser” of the golf club? Do you have a hard time taking divots, or do your divots start before the club even strikes the ball? Do you struggle with clubhead speed and can’t seem to improve it, no matter what you try?
Never mind these questions sound like the start of an infomercial – if you answered yes to any, chances are you exhibit specific body movements in your swing that hinder your ability to accelerate the club efficiently in your downswing. This leads to a loss of power and distance control (and subsequent frustration), no matter how solidly you strike the shot.
As factually proved in GolfTEC’s data-driven SwingTRU Motion Study, there are many measured differences between amateur golfers and professionals. How the golf club is accelerated in the downswing – i.e. how power is generated – is a key byproduct from these differences that the study’s highlighted positions explain.
But enough about SwingTRU because we’re here for a practical application to improve your clubhead speed. And great news – this is something that can be dramatically helped with one of the most simple drills we’ve ever presented on the GolfTEC Scramble.
Sound good?
If you’ve ever seen a tour professional hit a ball in person, you’ve likely heard the difference in their ball striking compared to the amateur, as the distinct sound of the ball hit at impact is noticeable. Sound can be a great learning tool in golf, and it’s this type of audio feedback that serves as the foundation for the Swoosh Drill.
As far as golf drills go, the Swoosh Drill is about as easy and obvious as it gets. But that doesn’t downplay its incredible potential to improve your golf swing, nor its ease to practice during the offseason in the warmth of your living room. So take a look at the video below, and enjoy what we’ll call an early holiday present for your golf game!
VIDEO: The Swoosh Drill for better contact
The Swoosh Drill’s two (embarrassingly simple) steps
- Grab your favorite iron and flip it around so the handle is positioned toward the ground, then take your normal grip just below the clubhead.
- Swing the club in this manner and try to create the loudest “swoosh” sound you can!
If you’re one who struggles with clubhead speed, the swoosh you create may not be very loud and likely occurs too early in your downswing, near your trail leg. To make a louder sound, try delaying this sound to occur closer to your lead leg in the follow-through.
Hint: Try shifting your lead leg and hip more toward the target in the downswing, instead of it remaining on the trail leg, or moving away from the target. The latter move is what we often see with golfers struggling with clubhead speed and the aforementioned “early release.”
For further reference, our SwingTRU Motion Study proved the best golfers move their hips 1.6 inches toward the target at impact, compared to 30-handicap golfers, who move their hips 0.4 inches away from the target.
This 2-inch difference may not seem like much, but it speaks volumes about how much clubhead speed is created. It’s also a key difference in creating that loud swoosh, considering that many who struggle with clubhead speed tend to be closer to the measurement of the 30 handicap.
Yes, sounds good!
No matter what may ail your golf swing and how your measurements stack up against the pros, practice the Swoosh Drill this winter to help gain clubhead speed and hit the ground running in 2017!
Editor’s Note: This article is an updated version of the original post from Sept. 9, 2015.
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Not sure if this drill is right for you? Find a GolfTEC near you and talk to a Coach who can help today!
