Drill To Improve Your Impact Alignment

This following drill will help you to achieve the ideal impact alignment. I first learnt this drill at the British Teaching conference a couple of years ago from one of the best instructors in the world, Martin Hall. He is coach to Morgan Pressel. She is the youngest woman to win a major championship on the LPGA Tour. She won the 2007 ladies US Open.

Here it is.

Step 1.

Put something behind the ball, approximately four inches behind it. Only use an 8 iron or lower for this drill. Use preferably some wood the same size as the item I am using or a plastic chopping board. Maximum thickness you should use is 1 inch. If you use anything thicker you must move it further back from the ball. I am using an old teaching diary for demonstration purposes. Whatever you use needs to be durable. The reason for this is that you will more than likely hit whatever you use. Hover the club slightly so as not to strike whatever you are using on the back swing. Practice this exercise with small swings and without a ball first. When practicing without the ball drive the clubhead into the ground.

Step 2.

Take your swing, remember you are hovering the club at address so you should miss the item on the back swing. Your goal on the down swing is to hit the down on the ball without hitting the item that is behind the ball. This will help you to get into a better impact alignment. To miss the item your hands must be ahead of the club head at impact with the shaft leaning forward. This drill will help move your divot so it is after the ball as well. See my simulated impact below and Ben Hogan's. We both have a forward leaning shaft with a flat left wrist. I practice this exercise and I would encourage all of you to do the same. Below are some links to video's featuring Martin Hall.

Good luck with the practice and Merry Christmas.

Cheers

Maurice

P.S. Click here to watch a great video with Marting Hall talking about this exercise. Click here to find out what Martin Hall learnt from Jack Nicklaus.