Finishing Drill
Mike Ashton has been the CPGA Head Professional at Kokanee Springs GC in Crawford Bay, B.C., since 1997.
Students who come to me for lessons or our five-day golf schools are serious about the game, having spent considerable time and money to commit to lessons.
But they have busy lives and they often have little time to practice. We all have students like that.
Busy people need drills they can do in their homes and backyards—even in elevators.
Drills work very well not only for time-stressed golfers, but for everyone because they only take a few minutes and they can be done just about anywhere, any time.
This drill helps students develop an excellent finishing position. It's basic and a great drill for students to do all winter so that come spring time, they will have engrained a solid finish.
This drill can be done with or without a club. The key to doing the drill effectively is for students to conform to the positions described below:
- The navel faces the target.
- The back foot has finished on its toe, rotated 90 degrees which rotates the body 90 degrees.
- With the back foot up, the upper torso can stay tilted almost at the same angle as at address. The right shoulder faces the target (for a right-handed golfer) and it's a little lower than the left shoulder, as it was at address.
- The left leg is a straight post, balancing 95 per cent of the body's weight.
- Thighs and knees are close together (if not touching) over the left foot.
The finishing position should be held for 10 seconds. Let the muscles absorb what may be strange sensations. After 10 seconds, move into the starting position and make a relaxed swing to the finishing position, and hold it again for 10 seconds.
Doing the drill for only a minute every day can make a tremendous difference for students. Students can improve their swing motion over time without having to think about anything but the finish.
Note: The teaching methodology solely reflects the views of the author.
A finishing drill for your busy students