Golf Tips » April 2004: The “Whoosh Drill”

Those of you who have been to our school will be familiar with this drill as I use it quite a bit. This drill helps golfers increase their body rotation on the downswing, which in turn increases distance. So, if you do not want to hit the ball 20 to 30 yards further, stop reading now!

Several aspects of the swing promote distance but lack of body rotation robs power from the swing more than anything else. Most amateur golfers tend to start the downswing with the arms, thus losing the angle of the shaft and the leading arm on the downswing. They continue through without turning the body, allowing the lead arm to collapse through impact, causing slices and even worse, topped shots.

In previous tips, I talk about how to start the downswing and this month I want to give you a drill to help you turn through the ball once you have reached a position about halfway down.

At this time you have to turn the torso as fast as you can to prevent hitting behind the ball or slapping at it with your arms.

In the first part of the drill, extend your arms out directly in front of you with the arms and club parallel to the ground.

Keeping the club parallel to the ground, swing back as far as you can.

Now swing through starting the turn with your body and not with your arms to a complete finish.

The key part of this drill is to listen to where the “whoosh” happens in the swing. If it happens before you reach you original start position, you have swung with your arms. Continue to do this until you can hear the “whoosh” a few feet past that point. This is the feeling you want when you hit the ball. The clubhead is gathering speed through impact, and not decelerating.

This will help you achieve a good extension through the ball, giving you the added distance we are all seeking.