Drills for grooving proper release with driver?

Big D McGee · July 13, 2007

I've really improved my game a ton this season. I went from not being able to break 100 to consistently breaking 90, and looking to shoot 80 or better by the end of the season.

With my irons, I sometimes do a drill where I stop my follow-through about 6-8 inches past the ball. Not only does it help me to get the feeling of accelerating through the ball, it also helps me to feel a proper release, without my arms breaking down.

My biggest fault with my driver these days is not fully releasing the club after impact. I sometimes hit "at" the ball, rather than "through" the ball. As soon as I hit the ball my arms break down, and the result is either a fade or a block right.

Are there any drills I can use specifically with the driver to help me more fully release the club? Thanks.

hiram71 · July 13, 2007

A great drill that I like to use is for this exact circumstance is called the split hand drill. Very simply place your bottom hand at the very end of the grip so that your index or trigger finger is around the shaft of the club. Swinging with the split hand will give you a great sense of how the forearms/hands should work to release the club effectively.

HoganIsKing · July 13, 2007

"9 to 3" drill.

Take the LEFT ARM (not clubshaft) back to 9 o'clock.. then through to 3 o'clock.

Big D McGee · July 13, 2007

A great drill that I like to use is for this exact circumstance is called the split hand drill. Very simply place your bottom hand at the very end of the grip so that your index or trigger finger is around the shaft of the club. Swinging with the split hand will give you a great sense of how the forearms/hands should work to release the club effectively.

Thanks, this worked very well for me today! I decided to just play a "practice round" at a short (par 62) municipal course in Philly. Since the course was empty (and conditions were deplorable), I tried this drill on all the par-4 holes. It really gave me some added distance as well as helping me achieve the low, rising ballflight I was looking for.

As I said, the course isn't long, but on two of the par-4's I drove it easily 290, which is much, much longer than my average. I think it's all finally coming together to let me be a "big hitter" :aggressive: