Hill Drills: A Not-So Radical Approach to Swing Fixes

[slytown]

I was helping my wife work on her weight shift in transition and told her why she hit more flush when she was on downslopes. I thought I would share the way slope affects your swing and how you could do a drill by simply finding a hill and following these guidelines. Comments or corrections on these guidelines are welcome.

 

1. To fix a steep angle of attack, OTT, or weight in your toes, stand with the ball above your feet. Choke down and feel the club working more around your body.

2. To fix a shallow angle of attack from the inside or weight on your heels, stand with the ball below your feet. Feel your weight over the balls of your feet and toes, then swing more steeply.

3. To fix no weight transfer in transition, stand on a steep downslope. Match your shoulders to the slope and try to keep your balance through the swing. It will help you feel your weight shift to your lead side when you start your downswing.

4. To fix too much slide or weight transfer to your lead side in transition, stand on an ascending slope. Match your shoulders to the slope and try to keep balance. This will help you keep your weight back and possibly help you swing up on a driver or get more height with your irons if you hit the ball too low.

 

All of these drills are designed to make set up effectively create the proper corrections. You don't have to focus so much on swing thoughts because the set up in the shot creates (in theory) the correction.

Edited May 19, 2023 by slytown

[naj959]

I find swinging on a downslope really helps my pivot and contact. I like the concept. 

[iacas]

I don't love those. And by way of saying that, I'll say that Vijay Singh used to practice off an upslope so he had to MAKE himself go forward more. So, the opposite of what you're suggesting.

 

I'm generally not a big fan of things that "make" you do something, because too often when you remove that thing making you do whatever, you stop doing it. I'd be a bigger fan of the Vijay method: something that makes you do it EXTRA.

[RoyalTroon]

18 hours ago, slytown said:

All of these drills are designed to make set up effectively create the proper corrections.

 

Or at least bring a more acute level of awareness to the striking process.  As Jackie Burke Jr. said, you better learn how to use the ground properly or the ground will use you in not so good ways.

[Albatross Dreamer]

21 hours ago, iacas said:

I don't love those. And by way of saying that, I'll say that Vijay Singh used to practice off an upslope so he had to MAKE himself go forward more. So, the opposite of what you're suggesting.

 

I'm generally not a big fan of things that "make" you do something, because too often when you remove that thing making you do whatever, you stop doing it. I'd be a bigger fan of the Vijay method: something that makes you do it EXTRA.

I dunno, both ways are drills that can get a desired output. Assuming the goal is you take a few swings then go back to flat ground. If you're ONLY hitting that way might be a different story.