Irons · Drill
A Quick Reset When Your Swing Leaves Mid-Round
Part of our irons programs for weak contact. Build a program with it
Everyone loses it sometimes. When your swing goes missing on the course, simplify. Find solid contact first. While you wait on a tee, take a mid-iron off to the side. Stick a tee in the ground. Make a tiny swing with just your body turning, no wrist hinge, and brush the tee. Next, add a little wrist hinge and brush it again. Then make a fuller turn and brush it, finishing in balance. Build up in steps. Then go play.
The drill
- Step aside safely with a mid-iron and a tee.
- Make a body-only swing and brush the tee.
- Add a little wrist hinge and brush it.
- Add a full turn and brush it.
- Finish balanced, then play your shot.
Why it works
When your swing breaks down, the usual cause is too many moving parts at once. A small body-only swing removes the arms and wrists, so you can find the low point of the swing and the strike on the ground. Adding hinge and then turn in steps lets you keep that same contact as the swing gets bigger.
Common mistakes
- You hit the ground well behind the tee.Keep your chest turning through the shot and let your weight settle slightly toward your lead side so the club bottoms out at the tee.
- You flip your hands at the tee to make contact.Go back to the body-only swing and let the turn of your chest carry the club, with no extra hand action.
- You rush through the steps and swing hard on the full turn.Keep the same smooth tempo at every step and only add the next piece after the tee is brushed cleanly.
How you'll know it's working
- You brush the tee cleanly on each step without digging a deep divot.
- The club feels like it swings past you because of your turn, not because of your hands.
- You finish balanced and can hold your finish until the ball lands.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Use a short iron and stay on the body-only step until you brush the tee several times in a row.
Harder: Hit a real ball off the turf after the full-turn step and aim for the same clean brush of the ground just after the ball.
Common questions
What should I do when I lose my swing in the middle of a round?
Simplify and focus on solid contact. Take a few small swings with just your body turning, then build up to your normal swing in steps.
Can I do this drill on the course without slowing play?
Yes, if you do it while others are hitting or while you wait. Step aside safely, keep it to a few swings, and stay out of the way of other players.
