Connect with us

Instruction

Struggling to take it to the course? Try the “20 in 20” drill

Published

on

By Carson Henry, GolfWRX Contributor

Stephen, a student of mine, walked into the clubhouse with a desperate look on his face:

“I just don’t get it Coach, I hit every single shot that I wanted to on the range today. What happens to me when I tee it up on the course?”

As a golf instructor, this is a question that I encounter almost on a daily basis. And it is one that is relatively easy to answer.

To understand why some golfers seems to deteriorate on the short walk from range to tee, first we must look at the differences in atmosphere.  The driving range is usually about 100 yards wide and scattered with target greens and pins. Almost every shot hit on the driving range will be moving in the general direction of one target or another. Yet, if a bad shot is struck, there is no one present to witness, as everyone else on the range is preoccupied with their own practice.

When you move to the first tee, you are staring down a 40-yard wide fairway, maybe even smaller, and three other players are there to witness whatever shot your nervous swing may produce.  The sense of pressure this shot produces usually feels much heavier than any of the shots on the practice range.

In preparation for these pressure filled moments, golfers must recreate a sense of the pressure, and one of the most accurate way of doing that is by using a drill called “20 in 20”. The drill’s name comes from the practice of hitting 20 balls in 20 minutes, and is being used by many great players across the globe.

Properly executing this drill requires a few things:

  • Hit only 1 ball per minute (no more, no less).
  • Hit to a different target for each ball (never the same target back to back).
  • Hit a different club for each ball (never the same club back to back).
  • Every third shot have a peer watch you execute a shot (explain the shot to them before you hit)

Note: For more novice players, this may only mean hitting toward the intended target. For more advanced players, this should include trajectory (height) and ball flight (draw or fade).

Following these steps, the “20 in 20” drill will most accurately recreate a pressure filled atmosphere for each shot. Drill users will subconsciously know that they will not have another chance to execute the same shot following the first attempt. This will shift the bulk of the focus on hitting the next shot well, much like it would on the course. As much as it pains golfers, they must not give themselves another chance at the same shot, no matter how poor or embarrassing the first was. That kind of practice is best done before or after the drill.

I challenge you to try the “20 in 20” drill during your next range visit and see if you can do it. Trust me, it is much more difficult than it sounds.

Your Reaction?
  • 3
  • LEGIT2
  • WOW1
  • LOL1
  • IDHT1
  • FLOP1
  • OB1
  • SHANK1

GolfWRX is the world's largest and best online golf community. Expert editorial reviews, breaking golf tour and industry news, what to play, how to play and where to play. GolfWRX surrounds consumers throughout the buying, learning and enrichment process from original photographic and video content, to peer to peer advice and camaraderie, to technical how-tos, and more. As the largest online golf community we continue to protect the purity of our members opinions and the platform to voice them. We want to protect the interests of golfers by providing an unbiased platform to feel proud to contribute to for years to come. You can follow GolfWRX on Twitter @GolfWRX and on Facebook.

18 Comments

18 Comments

  1. Andy Nelson PGA

    Mar 15, 2013 at 4:11 pm

    Good tip Carson! Is that the range at Methodist?

    GO MONARCHS!

  2. lobstah

    Mar 15, 2013 at 2:39 pm

    This drill was good enough to draw out my first comment as a member ! It is similar to a drill a buddy and I used to do on the range: We would create imaginary holes and play them.

    • Carson

      Apr 4, 2013 at 10:55 am

      That is virtually the same drill. Very difficult task to complete!

  3. Carl

    Mar 13, 2013 at 3:30 am

    Thanks for the great driving range/drill tip! More of these please, whenever possible.

    Going to try it out as soon as the snow melts here in Finland…

  4. Tasha

    Mar 7, 2013 at 10:43 am

    Anyone looking to try this sort of methodology at the range should look in to an app call Practice Pro Golf. Essentially challenges you to complete different shots based on certain criteria.

    I find it pretty useful if I can get myself to stick with it. My bf swears by it.

    NO. I DONT WORK FOR AN APP COMPANY!

    • Carson

      Mar 7, 2013 at 4:37 pm

      Great recommendation! Downloading now!

      -Carson Henry

  5. Drew

    Mar 7, 2013 at 10:15 am

    What a great drill!! Thanks

  6. Craig

    Mar 6, 2013 at 5:05 pm

    I have this same issue and I think the drill in the article helps I think it leaves out a good reason why this happens. Set up, posture, alignment, and ball position are very important to hitting consistently repeatable shots. I think when you are on the range you are able to unknowingly improve these aspects of the golf swing and magically you start hitting more consistent shots. When you get out the course you are forced to rebuild your whole setup for each shot. I think this drill helps in that respect because by grabbing a new club and setting up to a new target it forces you to rebuild your setup every shot. I think the key thing to do is realize that your setup is probably being groomed unknowingly while you are on the range so its something to work on and perfect.

    • Carson

      Mar 6, 2013 at 10:17 pm

      Great observation Craig, that is exactly the drills purpose. Creating a habit out of approaching/addressing each shot individually and uniquely so that it becomes second nature.

  7. Jive

    Mar 4, 2013 at 1:29 pm

    Ha, my dyslexia kicked in while ready this post and when I got to point 4, I read, “Every third shot have a Beer watch you execute a shot (explain the shot to them before you hit)”

    I think I will try that next time on the range, hope they have deals for 6 packs

  8. Gary Kimsey

    Mar 2, 2013 at 6:12 pm

    I very much enjoyed your “struggling” article. It is obvious that repeating a bad fundamental in a golf swing only makes it harder to correct later (as the HS coach has seen). I would think the final swing of the 20 should mimic the opening tee shot (confidence if you hit it well, “mulligan” on first tee if not).

  9. Ray

    Mar 2, 2013 at 12:25 am

    Thanks, Carson!
    Sounds like a great way to add some mental training to an otherwise mechanical practice.

  10. Nate

    Mar 1, 2013 at 1:04 pm

    I like this, thanks Carson. I’m going to do this with my HS golf team. I do my best to help them understand that beating as many balls as you can during their range time isn’t going to help them. This will work nicely in accomplishing that.

    • Carson

      Mar 1, 2013 at 3:58 pm

      I know that “beating balls” mindset well, my HS golf days were not that long ago. I’m sure they will enjoy the challenge, Glad to help!

      -Carson Henry

  11. purkjason

    Feb 28, 2013 at 1:36 pm

    Sounds like a very challenging but fun test for us all. Thank You

    • Carson

      Feb 28, 2013 at 2:40 pm

      You’re welcome. It is very challenging for most players, but the amount of improvement is exponential!

      -Carson Henry

Leave a Reply

Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Instruction

Clement: Stop ripping off your swing with this drill!

Published

on

Not the dreaded headcover under the armpit drill! As if your body is defective and can’t function by itself! Have you seen how incredible the human machine is with all the incredible feats of agility all kinds of athletes are accomplishing? You think your body is so defective (the good Lord is laughing his head off at you) that it needs a headcover tucked under the armpit so you can swing like T-Rex?

Your Reaction?
  • 0
  • LEGIT1
  • WOW2
  • LOL0
  • IDHT0
  • FLOP0
  • OB0
  • SHANK2

Continue Reading

Instruction

How a towel can fix your golf swing

Published

on

This is a classic drill that has been used for decades. However, the world of marketed training aids has grown so much during that time that this simple practice has been virtually forgotten. Because why teach people how to play golf using everyday items when you can create and sell a product that reinforces the same thing? Nevertheless, I am here to give you helpful advice without running to the nearest Edwin Watts or adding something to your Amazon cart.

For the “scoring clubs,” having a solid connection between the arms and body during the swing, especially through impact, is paramount to creating long-lasting consistency. And keeping that connection throughout the swing helps rotate the shoulders more to generate more power to help you hit it farther. So, how does this drill work, and what will your game benefit from it? Well, let’s get into it.

Setup

You can use this for basic chip shots up to complete swings. I use this with every club in my bag, up to a 9 or 8-iron. It’s natural to create incrementally more separation between the arms and body as you progress up the set. So doing this with a high iron or a wood is not recommended.

While you set up to hit a ball, simply tuck the towel underneath both armpits. The length of the towel will determine how tight it will be across your chest but don’t make it so loose that it gets in the way of your vision. After both sides are tucked, make some focused swings, keeping both arms firmly connected to the body during the backswing and follow through. (Note: It’s normal to lose connection on your lead arm during your finishing pose.) When you’re ready, put a ball in the way of those swings and get to work.

Get a Better Shoulder Turn

Many of us struggle to have proper shoulder rotation in our golf swing, especially during long layoffs. Making a swing that is all arms and no shoulders is a surefire way to have less control with wedges and less distance with full swings. Notice how I can get in a similar-looking position in both 60° wedge photos. However, one is weak and uncontrollable, while the other is strong and connected. One allows me to use my larger muscles to create my swing, and one doesn’t. The follow-through is another critical point where having a good connection, as well as solid shoulder rotation, is a must. This drill is great for those who tend to have a “chicken wing” form in their lead arm, which happens when it becomes separated from the body through impact.

In full swings, getting your shoulders to rotate in your golf swing is a great way to reinforce proper weight distribution. If your swing is all arms, it’s much harder to get your weight to naturally shift to the inside part of your trail foot in the backswing. Sure, you could make the mistake of “sliding” to get weight on your back foot, but that doesn’t fix the issue. You must turn into your trial leg to generate power. Additionally, look at the difference in separation between my hands and my head in the 8-iron examples. The green picture has more separation and has my hands lower. This will help me lessen my angle of attack and make it easier to hit the inside part of the golf ball, rather than the over-the-top move that the other picture produces.

Stay Better Connected in the Backswing

When you don’t keep everything in your upper body working as one, getting to a good spot at the top of your swing is very hard to do. It would take impeccable timing along with great hand-eye coordination to hit quality shots with any sort of regularity if the arms are working separately from the body.

Notice in the red pictures of both my 60-degree wedge and 8-iron how high my hands are and the fact you can clearly see my shoulder through the gap in my arms. That has happened because the right arm, just above my elbow, has become totally disconnected from my body. That separation causes me to lift my hands as well as lose some of the extension in my left arm. This has been corrected in the green pictures by using this drill to reinforce that connection. It will also make you focus on keeping the lead arm close to your body as well. Because the moment either one loses that relationship, the towel falls.

Conclusion

I have been diligent this year in finding a few drills that target some of the issues that plague my golf game; either by simply forgetting fundamental things or by coming to terms with the faults that have bitten me my whole career. I have found that having a few drills to fall back on to reinforce certain feelings helps me find my game a little easier, and the “towel drill” is most definitely one of them.

Your Reaction?
  • 11
  • LEGIT1
  • WOW2
  • LOL0
  • IDHT0
  • FLOP2
  • OB0
  • SHANK8

Continue Reading

Instruction

Clement: Why your practice swing never sucks

Published

on

You hear that one all the time; I wish I could put my practice swing on the ball! We explain the huge importance of what to focus on to allow the ball to be perfectly in the way of your practice swing. Enjoy!

 

Your Reaction?
  • 0
  • LEGIT0
  • WOW0
  • LOL0
  • IDHT0
  • FLOP0
  • OB0
  • SHANK2

Continue Reading

WITB

Facebook

Trending