Jump to content
  • entries
    56
  • comments
    771
  • views
    32,420

The Wall Drill for a Proper Pivot

iacas

Entry posted by iacas in Droplets

12,226 views

 Share

Here's a student many will tell you "lacks flexibility." He thinks it (sometimes, when I haven't seen him in awhile :-D), other instructors have told him he lacks flexibility, etc.

His hips sway right, his torso turns about 75°, and he lifts his arms up to "finish his backswing."

563d2e87581ed_01Wall.thumb.jpg.bc9365191

It's a bit better in the left photo here because he's been working on this for quite some time now, but even still you can see those trademark things: hips sway back, no secondary tilt, head rises, arms lift, turn isn't great.

On the right you can see him doing the wall drill. You set up near a wall. You note how much space you have between your trail hip and the wall, and then you put your arms across your chest and make a backswing while you strive to increase that distance. Make the gap between your trail hip and the wall get bigger. Voilà! Secondary Axis Tilt, hips going forward during the backswing (yes, a bit too much, but this is a drill, exercise, or "feel"), head not going up, more torso turn.

The proof, as they say, is in the pudding.

563d2e8a2318b_02SLOWDOWNDUMMY.thumb.jpg.

It's important to note that you don't necessarily actually want all of these to occur during your backswing. This drill reverses a lot of what you do (hips swaying instead of turning, moving too far right instead of staying "centered", reverse axis tilt). It's a great drill for an 18 handicapper who sways and wants to get better now.

As always, these are actual swings, not posed shots.

2017-09-15: Edited the title. Originally it was "Lack of Flexibility and the Wall Drill". We teach this to people who DON'T think they lack flexibility, too. Even kids.

2021-11-25: There are some updated thoughts here that I encourage everyone to read.

  • Like 5
  • Thumbs Up 1
  • Upvote 11
  • Informative 1
 Share

17 Comments

Recommended Comments

kpaulhus

I need to work on this. I do not turn my hips enough. Also, I was recently asked why I was straightening out my right knee instead of keeping it flexed. What are your thoughts on that? It almost feels like I'm squatting a bit in my backswing, and I doubt my head is staying still, though I haven't recorded it yet. 

Link to comment
  • Administrator
iacas
  • Administrator
6 hours ago, kpaulhus said:

I need to work on this. I do not turn my hips enough. Also, I was recently asked why I was straightening out my right knee instead of keeping it flexed. What are your thoughts on that? It almost feels like I'm squatting a bit in my backswing, and I doubt my head is staying still, though I haven't recorded it yet. 

Your trail knee should probably extend on the backswing.  I'm not sure what you mean by that. Should it "straighten" (i.e. lock out)? No. Should it extend? Almost surely, yes.

Sometimes it can feel like a little squat, but you don't want your head to go down and back much.

Link to comment
AbsoluteTruths

You need to check your weight/pressure when doing this drill. I was swaying back and rolling to the outside of my right foot. Need to keep pressure on the inside of right foot.

  • Upvote 1
Link to comment
Mike Boatright

Im always looking to turn better and I can see in by back swing that my weight goes to the outside of my back foot. I have it timed so I don't know if it's good or bad but I know it causes inconsistency.

Link to comment
sirhacksalot

So finally tried this while hitting balls in the net and it greatly improved strike, unfortunately the feel is that its going to cause big blocks to the right. So need to try on range or course to see what it flght will do.  

Link to comment
k-troop

I've always tried to emphasize a full shoulder and hip turn away from the ball, and I think it definitely helps prevent me from swinging too far left across the line at impact (which has always been a problem area for me).  Interestingly enough, I had a dozen sessions with a physical therapist this year because of some pain at the intersection between my T and C vertebrae.  PT did range of motion tests at the beginning, middle, and end of the course of the evaluation/therapy.  My shoulder and hip rotational range is significantly more turning to my right (backswing motion) than it is in the opposite direction.  My backswing range of motion was (according to the PT) very good, but my follow-through range of motion was "restricted." 

I told him it doesn't matter at that point because the ball is already in the air.  He disagreed.  My neck still hurts, so what does he know?

Link to comment
Golfdad2014
On 2/3/2017 at 1:03 PM, k-troop said:

I've always tried to emphasize a full shoulder and hip turn away from the ball, and I think it definitely helps prevent me from swinging too far left across the line at impact (which has always been a problem area for me).  Interestingly enough, I had a dozen sessions with a physical therapist this year because of some pain at the intersection between my T and C vertebrae.  PT did range of motion tests at the beginning, middle, and end of the course of the evaluation/therapy.  My shoulder and hip rotational range is significantly more turning to my right (backswing motion) than it is in the opposite direction.  My backswing range of motion was (according to the PT) very good, but my follow-through range of motion was "restricted." 

I told him it doesn't matter at that point because the ball is already in the air.  He disagreed.  My neck still hurts, so what does he know?

My wife is a PT and have to get her to manipulate my back after every range session. The area you are talking about is a very common problem with golfers backs. 

PT's have a doctorate of therapy for a reason. They are very well trained. Find a therapist that is manual or McKenzie certified. They should be able to help you get right. 

Link to comment
k-troop
13 minutes ago, Golfdad2014 said:

My wife is a PT and have to get her to manipulate my back after every range session. The area you are talking about is a very common problem with golfers backs. 

PT's have a doctorate of therapy for a reason. They are very well trained. Find a therapist that is manual or McKenzie certified. They should be able to help you get right. 

Good advice, and thanks for the tip.  I completed the full course of the "evaluation" period, which included initial eval and range of motion, 8 sessions of manipulation (with stretching and exercises in between), and an ending eval.  The manipulation sessions definitely felt good, but did not really affect my issue at all.  PT's conclusion was that the treatment wasn't effective.

Link to comment
Antneye

I did a search for wall drill and landed here but I could have sworn there was a wall drill thread to combat your head moving forward and down towards the ball.  This is something that I have been working on for over a year and cannot eliminate from my swing even with repeatedly doing this exact drill (only with my head starting about a quarter inch away from the wall).  I can do it just fine with my arms across my shoulders (my head never hits the wall as i come through my turn to the finish). but a golf club in my hand and I am still darting down and towards the ball (although not nearly as bad as seen in my first swing thread post)

Is there any other drill out there to help eliminate my head going forward?

Link to comment
  • Administrator
iacas
  • Administrator
3 hours ago, Antneye said:

Is there any other drill out there to help eliminate my head going forward?

Put a stick beside your head (front side) and try to move your head away from it on the downswing?

Link to comment

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now


  • Want to join this community?

    We'd love to have you!

    Sign Up

  • Blog Entries

  • Posts

    • AndysSoncal
      Klineka's Garage Simulator Build Thread

      By AndysSoncal ·

      However, have you ever considered using small summer houses for such setups? They offer a great solution for creating dedicated practice areas, especially for an affluent audience looking to enhance their outdoor living space.
    • Maroon88
      Favorite Las Vegas Course

      By Maroon88 ·

      I've played Bali Hai, Bear's Best and Painted Desert. I enjoyed Bali Hai the most--course was in great shape, friendly staff and got paired in a great group. Bear's Best greens were very fast, didn't hold the ball well (I normally have enough spin to stop the ball after 1-2 hops).  The sand was different on many holes. Some were even dark sand (recreation of holes from Hawaii). Unfortunately I was single and paired with a local "member" who only played the front 9.  We were stuck behind a slow 4-some who wouldn't let me through even when the local left. Painted Desert was decent, just a bit far from the Strip where we were staying.
    • StuM
      Wordle Daily Puzzle

      By StuM ·

      Wordle 1,035 3/6 ⬜🟨🟨🟩⬜ 🟨🟨🟩🟩🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Just lipped out that Eagle putt, easy tab-in Birdie
    • DaHolla
      "5 Minutes Daily" Practice Challenge

      By DaHolla ·

      Day 106 - Worked on chipping/pitching. Focus was feeling the club fall to the ground as my body rotated through. 
    • DeadMan
      My Swing (billchao)

      By DeadMan ·

      Honestly, unless there's something about that rough there that makes it abnormally penal or a lost ball likely, this might be the play. I don't know how the mystrategy cone works, but per LSW, you don't use every shot for your shot zones. In that scatter plot, you have no balls in the bunker, and 1 in the penalty area. The median outcome seems to be a 50 yard pitch. Even if you aren't great from 50 yards, you're better off there than in a fairway bunker or the penalty area on the right of the fairway. It could also be a strategy you keep in your back pocket if you need to make up ground. Maybe this is a higher average score with driver, but better chance at a birdie. Maybe you are hitting your driver well and feel comfortable with letting one rip.  I get not wanting to wait and not wanting to endanger people on the tee, but in a tournament, I think I value playing for score more than waiting. I don't value that over hurting people, but you can always yell fore 😆 Only thing I would say is I'm not sure whether that cone is the best representation of the strategy (see my comment above about LSW's shot zones). To me, it looks like a 4 iron where you're aiming closer to the bunker might be the play. You have a lot of shots out to the right and only a few to the left. Obviously, I don't know where you are aiming (and this is a limitation of MyStrategy), but it seems like most of your 4 iron shots are right. You have 2 in the bunker but aiming a bit closer to the bunker won't bring more of your shots into the bunker. It does bring a few away from the penalty area on the right.  This could also depend on how severe the penalties are for missing the green. Do you need to be closer to avoid issues around the green?  It's not a bad strategy to hit 6 iron off the tee, be in the fairway, and have 150ish in. I'm probably overthinking this.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Welcome to TST! Signing up is free, and you'll see fewer ads and can talk with fellow golf enthusiasts! By using TST, you agree to our Terms of Use, our Privacy Policy, and our Guidelines.

  I accept
The popup will be closed in 10 seconds...