Practicing An In To Out Swing For Consistency

Welcome back to another installment of Golf Tips with Angel Martinez. Today, we have a special lesson focused on improving iron ball striking. For those struggling with consistency with your irons, this is a must read!

Introduction

Today, we have Riley, a new student, who has been playing golf for about 5 years. He has a background in soccer, which gives him strong legs - a great asset for golf. He has an average score ranging from the high 70s to low 80s. While he hits his woods really well, his iron ball striking is inconsistent. Angel Martinez will teach him how to be more consistent and strike the ball better.

Observations

Test shot:

 

Angel takes a look at Riley's last two shots. The first shot was pretty good, but the second one hooked left. Analyzing these shots, we see:

• Club Path: The first shot had a path of 4.5, while the second was 4.1. This slight inconsistency affects ball striking.

 

Riley has a nice swing, taking the club back well, but it travels inside as he swings, which needs refining. Angel has stated that Riley will need to focus on his impact position to achieve more consistency.

Technique Adjustments

Over the past weeks, Angel has discussed with Riley on how he tends to get stuck and jammed up, with a rounded back.

 

To improve this, we need Riley to finish with the club more in front of him. Here's the breakdown:

1. Positioning: Hold the club out in front, then bring it down into position.
2. Impact Position: Turn the hips to create the impact position, with hands forward and the club extending out in front, maintaining a straight spine.
3. Finish: Finish in a high position with the club more in front, avoiding a last-minute save and pulling in.

Practice Drill

To help Riley improve, Angel brings out an alignment stick with styrofoam in front. Here's the drill:

1. Setup: Place the noodle with the alignment stick in line with the hands.
2. Swing Path: Take the club back, create pressure on the left side, bring hands low, and extend out in front to avoid rounding the back.

This drill aims to improve Riley's attack angle, moving from zero to slightly positive, ensuring a square position down the line.

Riley's homework includes practicing this drill to maintain consistency:

1. Right Eye on the Ball: Keep the right eye focused on top of the golf ball.
2. Head Position: Ensure the head doesn't move off the ball.
3. Extension: Maintain good extension with the left arm and avoid over-swinging.

Final Thoughts

In order for Riley to remain consistent, he will need to avoid moving his head off the ball and to stop pulling the club left. He will need to practice focusing his right eye on the ball and set the alignment stick at an angle. Keeping up with this will help him stay consistent in no time!

Stay tuned for more golf tips and lessons with Angel Martinez. Until next time, keep practicing and enjoy the game!