While we’d all love to play golf every day, for most of us that’s simply not possible. The chaos of everyday life gets in the way and playing golf takes a back seat. That means that from time to time, the clubs go away for long stretches at a time.
If you’ve ever played golf after a bit of a layoff, you know that your swing often feels funky. The movements that once felt so natural suddenly feel foreign. Solid contact is rare, and finding of the center of the face feels all but impossible.
When you’re struggling to play well after a layoff, it can be discouraging. All the progress you made before the layoff seems to be for naught, and it feels like you’re back at square one.
In reality, that’s not true — you’re simply dealing with a little bit of rust. All you need to do to get back to your previous form is knock off that rust and you’ll be as good as new.
So, how can you get back into a groove after a long layoff? Former U.S. Women’s Open winner Michelle Wie West has a few drills that can help.
1. Push the ball away
The first move of your swing — the takeaway — is crucial for hitting solid shots. If you error during this initial move, you’ll be setting yourself up for failure before you even finish the backswing.
In order to get this move correct, try placing a ball directly behind your clubhead before you swing. Your goal should be to push this ball straight back during the takeaway, making sure you’re starting back on the correct plane.
“This will help you start the club back the proper way,” Wie West says.
2. Hinge then turn
Getting to the correct position at the top of your swing is another key feel to groove after a layoff. For help with this, Wie West suggests the top swing drill.
The drill is simple. All you need to do is hinge your wrists from your address position, and then turn to the top of your backswing.
“This helps you to feel the proper top position,” Wie West says.
This is a drill that is popular among lots of pros, such as Rory McIlroy and Nick Faldo, and helps make sure you are in the best position when you finish the backswing.
3. Pause at the top
Once you feel the positions you grooved during the first two drills, you can move on to the pause drill. All you need to do with this drill is make a backswing to the top and then pause for a beat before making your downswing.
“Chances are, your tempo will be super fast the first time you hit balls again,” Wie West says. “An exaggerated pause at the top will force you to slow down your tempo.”
As an added bonus, when you pause at the top, you’ll be forced to engage your core when you begin the downswing which will lead to much better sequencing and contact.
