Over the next few weeks, I’ll be breaking down three practice drills I regularly use with Jase Summy, a standout at the University of Oklahoma and a 2025 Walker Cup selection. While Jase competes at the highest level of amateur golf, the drills themselves are built on simple ideas (connection, balance and control) that apply to players of any skill level.
Each drill is designed to slow practice down just enough to improve awareness and repeatability, helping movements hold up when the swing speeds up. The goal isn’t to copy an elite player’s swing, but to understand how top players train — and how everyday golfers can borrow those same principles to improve consistency.
At the highest level of amateur golf, improvement isn’t about making constant swing changes. It’s about training movements that stay reliable when the pressure rises. That’s something Jase understands well.
What often surprises people watching elite players train is how simple their work looks. Instead of chasing speed or perfect positions, the focus is on connection, balance and control, the qualities that allow their best swings to show up naturally in competition.
One exercise Jase uses regularly involves a light resistance band. It doesn’t add power or force positions. Its job is to provide feedback, helping improve sequencing as the body and arms move together instead of working independently.
The resistance band connection drill
This drill promotes better connection, balance and sequencing by encouraging your arms and body to work together in the backswing. You will feel a deeper and larger shoulder turn as the band will help add more rotation. The resistance band will provide instant feedback.
When the swing stays connected the band remains quiet and supportive. When the arms work independently or the transition gets rushed, the band will react. The drill will give you great feedback on if you are getting a full turn behind the ball while staying connected.
Setup
Take your normal stance with a short or mid-iron. Next, loop a light resistance band around your lead arm and behind your back (as shown). The band should sit comfortably, not tightly, and should allow a full unrestricted swing. If the band feels restrictive at address, it’s too tight.
Before swinging, make a slow rehearsal motion to ensure the band stays engaged without pulling; you will feel connected. If the band feels overly tense, you may need a lighter band. The feedback should feel subtle.
Execution
Make a smooth, three-quarter backswing. Begin with a smooth takeaway allowing the arms and torso to move together. The backswing should feel compact and controlled, stopping at the three-quarter backswing position. Avoid the sensation of any lifting or rushing. The band should feel present but quiet.
Swing through at about 70-80 percent effort, focusing on staying balanced, resisting the urge to add additional speed. Finish with your chest facing the target and your weight balanced over the lead leg and the band still lightly engaged. Hold the finish for two seconds. If you can do that comfortably you are well on your way to better swings.
What you should feel
The resistance band will provide immediate tactile feedback. If the arms separate from the body or the swing loses the connection, the band’s tension signals this to the golfer. This type of feedback helps accelerate the learning.
The band will also help promote a full shoulder turn which will generate more power and help maintain the proper swing plane. Swinging at 70-80 percent and holding the finish will help golfers train their bodies to move in the correct sequence and to be able to hold the finish will also help aid in efficiency and help ingrain a controlled swing.
Why it works
Elite players like Jase use simple tools like this to train movement, not mechanics. When competition speeds everything up, the body naturally returns to what it has practiced most. This is why focusing on connection, balance and control during practice pays off when it matters the most.
The value of this drill isn’t the band itself. It’s more about what the band can reveal or confirm. By using the band, it can reinforce connection and helps reveal if you are (or are not) implementing enough turn in your backswing with your upper body.
Elite players like Jase use this simple exercise to build trust in their movement, knowing that when pressure arises, the body will trust what it has practiced the most. For everyday golfers, the goal is a bit different but still useful: train connection and let consistency replace effort.
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