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DRILL OVERVIEW
Beach Ball Golf Drill: Turn Together and Improve Contact
Your drill at a glance
This drill is from the Golf Practice Made Fun App.
Hold a partly deflated beach ball between your upper arms and chest to feel your arms moving with your body. Use a short backswing and follow-through to practise a smooth turn and more solid contact.
Step 1. Watch the beach ball drill
Notice the beach ball’s position at address and how the chest turns back and through during the small swing.
Step 2. Set up, turn back and turn through
Set the beach ball under your arms
Let a little air out of the beach ball so it sits comfortably between your upper arms and chest. Take your normal address with a wedge, soften your knees and place the clubhead behind the golf ball. Hold the beach ball gently rather than squeezing it tightly.
Make a short backswing
Turn your chest back and let your arms and club travel with the turn. Keep the backswing short, as shown in the second image, and keep the beach ball in place without tensing your shoulders.
Make a short follow-through
Turn your chest through the imaginary impact area and let your arms follow. Finish in the short follow-through shown in the third image, with your weight moving onto the lead leg. Keep the beach ball in place so your arms continue moving with your chest.
Begin with slow rehearsals without striking a ball. Let the club brush the grass lightly. Once the movement feels comfortable, play gentle wedge shots with the same small swing. Avoid a wrist flick or a full, forceful swing.
For a right-handed golfer, the lead leg is the left; reverse the sides for a left-handed swing.
Your cue: “Chest turns. Arms follow.”
| Watch for | Try this |
|---|---|
| Squeezing the beach ball | Let out a little more air and hold it gently with relaxed shoulders. |
| Arms moving without the chest | Slow down and feel the chest carry the arms back and through. |
| A swing that gets too long | Return to the short backswing and short follow-through in the images. |
| Thin or heavy contact | Rehearse a light brush of the grass, then try another gentle shot with a smooth turn. |
Step 3. Complete your round
What to do
| Score | When to award it |
|---|---|
| 1 point | Solid contact and a smooth body turn. |
| 0 points | The attempt does not meet that rule. |
George’s Conclusion
Keep this drill small and relaxed. The beach ball gives you a simple way to notice whether your arms and chest are moving together. Practise the turn slowly, then carry that feeling into your gentle wedge shots.
Try the Broom Golf Swing Drill or Hit Hold Check Drill for another focused contact rehearsal.
MAKE THE NEXT BUCKET COUNT
Pick a card. Practise with purpose.
