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Pete Cowen Chalk Line Drill: Set and Release Your Wrists
Your drill at a glance
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Give your wrist action a visible task. Use a chalk line to practise setting and releasing the wrists, brushing the mat with the wedge’s sole.
Start with drawing the line, practise your wrist set, then release and brush.
Watch the Drill.
Use a suitable rubber practice mat and small, controlled swings without a ball. Allow space for the club. These instructions describe a right-handed golfer; reverse the sides if you play left-handed.
Step 1. Draw the Line
| Action | What to do |
|---|---|
| Make your reference | Draw a straight chalk line on the rubber mat. |
| Position the line | Place it beneath your shirt buttons and belt buckle, extending in front of your feet. |
Step 2. Set Your Wrists
| Action | What to do |
|---|---|
| Swing back | Make a small backswing and set your wrists. |
| Check the plane | Rehearse the shaft on a plane of about 45 degrees, as shown in the video. |
Step 3. Release and Brush
| Action | What to do |
|---|---|
| Release beneath you | Let the wrists release beneath your shirt buttons and belt buckle. |
| Brush the line | Use the club’s sole to remove the chalk. Avoid pushing the hands far ahead or releasing behind you. |
| Reset | Refresh the chalk as needed before the next attempt. |
Your 18-Attempt Challenge.
Our practice format: complete two sets of nine attempts. Each small swing counts, whether or not you remove the chalk. Pause after nine, record your score and choose one focus for the second set.
| Score | When to award it |
|---|---|
| 1 point | You brush chalk away at the line with a controlled swing and finish balanced. |
| 0 points | You miss the line, lose control or lose your balance. |
Record one total out of 18. Refresh the line whenever it becomes unclear, keeping the same setup for each attempt. Treat the chalk mark as feedback for your next rehearsal rather than a reason to swing harder.
George’s Practice Tip.
Choose one cue for the whole set: “set, release, brush”. Take a moment to look at the mark after each attempt, then reset before you continue. After nine, write down one thing that helped you repeat the routine. Carry that same cue into the second set so you have a useful comparison, rather than eighteen different experiments.
For another rehearsal, try Pete Cowen’s signature Stick Drill. You can also explore the Tennis Ball Drill.
