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Pete Cowen Solid Foundation Drill: Build a Stable Base
Your drill at a glance
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A stable base gives your swing something to work from. The Pete Cowen Solid Foundation Drill uses an exaggerated wide stance to help you feel balance and support as you swing a fairway wood.
Start with your stance, build your posture, then turn and strike. The wide stance is a practice exercise; carry the feeling of stability into your usual setup afterwards.
Watch the Drill.
Watch on YouTube · Academy demonstration by Jonathan Craddock.
Step 1. Widen Your Stance
| Action | What to do |
|---|---|
| Set the width | Spread your feet to at least twice your normal driver-stance width and grip down the club. |
| Choose your club | Use a fairway wood or driver. Use a level practice area and choose a target. |
Step 2. Hinge From Your Hips
| Action | What to do |
|---|---|
| Tip forward | Hinge from the hips. Imagine your belt line is the rim of a bucket and tip some water out forwards. |
| Soften the knees | Add a little knee flex and settle into a supported, balanced position. |
| Rehearse first | Make a slow practice movement before hitting a ball. Keep the stance within a comfortable range. |
Step 3. Turn and Strike
| Action | What to do |
|---|---|
| Load the backswing | Turn into your backswing while keeping your base stable. |
| Swing through | Strike the ball and let your body turn through. Aim for a balanced movement and centred contact. |
| Pause and reset | Notice your balance and strike, then rebuild your stance before the next shot. |
Your 18-Shot Challenge.
Our practice format: play two sets of nine shots with the same club and target. This session and scoring system are our additions to the academy drill. Use a manageable swing speed so you can notice what your feet and body are doing.
| Score | When to award it |
|---|---|
| 1 point | You make centred contact and finish the shot in balance. |
| 0 points | The strike is noticeably off-centre or you lose your balance. |
Record one total out of 18. After the first nine, choose one useful cue for the second set. If you have clubface impact spray or tape, use it to check the strike rather than guessing.
George’s Practice Tip.
Use the first few rehearsals to find a stance you can control. Then keep one thought for the set: “stable feet, free turn”. After your eighteen shots, return to your normal stance and hit three easy shots. Notice whether you can keep the same supported feeling without having to think about every part of your swing.
For a separate coiling rehearsal, try the Pete Cowen Spiral Staircase Drill. For feedback on unwanted sideways leg movement, try the Pete Cowen Resistance Band Drill.
