Phil Michelson Move Drill: Booming Drives

I added the Phil Michelson Move Drill to the Golf Practice Planner today because Phil just won the PGA Championship (2021) at the longest golf course in major championship history, and is the oldest winner of a major championship in history (almost 51 years old).

Name
Phil Michelson Move Drill

Category
Long Game Practice Drills

Difficulty
3 out of 10

Time
15 minutes

Props
Any golf club. Golf ball. Golf Practice Planner.

Overview
The Phil Michelson Move Drill will teach you to unleash the release. It is something you will definitely want to adopt into your swing. You’ll start hitting more “hellacious seeds” (as Phil likes to call his booming drives).

Steps

Step 1: Watch
Watch the video below.

Step 2: Hands Opposite Trail Thigh
When the “shaft is parallel” to the ground in the downswing, your hands should be approximately opposite your “trail thigh” (see image below). If you’re doing this at home, use a mirror so you can see the correct position.

Most amateurs will have their hands back behind the hips (see image below).

It’s now important to know what happens from the “hands opposite the trail tight” to just past impact.

Impact
At impact, Phil is “lined up” at impact (see image below). His shaft is in a perfect line with his lead arm.

Just Past Impact
Just past impact, Phil already has his shaft pointing back at the middle of this body (see image below). Every great player gets into this position. Yet 99% of amateurs try not to get into this position because they think it’s wrong.

Amateurs try to “hold on” and over-control the post-impact. Pros, on the other hand, release and unleash from the “hands opposite trail thigh” position.

Give yourself permission to release as much as you possibly from the “hands opposite trial thigh” position. You will need to feel like you are throwing the clubface. It will feel crazy to you. You’ll feel completely out of control. Just go with it, and before long you’ll release that the less you try to “hold” the face off, the longer and straighter you’ll hit the ball.

Step 3: Competitive Practice
Spend 5 to 15 minutes doing the Phil Michelson Move Drill. If you’re doing this at home, use a mirror so you can see the correct positions.