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DRILL OVERVIEW · LONG GAME CARD 6
Backswing Width: Rain Jacket
Your drill at a glance
This is Long Game card 6, Backswing Width: Rain Jacket, in the Golf Practice Made Easy App.
Your rain jacket can do more than keep a Welsh practice session dry. In this simple rehearsal, the lead arm stays relaxed inside the jacket while the trail hand holds the empty sleeve’s cuff. A comfortable turn gently draws the sleeve across your body, giving you a different way to feel width through the trail arm.
Titleist instructor Jason Baile credits his mentor Jack Lumpkin with teaching him this drill. It is a movement rehearsal without a club or ball, so you can focus on the turn and arm structure before returning to your normal swing.
Jump to the jacket setup, the backswing rehearsal or your round of 18 repetitions.
Watch Jason Baile’s lesson.
In this short Titleist lesson, Jason explains why his lead arm is out of its sleeve and shows how the jacket helps him feel width and a supporting body turn. The demonstration follows his explanation around 0:20.
Watch the full lesson on YouTube. The two sets of nine slow rehearsals below are our App practice adaptation.
Step 1. Set up the empty sleeve.
| Action | What to do |
|---|---|
| Choose a loose jacket | Use a lightweight rain jacket that gives you room to turn. Practise without a club or ball. |
| Hide the lead arm | For a right-handed golfer, keep the right arm in its sleeve. Leave the left arm relaxed inside the jacket’s body, out of the left sleeve. Reverse the sides for a left-hander. |
| Hold the empty cuff | Use the trail hand to grasp the fabric at the end of the empty lead sleeve. You are holding the sleeve, not the lead hand or wrist. |
| Set your posture | Take a comfortable golf stance with softly flexed knees. Let the hidden lead arm stay relaxed rather than helping to lift or pull the sleeve. |
Your cue: “One arm hidden. One hand holding the empty cuff.” Check this first; putting both arms into their sleeves changes the exercise.
Step 2. Turn back and feel the width.
| Action | What to do |
|---|---|
| Begin with the turn | Turn your chest into a comfortable backswing, letting your body support the movement. |
| Carry the sleeve with you | As you turn, gently draw the empty sleeve across your body with the trail hand. Feel width through that arm, with the hidden lead arm remaining relaxed. |
| Use a comfortable range | Keep the movement smooth and modest. Avoid yanking the fabric, locking the elbow or reaching farther than your normal comfortable turn. |
| Reset after each turn | Return slowly to your starting posture. Check your balance and grip on the cuff before beginning the next rehearsal. |
Keep the feeling simple
The aim is to notice how a relaxed lead side, trail-arm width and body turn work together. You do not need to force a large stretch or copy the exact size of Jason’s turn.
| Action | What to do |
|---|---|
| Both hands are visible | Reset the jacket so the lead arm is hidden inside its body. Only the trail hand should be holding the empty cuff. |
| You are pulling hard on the jacket | Reduce the tension and make a smaller turn. Let the body movement carry the sleeve. |
| Your balance changes | Slow down, reset your stance and reduce the turning range. |
| The jacket feels restrictive | Use a looser jacket and a smaller movement. Stop if the shoulder or back becomes uncomfortable. |
Step 3. Complete your round of 18.
| Action | What to do |
|---|---|
| First set of nine | Make nine slow backswing rehearsals. Return to address and reset the cuff hold after each one. |
| Pause and check | Rest briefly. Confirm that the lead arm is still relaxed inside the jacket and the trail hand is holding the empty sleeve. |
| Second set of nine | Repeat nine more comfortable rehearsals with the same smooth turn. Make the movement smaller if control or comfort fades. |
| Record what you noticed | Tick off completed repetitions and add a short note about the turn or arm feeling. There is no shot score or target to chase. |
In the Golf Practice Made Easy App, open Long Game card 6, Backswing Width: Rain Jacket, from My Cards. Use the 18 practice ticks to record your rehearsals and add a note about the feeling you want to remember. Review your practice in My Progress.
George’s Practice Tip.
Keep the first few turns small. Once you understand the sleeve’s feedback, remove the jacket and make three easy practice swings in a clear space. Notice whether you can retain the same comfortable width and turn without trying to manufacture a bigger backswing.
For another backswing reference, try the Three-Ball Golf Drill. To check your aim before practising, use Mark Blackburn’s Two-Stick Alignment Drill.
Lesson source: Titleist — Creating Width in the Golf Swing with Rain Jacket Drill, with Jason Baile. Jason credits Jack Lumpkin with the exercise. The illustration and two sets of nine rehearsals are our App practice adaptation.
MAKE THE NEXT BUCKET COUNT
Pick a card. Practise with purpose.
