Xander Schauffele Step Drill: Small Step, Smooth Swing

by | Indoor Golf Drills, Long Game Drills

App golfer demonstrating the step drill beside an illustrated portrait of Xander Schauffele.

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DRILL OVERVIEW

Xander Schauffele Step Drill: Small Step, Smooth Swing

Your drill at a glance

Long gameDrill category
Smoother step and swing rhythmBenefit
15 minutesPractice time
5 / 10Difficulty
A club and clear spaceEquipment

This drill is from the Golf Practice Made Fun App.

Step 1. Watch the small shuffle

Notice when the lead foot moves: the small step happens while the backswing is still being completed. Then watch the swing flow through to a balanced finish.

Watch the demonstration on YouTube.

Step 2. Step as you finish the backswing

Xander Schauffele Step Drill
The throwing example illustrates moving onto the lead side.

Borrow the rhythm of a throw

Imagine an easy overarm throw: step towards your target, then let the arm follow. Rehearse the action without releasing a ball. Notice how the step helps organise the movement.

Use that rhythm as a starting point for the golf drill. The step is small; you are exploring timing, rather than making a large lunge or trying to copy a throwing action exactly.

Make a small lead-foot shuffle

Drill stepWhat to do
1. Narrow the stanceStart slightly narrower than your normal stance. If hitting a ball, begin with it a little farther forward than usual.
2. Start the backswingTake the club away at an easy pace and let the body turn comfortably.
3. Shuffle towards the targetMove the lead foot a couple of inches towards the target as you complete the backswing. For a right-handed golfer, this is the left foot.
4. Swing throughLet the downswing follow the step and finish in balance. Reset your feet before repeating.

Try the cue “Back, step, through.” Let the lead foot settle as the backswing finishes. Avoid rushing the club down just because the foot has moved.

Keep the movement manageable

Begin with short, slow swings without a ball. If you lose balance, make the step smaller and reduce the swing length. Build towards an easy shot only when the sequence feels comfortable.

A useful repetition has a small step, a flowing swing and a finish you can hold. Judge the drill by that rhythm before worrying about distance.

Step 3. Complete 18 practice repetitions

Branded stick figure in a blue polo and golf shoes beside eighteen ticked practice boxes. One repetition. One tick.

What to do

Complete 18 step-drill repetitions. One repetition is a backswing with the small lead-foot shuffle, a swing through and a reset.

Make the first six without a ball. For the next twelve, continue without a ball or use easy shots at the range if the step feels comfortable. Keep one target and the same small step.

First nine: Complete six no-ball step rehearsals, then three more repetitions without a ball or with easy shots if comfortable. Second nine: Complete nine more with the same small step and target. Count each backswing, step, through-swing and reset once.
ScoreWhen to award it
1 pointYou complete the shot, routine or movement described above.
0 pointsYou do not complete the attempt.
Add your completed attempts for a total out of eighteen.

George’s Conclusion

George, scratch golfer and mad inventor of the Golf Practice Made Fun App, holding a phone at the range.

Keep the step small and the swing easy. Let the foot move as you complete the backswing, then swing through without rushing. Eighteen repetitions give you a clear task and a rhythm you can explore again next time.

For another movement rehearsal, try the Corey Pavin Swing Drill.

MAKE THE NEXT BUCKET COUNT

Pick a card. Practise with purpose.

Explore the Golf Practice Made Fun App: Putting, Chipping, Bunker, Wedge play, Long game, Golf fitness and Mind game.
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