Have you ever stopped to think why you take a practice swing? I ask my students this question all the time, and some of the answers are pretty funny.
“Bob is a good player, and he takes one.”
“I see the guys on TV doing it.”
The reality is that most golfers take practice swings just because they think they are supposed to. But your practice swing should have a purpose. One of the most valuable things it can do is help you gauge your low point (that is, where the club funds out during your swing). When the ball is on the ground, we generally want the club to hit the ball first and then interact with the turf. This means that the bottom of your swing should be go ahead of the ball
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Here’s a simple way to practice this: Take your normal practice swing next to the ball, using its position as a reference, and pay attention to where your club contacts the ground.
If you hit the ground three inches behind the ball, why did you immediately hit it? Your body is only giving you valuable feedback. Use it! Take another practice swing, recalibrate your low scoreand then settle into the same rhythm and intention.
I tend to quantify good golf using two things: low point control and green in regulation. The beauty is that one helps the other. Better control of the low point produces more consistent contact, and more consistent contact creates predictable distances, giving you a better opportunity to hit more greens and shoot lower scores.
Remember, don’t take a practice swing just because Bob. Give it a goal instead, and watch how your contact improves.
