Keep The 'V': A Simple Drill for Improved Body Positioning and Consistency

Golfers often struggle with maintaining consistent club and hand positioning through the impact zone during their swing. A common issue is losing the proper path down the target line that leads to erratic ball flight and inconsistent results. This simple drill focuses on building a strong foundation with your body and hands, helping you develop a reliable swing path and shot consistency. Using an alignment rod and a few key checkpoints, you can train your body to maintain a better position throughout the impact zone.

Keeping the 'V' of the arms to feel extension in the takeaway and follow through, along with maintaining the club down the target line..

Setting Up the Drill

Start by placing an alignment rod on your target line and another for your feet parallel to each other. These rods acts as a visual and physical reference to keep your fundamentals in check. Begin your swing by slowly taking the club back, but stop when your hands reach no further back than center thigh. This controlled takeaway helps you focus on the feel of upper body rotation and arm extension early in the swing.

At this point, pause and check yourself:

• Your trail elbow and wrist should be straight (No rotation of hands or bending of wrists).

• The clubhead should be just outside your hands, not inside, at this point.

• You are well balanced and feel upper body rotation

  
  

This drill will feel very mechanical and is over exaggerated.

The Importance of the 'V' Shape in Your Swing

The 'V' shape formed by your arms and hands is crucial for maintaining your extension. When your trail elbow and wrist stay straight during the takeaway, you create a stable 'V' that supports the clubhead’s position. This shape helps prevent early wrist breakdown or elbow bending, which often leads to the club head position inside the hands which leads to an over-the-top move.

By focusing on this 'V' shape, you develop a feel for the correct release and extension through the ball. This feel translates into a swing that stays on plane.

Executing the Swing Through to the 4 O’Clock Position

After confirming your takeaway position, bring your eye back to the ball and slowly swing through to about the 4 o’clock position. This means your club should finish pointing roughly in the direction of 4 o’clock on a clock face if 12 o’clock is straight up.

At this point, stop and check:

• Your left elbow and wrist should be straight.

• Your right hand should rest on top of your left hand.

• Avoid bending your left elbow.

  
  

Maintaining this position ensures you have a proper release and extension down the line. It also reinforces the feeling of the 'V' shape moving through the swing, which promotes consistency and control.

These photos show before and after practicing the 'V' drill through the impact zone.

Benefits of This Drill for Your Game

Practicing this drill regularly offers several advantages:

• Improved body positioning: The alignment rod and checkpoints help you develop muscle memory for correct posture and arm positions.

• Solid contact: By focusing on the 'V' shape and controlled swing path, you reduce erratic movements that cause miss-hits.

• Enhanced feel for release: The drill teaches you how to extend your arms properly through impact, leading to more solid contact.

  
  

Tips for Incorporating the Drill into Practice

To get the most from this drill, try these suggestions:

• Use a mirror or record your swing to visually confirm your positions.

• Start slow and focus on feeling the correct positions rather than hitting full shots.

• Gradually increase swing speed as you become comfortable maintaining the 'V' shape.

• Practice this drill during warm-ups to reinforce fundamentals before playing.

• The ball will consistently go straight with a low ball flight within the drill.