Three Easy Drills Using Just Golf Tees
By Matt Keel
In learning to play golf, drills, and training aids are an essential part of the learning process. With so many training aids in the market, it is difficult to decide which training aids are best for you. In addition, training aids can also be expensive and difficult to use. This article will show you three drills you can use for your swing, chipping, and putting using just golf tees.
One essential element in the golf swing is the club path. The club path refers to the path you swing the club on the downswing and through the swing. Most students I teach (assuming they are righthanded golfers) show up with an over the top club path which swings out over their target line and then too far left and inside of their target line after impact. A much more effective club path swings from inside the target line on the downswing and swings outside the target line or out to the right on the through swing. You can use just a tee to help you create this inside to outside club path. Place a tee about five inches in front of the ball on a diagonal toward you. Refer to Figure #1 to see where to place the tee. Next, make your full golf swing is hitting the ball while swinging the club around the tee to an excellent finish. Make sure that you miss the tee. Repeating this drill in practice will help you start creating an inside to outside club path.
When chipping or pitching, the common flaw I see in my students to create lift is the inclination to scoop the ball up in the air versus hitting down on the ball. When you try to scoop the ball in the air, you impact the ball on the upswing and create top spin. Top spin will keep the ball on the ground and cause the ball to roll out. When you impact the ball in a downward motion, you will create backspin, causing the ball to go in the air and stop in the green. Using just a tee, this drill will help you to hit down on the ball. First, place a tee in the ground, so the top of the tee is flush with the ground. Next place the ball behind the tee. Refer to Figure #2 to see how to set up this drill. Next, make your regular chip or pitch shot and try to hit the tee out of the ground. Hitting the tee out of the ground when you hit the ball will ensure that your club is traveling downward when you hit the ball.
When you are reading a putt, you want to consider both distance and direction. Most of the students I see focus more on the line or direction of the putt instead of emphasizing on the distance of the putt. Once you can manage your putting distance, you will start eliminating 3-putts and begin making more putts. The following drill will help you control your putting distance from 10-, 20- and 30-foot distances using just three tees. First, place tee #1 ten feet from the hole. Next, place tee #2 four inches behind tee #1 in line with the hole. Third, place tee #3 six inches in front of tee #1 in line with the hole. Finally, place the ball just forward of tee #1 while lining up the putter face with tee #1. See Figure #3 to set up this drill. To execute this drill, start with the putter face at tee #1. Swing the putter face back to tee #2 and follow through to tee #3. This putt should travel about ten feet. For a 20-foot putt, add four more inches between the tees and add eight more inches between the tees for a 30-foot putt. This drill will help you control your putting distance much better.
The golf market is flooded with all the latest and greatest training aids. You can often get the same results using much simpler aids that are readily available. Before purchasing a new training aid, try using a tee first.
Wildfire Golf Academy is offering summer lesson packages for golfers of all skill levels and experience. Contact Matt Keel for more information.
Matt Keel is the Director of Instruction at Wildfire Golf Club located at the JW Marriott at Desert Ridge Resort and Spa. For any questions or information about golf lessons or programs, email Matt at Mattkeel@pga.com or visit www.Mattkeelgolf.com.
