The 10 Top Downswing Drills Every Golfer Should Try
We spend a lot of time and attention on setup, the takeaway, and the backswing. However, at some point, you also need to dedicate time to the downswing.
You can set yourself to hit from the right position, but your impact will be off until you actually get the club in the right place.
If you are heading to the driving range to work on your downswing, take golf downswing drills with you. Work through these one at a time until you find the sweet spot that helps your game go to the next level.
Key Takeaways
If you don’t have time to read through these golf downswing drills right now, here are a few important concepts to remember.
- Most golfers struggle with transitioning from the backswing to the downswing, which requires a clear understanding of how to drop the golf club into place.
- Sometimes, changing the position of your hands on the club during a drill will help you forget about striking the ball and focus more on making a solid impact.
- When your wrist position at the top of the swing is flat or slightly flexed, your approach to the ball can be faster and more powerful.
- Incorporate downswing drills into your warm-up or driving range practice plan. You can do these drills at home or on the course.
Contents
1. What do you want to improve in your full swing?
10 Golf Downswing Drills to Perfect Your Swing
Separate the Hands Drill
It’s amazing how quickly you can learn in golf when you move away from the golf ball, stand with your feet together, or, in this case, separate the hands on the club. These seemingly simple adjustments to your game can help eliminate pressure and get you on the path to success.
One of the best golf drills to work on your downswing (from anywhere- home, work, range, etc.) is this hand separation drill from Worldwide Golf.
Place your hands on the grip as you normally would, and then take the club back so it’s about waist-high and parallel to the ground. Slide your trail hand down so it’s about a foot apart from the lead hand.
Take some swings like this and see how the club is supposed to work on the way down!
Motorcycle Drill
Did you know that the same move you make when revving a motorcycle is also the move you should make on your downswing in golf? Most amateur players are not aware of this concept.
The key to this drill is to help with your lead wrist position in the backswing and then again on the downswing.
Most golfers let their lead wrist get too extended. Using HackMotion and the motorcycle drill, you’ll hit longer and straighter shots with much less effort.
Rotate Drill
This Harry Shaw golf drill is a unique downswing drill that you may not have seen before. The concept is to use the legs correctly, transition your weight from trail to lead leg, and make cleaner contact with the ball.
For this one, you will want to watch the video and learn the correct steps. Our favorite thing about this one is that you can work on it both on and off the course.
Get ready to have a better idea of how the downswing works!
Over the Top Water Bottle Drill
This video from Tyler Ferrell gives you a great golf drill if you tend to swing over the top.
All you will need is a large water bottle about halfway filled with water. As you transition from the top of your backswing to the downswing, pay close attention to how the water moves.
You’ll need to keep it in the bottom of the water bottle and not let it move towards the top.
Tee in the Iron Drill
This video from JChown Golf shows a drill that Scottie Scheffler uses to improve his iron play. All you will need is a golf tee that you can put on the top of your iron. The goal here is to start to become aware of the top of your downswing by looking at where the tee is pointed when you are at the top.
Great players point this tee in the opposite direction of the target.
If you tend to get steep on your downswing, it’s likely because this position at the top is incorrect.
Towel Behind the Ball
If you are struggling to compress your iron shots, this towel behind-the-ball drill will make it much easier.
All you need to do is unclip the towel from your golf bag and place it behind the golf ball. As you make your downswing, don’t hit the towel.
You won’t hit behind the ball, and you’ll have your wrists in a better position as you make contact.
Strike Point Drill
This drill series from Tyler Ferrell will help you find the position you should be in at impact.
On the downswing if you are dropping your back shoulder or holding your weight back playing around with the strike point can help make all the difference.
This drill is best for golfers who notice inconsistency in their golf swing.
Step and Drop Drill
This video is from MeandMyGolf, but it originated from David Leadbetter. If you are a golfer who is struggling with the transition from the backswing to the downswing, this is a great drill.
You’ll also want to work on this one at home in front of a mirror. It’s easier to ensure your body, especially your head motion, is where it’s supposed to be.
By stepping into your transition, you’ll feel the proper sequence of events and be able to drop your golf club into place.
Feel vs Real Drill
We already know how important rotation is in the downswing. However, you may have underestimated it until you listen to Justin Rose explain it in this way.
In the feel vs. real drill, Rose uses as he’s on the driving range, he exaggerates dropping the club into place as the first move from the top. He keeps his weight on the back foot at this point, drops the club, and then fires through impact.
The move is exaggerated and looks off when you see it in practice. However, it works quite well once he implements it into his swing. Sometimes, the feeling we need in golf differs greatly from what happens.
Alignment Stick and Wall Drill
A golf alignment stick is a tremendous aid for working on your downswing. You’ve probably seen the standard alignment stick drills, with it sticking in the ground and keeping you from swinging over the top on the way down.
This alignment stick drill has a completely different feel. You take a backswing (with an alignment stick) and then try to drag the stick along the wall on your way down.
This drill will fix any golfer’s struggle with club positioning on the downswing.
Final Thoughts
Now, you have all the information you need to head to the driving range and start making some big changes to your game.
Incorporate backswing and downswing drills into your golf practice. Drills bridge the gap between what something should look or feel like and how you actually do it in your swing.
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