Texas Children's Houston Open

Memorial Park Golf Course



Driving

Slap Your Hand

July 22, 2012
instruction-2012-08-inar01_jim_mclean_club_release.jpg

My staff and I teach hundreds of students each year at various locations around the country. Without exception, our chief objectives are to cure the dreaded slice, stop the block and keep the lead wrist from breaking down at impact. That's because the majority of our students are afflicted with these swing faults.

We've had great success using the "slap" drill to teach students the proper release through impact; how the hands work relative to each other as the body rotates toward the target. Here's the drill: Start in a set-up position with your arms extended and hands together, palms facing each other. Swing your right arm to the top and back to the position at setup as if you were simulating a downswing. Slap your left hand over so that its palm faces up. Its knuckles should face the ground. That's the proper release through impact. Repeat the drill as many times as you need to ingrain the move.

Jim McLean, a Golf Digest Teaching Professional, is based at Doral Golf Resort & Spa in Miami.