Tips for Her: Create leverage in your golf swing

*Editor's note: Each week, Megan Padua, a teaching professional at Maidstone Club (East Hampton, N.Y.) and Belfair Plantation (Bluffton, S.C.), and one of Golf Digest's Best Young Teachers, offers tips and advice for women golfers.

By Megan Padua

*For higher, straighter shots, you need leverage, and the "L to L" drill will help you create this leverage.

On the takeaway, make the shape of an L with the your lead arm and the golf club (see image, below). Here, the club is in a supported position. If you don't allow your club to set in this fashion, it'll feel heavy. It's important to keep your arm extended with your elbow pointing down toward the ground, but don't lock your arm.

From this position, let your club swing down through impact to make the mirror image, a backwards L shape on the through swing (see image, below).

Start doing this drill with your feet together and work on perfecting your L shape. When you're ready, add footwork by slowing separating your feet at address, then swinging. The letter "L" should stand for "loft" and "leverage," since loft and leverage make the ball go up in the air.