Why Amateur Golfers Can't Stay Down & Rotate In The Downswing
Drill by JChownGolf
Why this drill works
Stuck and stall patterns often pair together: the trail side fires toward the ball, the body stands up, the arms get trapped, and impact needs a late save. These three drills quiet the trail side, block the knee thrust, and train lead-hip rotation so staying down creates space instead of forcing a block, flip, or hook.
How to do it
- 1
Drill 1 - Banked Right Foot Drill (3:14-5:07): quiet the trail/right side to prevent premature heel lift and forward thrust.
- 2
Set up with the trail/right foot rolled onto its inside edge, with pressure favoring the lead/left side.
- 3
Make practice swings while maintaining the banked foot position through the backswing and follow-through.
- 4
Use the banked foot to feel the trail/right hip staying back instead of driving toward the ball.
- 5
Drill 2 - Alignment Stick/Knee Block Drill (5:08-7:15): stop the trail/right knee from driving forward and making the player stand up.
- 6
Place an alignment stick in the ground outside the trail/right foot, about four fingers away from the trail/right knee.
- 7
Make slow controlled swings and rotate through impact without letting the trail/right knee touch the stick.
- 8
Add the feel of the lead/left trouser pocket being pulled backward to start the downswing and clear space.
- 9
Drill 3 - Belt Loop Rotation Drill (7:29-10:44): force the lead/left hip to rotate backward through the downswing.
- 10
Place an alignment stick through the belt loops, with a small amount showing on the trail/right side and more extending on the lead/left side.
- 11
Place a second stick in the ground behind the lead/left hip, about one club-head distance in front of the lead foot.
- 12
Swing down and try to make the belt-loop stick contact the ground stick at or before impact; move the ground stick farther back to increase the rotation challenge.
