Incremental Practice for Beginner Golfers!

January 11, 2018

Hi, I’m Mel Sole, Director of Instruction at the Mel Sole Golf School, headquartered at Pawleys Plantation Golf and Country Club in Pawleys Island, SC. We conduct 1, 2, and 3-day golf schools, hourly golf lessons, and senior golf schools—any type of golf instruction program your heart desires. Give us a call at 800-624-4653 or 843-237-4993. We will be happy to book a commuter school or a package that contains accommodations, golf, and golf school.

Monthly Golf Tips by the Mel Sole Golf School.

If you really want to improve your golf or just get started with this great game, do so slowly! I call this incremental practice. Particularly for a beginner who is just trying to make solid contact with the ball, this is a great drill, but even established golfers who are trying to make specific changes to their swing do so incrementally and slowly, and you will see results happening much faster than just going to the range and start banging away with a pile of balls in front of you. Make this your year for the improvement you have always been looking for!

Hi, I’m Mel Sole, Director of Instruction at the Mel Sole Golf School, headquartered at Pawleys Plantation Golf and Country Club in Pawleys Island, SC.

Start Slowly.

Start by swinging the club back about 3 feet and through about 3 feet. Feel the weight shift gently from the middle of the feet to the back foot and then to the front foot. Both arms should stay fairly straight, trying to create a V between each forearm. Maintain the V throughout this small motion.

Place a ball on a tee and repeat the small motion, including hitting the ball off the tee. The ball should not go more than 20 to 30 yards.

A Bit Longer.

Make the swing a bit longer with the lead arm moving parallel to the ground and feeling a slight wrist hinge, moving the shaft perpendicular to the ground. There should be an L shape when you are in this position. Swing through and unhinge the wrist as you swing through, brushing the grass with the clubhead and allowing the club to break upward. The follow-through should finish with the rear arm parallel to the ground, and both arms are straight.

Place a ball on a tee and repeat the slightly bigger motion, including hitting the ball off the tee. The ball should not go more than 40 to 50 yards.

Shoulder to Shoulder.

Allow the backswing to reach shoulder height. The lead arm still stays straight, but the rear arm can fold naturally. The weight should shift gently to the rear foot. Start the downswing by shifting the weight gently to the front foot, and the clubhead brushes the grass going through. The lead arm stays straight throughout the motion, and the follow-through ends with the hands now at shoulder height. At this point, all the weight should be on the front foot, and hips pointing to the target and the arms straight but relaxed.

Place a ball on a tee and repeat the slightly bigger motion, including hitting the ball off the tee. The ball should not go more than 60 to 70 yards.

Full Swing!

Allow the backswing to go as far back as you can while still keeping the lead arm straight. The rear arm should now be in the "tray position." The head has remained steady, and the downswing is started with a gentle move of shifting the weight from the back foot to the front foot. The follow-through's final position should have all the weight on the front foot, the hands over the lead shoulder, and the hips all the way through to the target. When you finish the swing, you should pick up the back foot and not lose your balance.

You have arrived! Congrats, you have completed the course of Incremental Practice for Beginner Golfers! Good golfing. Have fun!

Source: Mel Sole Golf School.

Thanks for reading - Incremental Practice for Beginner Golfers!

Monthly Golf Tips by the Mel Sole Golf School.

Start Slowly.

A Bit Longer.

Shoulder to Shoulder.

Full Swing!

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