Want more distance - Meet the Pump Drill.

April 16, 2009

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 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.

In this golf tip, Mel Sole asked the question, Want more distance? Meet the Pump Drill. This drill helps promote clubhead speed, and with practice, will help you squeeze more distance from your swing.

The Reason for the Pump Drill.

Two of the important moves in the golf swing to generate power are a lateral shift of the weight from the back foot to the front foot and a "lag" of the clubhead on the downswing. This stores up as much energy as possible to create maximum speed where it is needed. Right at the ball! My friend and mentor, Phil Ritson, taught me this drill when I first saw him in Durban, South Africa, in the mid-'60's. Phil showed me how to generate a whole lot more clubhead speed using what he at the time called "The Dagger Drill." I now call it the bump drill to make a move easier for my pupils to understand.

Start at the top of the backswing. As you start the downswing, move the hips laterally while holding the angle between the lead arm and the shaft. Stop when you get to a position where the shaft is parallel to the ground, the weight has shifted over to the front foot, and the hands are over the ball position. The clubhead should be slightly behind the hands.

From this position, go back to the top of the backswing and return to the halfway down position. Do this once more. You have now created a "pumping" motion while teaching your body a very powerful move. Again, shifting the weight and creating lag. On the 4th move, swing all the way through to full follow-through. Do this twice without a ball, and on the third attempt, put a ball there. Want more distance? Meet the Pump Drill.

No No's.

Make sure the shaft does not drop down below parallel to the ground.
Make sure the clubhead stays behind the hands at all times.

At first, I do this drill slowly as I tell my students. The slower you do this, the quicker the body learns. The first few swings should not propel the ball more than 50 yards. Start slow and soft!

https://youtu.be/NdmbA5kJsLA

Source: Mel Sole Golf School.

Thanks for watching - Want more distance - Meet the Pump Drill. I've used this drill for years in both my teaching and my own swing!

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