In my experience, many golfers who improve the fastest don’t have access to fancy facilities. They’re the ones who practice consistently, even when weather or life gets in the way.
Most golfers think that without seeing ball flight, they can’t work on anything meaningful. They hit a few balls into the net, get bored and give up after a few minutes. Forget about ball flight for now. Focus on these seven drills and you’ll build fundamentals that translate directly to better shots when you get back outside.
1. The Alignment Stick Gate Drill (Build Perfect Path Awareness)
Set up two alignment sticks (or golf clubs) on the ground, creating a “gate” just wider than your clubhead, positioned on your target line about six inches in front of your ball. Your goal is to swing through the gate without touching either stick.
This drill forces you to pay attention to your club path through impact. You’ll immediately know if your path is off because you’ll click that alignment stick. Start with slow, controlled swings. Make 10 perfect passes through the gate before you speed up. Do three sets of 10 swings, three times per week.
2. The Impact Bag Punch (Feel What Solid Contact Actually Means)
If you don’t have an impact bag, a heavy-duty duffel bag stuffed with towels works perfectly. Set it up where the ball would be and practice punching a club into it with your hands ahead and your weight forward.
Most golfers have never actually felt a proper impact position. The impact bag removes the guessing. Set up, make a small backswing and drive into the bag with your hands leading and your chest rotating through. Hold that position for three seconds. Work up to full-speed punches but always finish by holding your impact position. Do 20 reps before every net session.
3. The One-Handed Swing Drill (Develop Real Clubhead Control)
Hit balls into your net with just your lead hand (left hand for right-handed golfers). Start with tiny swings, maybe knee-high to knee-high. Focus on making solid contact and finishing in balance.
Your lead hand controls the clubface through impact. When you remove your trail hand, you can’t muscle the club or flip at the ball. You have to use proper rotation and let the club swing. Do 10 swings with your lead hand only, then 10 with your trail hand only, then 10 with both hands together. This drill teaches clubface control, which is what actually fixes a slice.
4. The Feet-Together Balance Drill (Build the Foundation Everything Else Needs)
Hit balls with your feet touching each other. Not just close together, actually touching. This forces you to swing in balance and use rotation instead of lateral movement.
If you’re swaying, lunging or hanging back, you’ll fall over. Start with half swings and work up to full swings. Your goal is to finish every swing standing tall on your front foot without stumbling. Do this for five minutes at the start of every practice session. This drill works especially well indoors because you can focus entirely on the feeling of a balanced, rotational swing.
5. The Tempo Trainer Drill (Develop Tour Quality Rhythm)
You don’t need a fancy tempo trainer device. Just count out loud: “one” on your backswing, “two” at the top, “three” at impact. The key is making the timing consistent; the same pace every single swing.
Hit 20 balls counting out loud, focusing on making each swing take the same amount of time. Then hit 20 more without counting, trying to maintain that same rhythm. Indoor practice is perfect for tempo work because there’s no pressure. Build that rhythm in the net and it will be there when you need it on the course.
6. The Towel Drill (Stop Casting and Start Compressing)
Tuck a hand towel under your lead armpit and keep it there throughout your entire swing. If the towel falls, your arms became disconnected from your body rotation.
This drill teaches connection, the secret to consistent ball striking. Do 10 swings in slow motion with the towel, focusing on keeping it pinned with your rotation. Then do 10 at full speed. If you can keep that towel in place through impact, you’re using your body correctly.
7. The Pre-Shot Routine Rehearsal (Practice the Thing That Actually Matters)
This isn’t a swing drill. It’s a process drill. Set up to every ball in your net exactly like you would on the course. Stand behind the ball, pick a target on your net or garage wall, take a practice swing, set up with proper alignment, and execute.
Most golfers practice like they’re on an assembly line and wonder why they can’t find a rhythm on the course. Treat every ball in your net like it’s a shot that matters. Go through your full routine. You’re training your brain to execute under structure and that structure is what holds up when you’re nervous over a shot.
The Real Secret Nobody Tells You
These seven drills have nothing to do with seeing ball flight and that’s the point. Golfers think they need to see where the ball goes to improve. They don’t. They need to build better movement patterns, better awareness and better processes.
Practice these drills consistently. Twenty minutes, three times per week, all winter long. When spring comes and you get back outside, you’ll be a different golfer.
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