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Rip One Golf- Golf Instruction, Golf Coaching, Golf Classes and Golf Lessons in Austin, TX

Garry Rippy Golf offers golf lessons, golf coaching, golf instruction, golf classes and golf schools in Austin, TX. This blog contains golf instruction articles, golf tips and golf instruction videos by Garry Rippy, PGA.

Wednesday, August 18, 2021

Student Juan Martinez Correcting “Over the Top”

This is one of my students, Juan Martinez, working on correcting his “over the top” downswing.  In this picture note how the divots are all headed outside to in causing slices to the right.

We performed a series of drills utilizing a hula hoop and alignment rods.  The majority of the drills did not involve striking a golf ball but focus was on developing the correct feel for an on plane golf swing.




Once he performed the drills and he felt he had the correct feel in his mind we brought the ball back into the equation.  We used the training aid for a few swings to make sure he stayed on plane.


In the following photo note the divots are much straighter.  With a short iron he was hitting it solid and straight!  It’s still a work in progress but with more practice he will see better results with all of his clubs.










Tuesday, August 17, 2021

Stay Connected for More Consistent Shots



      This drill can help you if you tend to over swing on the backswing or allow the elbows to separate either in the backswing or finish (chicken wing).   Secure a towel under your arms and keep it in place while you hit balls.  I recommend starting with a short iron and making half swings.  As you progress you can make full swings.  In general this will make your backswing feel more compact and help you rotate your torso better to the finish.  My mantra for this drill is “rotate and hinge the wrists, then rotate to target and re-hinge the wrists”.


Find the Low Point of your Iron Swing

This drill, which is performed in a bunker, will help you find the low point of your iron swing. Start by drawing a line in the sand.  I press the rake handle into the sand and it makes a perfect line.  Make a few half swings with your right hand only.  Grip down so the club isn’t too heavy and set up with the right hand slightly in front of the ball.  The goal is to strike the sand slightly in front of the line and maintain the wrist angle you had at address.  The next step is to repeat this action with the left hand only.  Set up with the left hand slightly in front of the ball.  The goal is to strike the sand slightly in front of the line and maintain wrist angle you had at address.  Now repeat the same motion and set up with both hands on the club.  If you are inconsistent in sticking the sand in front of the line you may need to make the swing smaller until you have success.  The last step is to place a ball on the front edge of the line and strike the ball with both hands on the club.  Your divot should be in front of the line if you struck the ball first!  

This bunker is a combination green side bunker and fairway bunker so I could hit 100 yard shots while performing this drill.  If you only have a greenside  bunker to practice this, then you wouldn’t hit a ball.  Also keep the swings smaller so you don’t excavate all the sand out of the bunker.  

When you return to the practice tee you should now be able to strike the ball first, then take a divot.  


Improve your Angle of Attack for Solid Iron Shots

The goal in any iron swing is to strike the ball then the turf.  This is accomplished with a descending angle of attack.  If you tend to hit behind the ball or hit the ball thin, this is a perfect drill to help you learn to strike the ball first.  Use a 9 iron and place a towel 5” behind the ball.  Make a half backswing and let the left hand lead the club to impact.  At the finish, your left arm and club should be in alignment.  If you hit the towel before the ball, your left hand wasn’t leading, in other words your low point was behind the ball.  When you perform this drill successfully the contact will feel great and the ball will fly straight to the target.