I see it every single day on the lesson tee. A golfer walks up, pulls a mid-iron from their bag, and proceeds to strike the ground three inches behind the ball or thin a shot that screamingly misses the green. They usually look at their clubface or complain about their swing plane, but the reality is much simpler. Most amateur struggles aren’t born in the middle of the downswing; they are rooted in the address position. Today, I want to share the one setup change that has transformed more of my students’ games than any complex swing thought ever could.

Let’s work through this together. We often get caught up in the flashy world of technology and high-speed video analysis, but the fundamentals remain the ultimate gatekeeper of your scorecard. If you are tired of inconsistent contact and want to finally feel that buttery-soft compression at impact, you don’t need a new swing. You need a better foundation. This single adjustment to your lead-side alignment is the game improvement secret you’ve been searching for to stabilize your strike and gain immediate distance.

The Power of the One Setup: Shifting Your Sternum

The key is understanding where your center of gravity sits in relation to the ball. Most golfers set up with their weight distributed 50/50 or, even worse, leaning slightly toward their trailing foot. While this feels powerful, it moves the low point of your swing arc behind the golf ball. When I talk about the one setup change that matters, I am talking about preset forward shaft lean and centering your sternum slightly ahead of the ball at address.

When your sternum is behind the ball, you are essentially asking your body to perform a miracle to get back to a clean impact position. By shifting your upper body center just an inch or two toward the target during your setup, you are pre-setting a downward strike. This is the hallmark of professional ball striking. It ensures that the clubhead reaches its lowest point after it has already made contact with the turf, creating that elusive ball-then-turf interaction we all crave.

Here’s how I want you to visualize it: imagine a plumb line hanging from the center of your chest. In your current setup, that line likely points directly at the ball or behind it. For the one setup that changes everything, I want that plumb line to point exactly one inch in front of the ball toward your target. This subtle shift ensures your weight stays internal and forward, preventing the dreaded “hang back” that causes chunks and thins.

Why This Game Improvement Tactic Works for Every Club

You might be wondering if this applies to your wedges as much as your long irons. The answer is a resounding yes. In fact, this is one of the most versatile golf tips I can offer because it standardizes your delivery. When your lead hip and sternum are stacked correctly, the radius of your swing becomes predictable. Predictability is the cornerstone of game improvement today, where we prioritize consistency over raw, uncontrolled power.

During a recent lesson with a high-handicap student, we focused entirely on this lead-side pressure. He was convinced he had a “casting” problem with his wrists. I showed him that his wrists were only casting because his body was trying to reach a ball that his setup had placed too far forward relative to his center. Once we implemented the one setup adjustment—leaning the shaft forward and centering the chest over the lead foot—his “casting” disappeared instantly. His body finally had the space to rotate properly.

The Role of Forward Shaft Lean

A major component of this setup change is the position of your hands. If your sternum moves forward, your hands must follow. At address, your lead arm and the club shaft should form a straight line that points toward your lead shoulder. This prevents the clubhead from passing the hands too early in the hitting zone. It’s a simple mechanical advantage that delofts the club and increases ball speed without any extra physical effort.

Mastering the Lead-Side Pivot

Now that we’ve adjusted the address, we have to talk about how it affects the movement. Because you are starting in a more “forward” position, your backswing will naturally feel more compact and controlled. You won’t feel the need to sway off the ball to find power. Instead, you’ll find that you can pivot around your lead leg with much more efficiency. This is a primary pillar of modern game improvement: minimizing unnecessary lateral movement.

Focus on the fundamentals of the turn. As you take the club back from the one setup position, maintain the pressure in the inside of your lead foot. You should feel like you are winding up against a sturdy post. This coiled tension is what translates into explosive speed on the way down. If you sway back, you lose the advantage of the setup. Stay centered, stay tall, and let your shoulders rotate around that slightly forward-leaning spine angle.

I often tell my students to imagine they are standing in a narrow barrel. You want to turn within that barrel without bumping the sides. By starting with your weight slightly forward, you’ve already cleared the space you need for the downswing. It’s a proactive approach to the golf swing rather than a reactive one. You are no longer fighting your own geometry; you are using it to your advantage.

Drill: The Lead-Toe Balance

If you’re struggling to feel this, try this simple drill. Set up to the ball normally, then lift the heel of your trailing foot off the ground, balancing only on your toe. This forces nearly 80% of your weight onto your lead side. Hit a few half-shots from this position. You’ll notice how easy it is to strike the ball cleanly when your center is stabilized forward. This is the extreme version of the one setup change we’re looking for, and it’s a great way to build muscle memory.

Applying Swing Principles to Your Routine

As we move further into 2026, the trend in instruction is moving toward simplicity. We are moving away from the thousand-point checklists and toward singular, impactful changes. This setup adjustment fits that mold perfectly. It’s a “set it and forget it” mechanic. Once you verify your alignment and sternum position in your pre-shot routine, you no longer have to think about it during the swing.

Incorporating this into your routine is easy. Start by standing behind the ball and picking your target. As you walk into your stance, place your lead foot first and align your lead hip over it. Only then should you set your trailing foot. This ensures your foundation is built from the target-side back, rather than just standing wide and hoping for the best. It’s these small golf tips that separate the single digits from the mid-handicappers.

Remember, the goal of game improvement isn’t just to hit one good shot; it’s to make your bad shots better. When you utilize the one setup that favors the lead side, your “misses” become thin shots that still chase up toward the green, rather than fat shots that leave you 40 yards short. That shift in your miss-hit profile is what actually lowers your handicap over the course of a season.

Conclusion: Your Path to Better Contact

Improving your ball striking doesn’t require a total swing overhaul or hours of grueling practice. By focusing on the one setup change—centering your sternum and pressure slightly forward—you create the optimal conditions for a crisp, compressed strike. We’ve covered why this works, how it stabilizes your swing arc, and how to drill the feeling into your subconscious. These fundamentals are the most reliable path to better golf in 2026 and beyond.

I want you to take this to the range this weekend and see the difference for yourself. Focus on that lead-side alignment and watch your ball flight flatten out and penetrate. Consistency is just one setup change away. Have you tried this technique before, or do you tend to keep your weight back? Let us know how it worked for you in the comments below! What’s your biggest challenge with ball striking right now? Tell us below, and let’s get your game on track together.

We have all been there. You have a tee time in forty minutes, your swing feels a bit out of sync, and you are frantically pounding a bucket of balls without a clear plan. As a PGA Pro, I see this every single day on the practice tee—golfers searching for a miracle in a bucket of 100 balls. The truth is, more volume rarely leads to better scores. What you actually need is a structured, purposeful routine that sharpens your mechanics and prepares your mind for the course.

Quality practice is about intention, not duration. In today’s fast-paced world, finding three hours for the range is a luxury most of us don’t have. That is why I have developed these 3 range drills specifically designed for the golfer on a schedule. Whether you are looking for game improvement or just a quick tune-up before your Saturday morning round, let’s work through this together to ensure every swing you take actually moves the needle on your handicap.

The Gate Drill for Pure Ball Striking

The first of our 3 range drills focuses on the most fundamental aspect of the game: center-face contact. I often tell my students that you can have the most beautiful swing in the world, but if you cannot find the middle of the clubface, it simply does not matter. This drill is designed to provide immediate, tactile feedback on your swing path and impact point.

To set this up, place two alignment sticks or even two golf tees just slightly wider than the width of your clubhead. Place your ball directly in the center of this “gate.” The goal is simple: strike the ball without touching the gates. If you tend to come over the top, you will likely clip the outer gate. If your path is too far from the inside, the inner gate will let you know immediately. This is about precision and discipline.

Why Feedback Matters in Game Improvement

The reason this works so well for game improvement is that it removes the guesswork. When you are practicing alone, it is easy to fall into the trap of “feeling” like you made a good swing when the result was actually a lucky miss. The gate drill forces your hands and brain to coordinate a neutral path. Start with half-swings using a 7-iron to get the feel, then gradually work up to full speed.

In my years of teaching, I have found that golfers who spend just five minutes on this drill develop a much higher level of “clubhead awareness.” You begin to feel where the head is in space. By the time you reach the first tee, your subconscious is already calibrated to find the sweet spot. Remember, we aren’t looking for power here; we are looking for the pure click of a centered strike.

The 9-Shot Challenge: Mastering Flight Control

Once we have established solid contact, we need to move toward shot-making. This is the second of our 3 range drills, and it is a personal favorite of mine for 2025 prep. On the course, you rarely face a perfectly flat lie with no wind. You need to be able to curve the ball and control the trajectory. The 9-Shot Challenge forces you to become a creator rather than a mechanical robot.

Here is how it works: you are going to attempt nine different shots in a row. These include a low draw, a low straight shot, and a low fade; then a medium draw, medium straight, and medium fade; and finally, a high draw, high straight, and high fade. Don’t worry if you can’t pull off all nine perfectly at first. The key is the intent. By trying to change your ball flight, you learn how your setup and swing path affect the outcome.

Technical Adjustments for Shape and Height

To hit it low, move the ball slightly back in your stance and keep your finish abbreviated. To hit it high, move it forward and let your hands finish high over your shoulder. For the draws and fades, focus on your alignment and your clubface at impact. If you want to fade it, open your stance slightly but keep the face pointed at the target. To draw it, do the opposite.

This drill is one of the best golf tips I can give for mental toughness. It prevents you from getting into a “range groove” where you hit the same club to the same target over and over. In a real round, every shot is different. By practicing these variations, you are building a toolkit that you can rely on when the wind picks up or you need to navigate around a tree on the back nine.

The Pressure-Cooker Finish

The final phase of our 20-minute session is about simulation. Many golfers can hit beautiful shots on the range but struggle to translate that to the course. This is often because the range lacks consequences. To fix this, we use the “Pressure-Cooker” drill. Pick a specific target on the range—perhaps a yardage marker or a specific flag—and imagine it is the 18th green with a career-best score on the line.

You must hit three different clubs (for example, a driver, a 6-iron, and a wedge) to three different targets. If you miss a target, you have to start the sequence over. This introduces a small but effective level of performance anxiety. It forces you to go through your full pre-shot routine: pick your line, take your breath, visualize the flight, and execute. You aren’t just hitting balls anymore; you are playing golf.

Incorporating Game Improvement Goals

As we look toward your goals for the coming year, this type of “random practice” is what separates the single-digits from the high-handicappers. It builds what we call “functional skill.” When you only have 20 minutes, spending the last five minutes under self-imposed pressure ensures that your brain stays engaged. It bridges the gap between the relaxed environment of the practice tee and the high-stakes environment of the competition.

I always tell my students: don’t leave the range until you’ve “completed” a pressure task. Even if it’s just hitting one fairway with your driver, that small win builds confidence. You want to walk to your car feeling like a winner, not like someone who just went through the motions. This intentionality is the secret sauce to rapid improvement.

Conclusion: Making the Most of Your Practice

Effective practice doesn’t require hours of your time; it requires a plan. By utilizing these 3 range drills—the Gate Drill for contact, the 9-Shot Challenge for control, and the Pressure-Cooker for realism—you can transform your game in just 20 minutes. Focus on the fundamentals, stay disciplined with your routine, and remember that every shot should have a purpose. If you commit to this structured approach, I guarantee you will see your scores begin to drop as your confidence rises.

I want to hear from you as you implement these routines. Which of these drills do you think will be the biggest challenge for your current game? Have you tried this type of timed practice before? Share your thoughts and your progress in the comments below! Let’s make 2026 your best year on the links yet.

There is nothing more frustrating in golf than a three-putt. You’ve done the hard work of getting to the green, only to give away a shot with a clumsy performance on the putting surface. The primary culprit for most amateurs? Poor speed control. In this article, we will break down a simple drill, which is an effective putting drill designed to help you eliminate three-putts by mastering your speed control. This is a fundamental putting practice that can transform your game.

Understanding the Importance of Speed Control

Most golfers focus excessively on the line of their putt. While the line is important, speed is the dominant factor in successful putting. If your speed is correct, the ball has a much better chance of falling into the hole, even if the line is slightly off. Good speed control ensures that even your missed putts leave you with a simple tap-in, taking the dreaded three-putt out of play. This putting drill is designed to train your brain and body to feel the correct distance, which is the key to consistent speed.

The Ladder, A Simple Drill: Your Path to Fewer Putts

One of the most effective drills for improving speed control is the “Ladder Drill.” It’s a simple putting practice that requires only three balls and a putter. Here’s how to set it up and execute it to perfection.

Step 1: Setting Up the Drill

Find a relatively flat area on the practice green. You don’t need a hole for this drill. Place three balls in a line, about three feet apart from each other, starting about 10 feet from the edge of the green. Your setup should look like a ladder, with each ball representing a rung.

Step 2: Executing the Drill

1.First Putt (10 feet): Start with the ball closest to you (10 feet from the edge). Your goal is to putt the ball so that it stops as close to the fringe as possible without going off the green.

2.Second Putt (13 feet): Move to the second ball. Again, your goal is to get the ball as close to the fringe as possible.

3.Third Putt (16 feet): Finally, putt the third ball with the same objective.

After you have completed the first “ladder,” retrieve your balls and repeat the process from different distances and angles. The key is to create a new challenge each time. This forces you to adapt and develop a feel for different putt lengths.

Why This Putting Drill Works

The Ladder Drill is effective because it isolates the feeling of distance. By removing the hole as a target, you are forced to concentrate solely on the speed of the putt. This helps you develop a more intuitive sense of how hard to hit the ball to cover a specific distance. Consistent practice of this drill will help you eliminate three-putts and build confidence on the greens.

Key Takeaways for Your Putting Practice

•Focus on Speed: Prioritize speed over line in your putting practice.

•Practice with Purpose: Use drills like the Ladder Drill to create a structured and effective practice routine.

•Develop Your Feel: The goal is to develop an intuitive feel for distance, which will translate to better performance on the course.

By incorporating this simple putting drill into your regular practice, you will be well on your way to becoming a more confident and consistent putter. Say goodbye to the frustration of the three-putt and hello to lower scores. What are your favorite putting drills for speed control? Share your thoughts in the comments below!