MyGolfSpy Drill Of The Week: The Start Line Stick

When something goes wrong on the range, most of us look at where the ball ended up and start guessing about what caused it. This week's drill has you look at where the ball starts. I've worked on this drill and I like it because it can be tweaked depending on the level of player you are. If you'd rather watch how it works, the video from YouTube golf instructor Scott Stiles is below.

How it works

This drill needs one alignment stick and any club. It's written for right-handed golfers so lefties should flip left and right.

1. Pick a target on the range.
2. Push an alignment stick into the ground about 10 feet in front of your ball on your target line.
3. Hit a few shots that start to the right of the stick and then a few that start to the left. Move your aim to do it. The face has to point where you want the ball to start.
4. Start with short, chip-style swings and then work up to full shots.
5. If you can't start the ball on one side, adjust where the face points at address before you change anything in your swing.

Why it's worth your time

There are a lot of reasons I like this drill. Some of them include:

• Face awareness: The face has the biggest say in where the ball starts and the stick shows you what yours is doing.
• Instant feedback: You aren't thinking about swing positions. You just see whether the ball did what you asked.
• Start line control: Picking a side and hitting it is how you stop hoping and start steering.
• Curve control: Once you can start the ball where you want, bringing it back to the middle is the next step.
• Longer clubs: The less loft on the club, the more the face direction matters so the drill gets more useful as you move up to the driver.

Mistakes to watch for

Make sure you change your aim when you hit to the left or the right of the stick. Start small with the chip shots until you see some progress and then move to the bigger swings. Remember, this is a feedback drill where you learn about your start line.

Who it's for

This drill works for every handicap level and you can adjust it to fit your game. If you slice, start the ball left of the stick first. That forces you to close the face which is exactly what you need to feel. Once you can start it on both sides, try aiming right and letting the ball curve back toward the stick. Better players can use the stick to work on shaping shots, starting the ball on one side and bringing it back to the middle or calling the shot before they hit it. It's a common drill for good players and pros and it grows with you.

My take

What I like most about this drill is that it takes my mind off the club and my swing positions and gives me a job to do. If someone hands me a job, I can do it. "Start the ball on this side of the stick" is a much clearer task than "get the club into this position or that one" and it's one I can judge. The stick gives me a place to send the ball so I'm not thinking about how the club gets there.

It also carries over to the course. Once you've practiced it, you can pick a start line and see the ball leave on it which makes it a really good visualization tool. Give it a try on the range this week and let me know what you think.