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My Pyramid Routine
I have been struggling with “how to practice” since I started golfing, and I have found a large number of methods via forums, like this site, and google. Some of the ones I have tried are: 32-ball drill, progress from wedges to driver, and the stuff like “1-hour practice routine”, etc. But none have really suited me.
While working on my backswing I stumbled upon a routine that works for me – a pyramid routine. When I was a teenager I used to do a lot of weight lifting and the main method I used was the pyramid method where you start with a low weight and progressively increase with each set the weight to your maximum then decrease back to the starting low weight. This is effectively a golf swing version of it.
I begin with chipping. I use 3 set backswing lengths: (c1) hands ahead of my trailing thigh, (c2) hands to my trailing thigh, and (c3) hands to just past my trailing thigh. I start with c1 and can only move up to c2 if the “Condition” is met, which is I have hit a minimum of 3 balls AND I am feeling comfortable with the swing (direction is pretty close to where I want it and I am not doing anything stupid like decelerating). So when I move up to c3 the “Condition” must also be met.
Next I work on pitches up to full shot. I use 4 backswing lengths (7, 8, 9, and 10 o’clock) and I also distinguish between whether my wrists fully cock or not (w or nw respectively). Even though there are technically 8 combinations I only use 6 because I was having problems with pushes for the last two options and for me they are pretty much redundant (with regard to distance). The 6 swings are: (7nw) 7 o’clock no wrist cock, (8nw) 8 o’clock no wrist cock, (9nw) 9 o’clock no wrist cock, (10nw) 10 o’clock no wrist cock, (9w) 9 o’clock with wrist cock, and (10w) 10 o’clock with wrist cock (this is my full swing). I now use the same “Condition” as above to move from c3 to 7nw, and so forth up the backswings to get to my full swing (8nw, 9nw, 10nw, 9w, and 10w).
I have now reached the top of the pyramid and must now work my way back down c1 in the same fashion that I used to come up. Since I need to use my full swing (10w) a lot during a round then I must set a higher minimum number of balls hit … I use 8 … before dropping down from 10w to 9w.
I now have a framework in which to make swing changes. For example, I have already “fixed” my overswing, wrist cock issues, narrowed my stance, and weight shift issues. I will have to continue to cement these over the winter but 8 practice sessions like this have done wonders for me.
Give it a try. Let me know what you think.
Questions?
Thanks,
Charles
While working on my backswing I stumbled upon a routine that works for me – a pyramid routine. When I was a teenager I used to do a lot of weight lifting and the main method I used was the pyramid method where you start with a low weight and progressively increase with each set the weight to your maximum then decrease back to the starting low weight. This is effectively a golf swing version of it.
I begin with chipping. I use 3 set backswing lengths: (c1) hands ahead of my trailing thigh, (c2) hands to my trailing thigh, and (c3) hands to just past my trailing thigh. I start with c1 and can only move up to c2 if the “Condition” is met, which is I have hit a minimum of 3 balls AND I am feeling comfortable with the swing (direction is pretty close to where I want it and I am not doing anything stupid like decelerating). So when I move up to c3 the “Condition” must also be met.
Next I work on pitches up to full shot. I use 4 backswing lengths (7, 8, 9, and 10 o’clock) and I also distinguish between whether my wrists fully cock or not (w or nw respectively). Even though there are technically 8 combinations I only use 6 because I was having problems with pushes for the last two options and for me they are pretty much redundant (with regard to distance). The 6 swings are: (7nw) 7 o’clock no wrist cock, (8nw) 8 o’clock no wrist cock, (9nw) 9 o’clock no wrist cock, (10nw) 10 o’clock no wrist cock, (9w) 9 o’clock with wrist cock, and (10w) 10 o’clock with wrist cock (this is my full swing). I now use the same “Condition” as above to move from c3 to 7nw, and so forth up the backswings to get to my full swing (8nw, 9nw, 10nw, 9w, and 10w).
I have now reached the top of the pyramid and must now work my way back down c1 in the same fashion that I used to come up. Since I need to use my full swing (10w) a lot during a round then I must set a higher minimum number of balls hit … I use 8 … before dropping down from 10w to 9w.
I now have a framework in which to make swing changes. For example, I have already “fixed” my overswing, wrist cock issues, narrowed my stance, and weight shift issues. I will have to continue to cement these over the winter but 8 practice sessions like this have done wonders for me.
Give it a try. Let me know what you think.
Questions?
Thanks,
Charles