If you’re like me, a good swing tip is a great way to turn over a new leaf and start playing the type of golf you want.

Whether it’s a simple positioning of your back foot or even a new mental thought, these little changes and tips help guide us into being much better players.

For those looking for more power, a crisp strike, and much more carry distance, the reverse K setup in golf is worth trying. Rory McIlroy loves this concept, and it’s something simple that you can implement today.

What is The Reverse K Setup in Golf

The reverse K setup in golf is a way of positioning your lower and upper body at setup to help improve overall ball flight and power. Although this setup is mostly preferred with a driver in the hands, the best players can learn how to benefit from the reverse K to hit shots with any club in their bag.

Here are the steps to get into a reverse K position…

Step 1: Take Your Typical Stance

Start by taking a standard golf stance where your hips and shoulders are square. For most golfers, with the right hand being lower than the left on the club, there is a bit of a dip of the right shoulder as it is lower than the left.

Step 2: Bump The Hips

One of my favorite things about this reverse k setup is how easy it is to get into. The key here is to simply take your hips and bump them slightly toward the target. If your original golf setup looked a bit like the letter K, you should not be able to see how it looks like a backward K.

The legs are the base of the K with an angle that is now pointing towards your target as opposed to away from it. The upper body is the top portion of the K and has a tilt opposite the lower body.

When you get into this reverse K position, expect that your lower body will have much more power and strength.

Step 3: Use The Legs As A Base For Support

Players like Rory McIlroy have switched to this reverse K setup because they notice how much extra power they get pushing off the legs. One of the most critical scientific forces in the game of golf is torque.

Torque and this extra resistance in the lower body give you something to push off of as you get through the golf ball. If you want that big bomb off the tee, with plenty of carry distance, high ball flight, and very little backspin, this is certainly the way to do it.

Step 4: Analyzing The Golf Bag

As with any other swing change or tweak in the game of golf, there are a few things you must clarify before implementing this throughout the golf bag.

The first thing to remember here is that you can’t over exaggerate the spine tilt, or you can get to a point where it becomes challenging to get the weight off the back foot. In addition, this address position will change a bit depending on which club you have in your bag.

With a driver in your hand and a slightly wider stance, the reverse K setup is very easy to get into and extremely effective. The tendency to sway and incorrectly transfer your weight is significantly reduced. In addition, players actually find it easier to get off their back leg and transfer weight.

However, as you move down through the bag into the irons and wedges, the amount of tilt that you want in the setup is usually a bit less. An excellent iron shot does require a descending blow with the golf club, and if you get a bit too low with the right shoulder, that becomes hard to do.

Try to take videos or pictures of your posture, stance, and set up, and then analyze them to see if you have maybe taken the concept a bit too far.

Pros of The Reverse K

The reverse K setup is used primarily to get golfers more power and distance in the swing. In the example of Rory McIlroy, we know he is not the biggest player on tour, but he can certainly hit it just as far as the big guys.

Rory chalks that up to the reverse K and the impact that it has had on his golf game.

When I tested this, I liked how easy it was to get into the position. It gave me a place I felt comfortable and could easily repeat time after time. Setting up on the tee box in the reverse K position really takes less than a second, but it can become a significant part of a pre-shot routine.

One thing that worried me was the ability to push off of that right side and get to the left. The tilt felt as though it might keep me back on the right side. However, after experimenting with this, it was actually quite the opposite.

The turf was much more efficient, and in return, the overall distance and ability to jump off that right side were greatly improved.

• Increases overall power and ability to push off of the right side
• Easy position to get into
• Higher ball flight
• Less backspin on the driver
• Feels powerful when in the position before swinging

Cons of The Reverse K

As with any swing change, problems can always come up. Some of the negatives of the reverse K have to do with pre-existing issues in your golf swing. For instance, some players that are not good at releasing their hands will find that the reverse k creates a larger slice.

It’s good to understand that some positions in golf are there to help us create more power and others are for accuracy. The reverse K is more of a power move. It’s not going to cause you to be inaccurate, but if accuracy is already a problem in your game, it’s something to be aware of.

You still need to ensure your lower and upper body are working together and that you know how to release the golf club. Things like clubface angle, spine angle, and spine tilt can be easily exaggerated, so pay attention to how you get into the reverse K setup and ensure you are not overdoing it.

• Some golfers will exaggerate the concept and get into a wrong position
• The higher ball flight is not always better
• Not as great for irons and wedges as it is for driver swing
• Still need to ensure you push off your lower body at impact

Final Verdict – Should You Use The Reverse K Setup?

The reverse k setup is a swing tip that has proven effective on the PGA Tour. When professionals use it, it’s hard to question whether or not it is effective. The bottom line is that we know the reverse K is effective; it’s just a matter of whether or not it will work for your game.

For golfers seeking higher ball flight, more carry, and distance off the tee, the reverse K setup makes sense. It’s a bit easier to work with in the driver and fairway woods than it is in the irons and wedges.

Start with this concept on the range. Give your hips a little bump towards the target and see how that impacts the ball’s flight and distance that you can obtain.

When I implemented this into my driver swings, I absolutely saw the difference and why golfers have decided to use it.

Brittany Olizarowicz

Britt O has been playing golf since the age of 7. Almost 30 years later, she still loves the game, has played competitively on every level, and spent a good portion of her life as a Class A PGA Professional. Britt currently resides in Savannah, GA, with her husband and two young children.

Source link

3-putts are the bane of an amateur’s existence. Even with accurate approach shots, the putting green is where it falls apart for casual golfers.

This is due to poor alignment and speed control. This issue prompted me to compile a list of practical lag putting drills to improve your putts per round record.

The drills listed below are ideal for successfully navigating enormous greens. This allows you to confidently get your ball to within a few feet for a 2-putt tap-in. If you hit the green in regulation, that gives you an easy par.

In addition, these exercises improve your alignment to help you judge breaks on longer putts.

1. Measuring Tape (The longer the putt, the longer the backstroke)

When I started playing golf, I was told that the strength of my putt depended on my follow-through and not the backswing. As a result, I took the putter back the same distance for every putt, causing me to leave longer putts short of the cup.

It did not take me long to recognize this flaw, and I adjusted the backstroke accordingly. My coach employed a measuring tape and helped me mark the required backswing length for each distance. Over time, it became like second nature to send the putter head back the desired span for a 5, 10, 20, or even 40-foot putt.

How To Do The Measuring Tape Drill

Pick a target, and set up three balls each 5, 10, 20, 40, and 60 feet from the cup. Next, extend the measuring tape to 30-inches, and lock it. This measurement covers the length of your stroke for the different distances.

Roll putts from 5 feet, and get a friend to mark the top of your back putting-stroke on the measuring tape. Record the distance for future reference. Proceed to strike 10-footers and follow the same procedure. Follow this up with 20, 40, and 60-feet putts.

Once your backstroke lengths are determined, return to the 20-foot marker, and take out the measuring tape again. Lock it on the measurement of your backstroke to guide you. This helps you produce the required launch on your takeaway for optimal distance control.

2. Feel The Speed

I saw Phil Mickelson run through this putting drill, which helps you gain a better feel for long putts. This trains you to induce a desirable backstroke length and optimal power on the downstroke for improved speed control:

Phil suggests that you produce the same quantity of energy on your follow-through for each shot. This adds an element of consistency to your strokes. The only variable is the length of your backstroke.

How To Do The Feel The Speed Drill

Lefty does this drill from 40, 50, and 60 feet. Now, as a professional, the greens he putts on are substantially longer than the ones you and I are accustomed to. Therefore, I suggest starting at 20 feet before progressing to 40 and 50 feet.

Place 5 balls at each distance mark, and hit putts to your target. I recommend identifying a spot on the green rather than a specific hole for this exercise. Repeat the task from that range if you do not card a 100% success rate. After succeeding from 20 feet, move on to 40 and finally, 50 feet.

3. Manilla Folder

Long straight putts are difficult to judge as is. However, it enhances the challenge of speed control when you add a downhill slope to the equation. Insufficient pace leaves you with a downhill second putt, risking a bogey.

Conversely, the excess pace could send your ball hurtling to the fringe of the green. You want the ball to trickle down to the cup, leaving you with a simple tap-in for par. The manilla folder drill helps you judge speed precisely.

The idea is to stop the ball on the folder as if it were the top of a slope. Gravity takes over from this point and guides the ball towards the flagstick.

How To Do The Manilla Folder Drill

Identify a point on the green to place the folder, and then measure at 20, 40, and 50-feet intervals. Set 5 balls up on each mark and commence from 20 feet away. Produce 5 successful lag putts that stop on the folder before moving onto the 40-foot setup.

4. Gate Putting Drill (Accuracy)

The first 3 drills revolved around vital speed control. But, if your putter face is not square through impact, it sends your ball off line from the beginning. Therefore, you stand no chance of sinking your putt. The gate putting drill encourages you to square the putter face up at contact to send your ball on your intended line.

Tiger Woods applied this drill to his warm-up routine on the practice green. He placed two tees parallel to each other, approximately 2-inches in front, forming a gate marginally wider than his putter head. He aimed to send the ball through the gate to induce a straight roll.

As a right-hand golfer, he would pull the ball left of the cup if his putter face was closed at impact. On the contrary, his ball would miss right if he left the face open at contact.

How To Do The Gate Putting Drill

Insert two tees into the ground 2 inches ahead of your golf ball. The tees should sit parallel to one another, forming a gate structure. Employ this practice routine 20, 40, and 50 feet away from the hole, working on your accuracy from that distance.

Your mission is to get the ball to within a radius of 3 feet of the hole, ensuring a tap-in 2-putt.

5. Judge The Speed Of The Greens

The challenge amateurs have with lag putting is determining the quantity of force to strike the golf ball with. I recommend employing this putting practice drill in your pre-round preparation. It gives you a feel for the layout of the greens and what you can expect for that day.

Instead of picking a specific hole on the green, putt from one end to the other, watching the break and speed of your roll. If your ball flies off the other side of the green, you need to dial the pace down. Contrarily, short putts require extra oomph to get the ball across the dancefloor.

How To Do The Judge The Speed Drill

Place 5 golf balls on one end of the green, and putt the ball to a designated target on the other side. Stroke the 5 balls and pay attention to the consistency of the roll and the break. The aim is to stop the ball within a 3-feet radius of your target for optimal distance control.

6. In The Zone

In the Zone is one of my best putting drills that adds purpose to your training routine. It gets you into the mindset of stopping your first putts within a 3-feet radius around the cup. However, it also encourages a confident stroke to reduce your risk of leaving a putt short.

I like this drill because it helps you determine your progress by scoring each putt. Your overall mission is to score as many strokes under par as possible, putting from different distances.

Ultimately, this exercise is built to promote confident putts that roll past the hole rather than being left short.

How To Do In The Zone

Grab an alignment stick and position it 3 feet past the hole, then measure intervals of 20, 40, and 50 feet from the flag. Next, place 5 balls at each interval, and prepare to putt.

Start with the closest 5-balls. Every time you sink a putt, it counts as a birdie. But, if you leave it short or blast it further than 3-feet past the cup, it results in a bogey. Tally up your score from the first distance and proceed to the 40-foot mark, and finally, try your luck from 50 feet out.

Once you have putt all your balls, count your overall score. Then repeat the drill to try to improve your personal best score.

7. Leave It Below The Hole

As an amateur, you never want to leave yourself a downhill tester for par. There are too many factors to consider that can cause you to miss the putt and card a bogey. That is why you want your second putt uphill whenever possible.

It is easier to hit a firm, uphill putt than judge the distance of a rapid downhill roll. The leave it below the hole drill helps you judge your strikes to perfection to trickle the ball down to the hole for an easy tap-in.

How To Do Leave It Below The Hole

Hire the services of your trusted alignment stick and place it 3-feet past the cup. Sit 5 balls down on the green at the 20, 40, and 50-foot mark, and stroke the ball. The idea is to stop your golf ball between the cup and the alignment stick, encouraging an easy 2-putt from far out.

You must not progress to the 40-foot mark until all 5-balls are 3-feet below the cup. You must possess a perfect record before continuing.

Matt Stevens

Matt Callcott-Stevens started playing golf at the age of 4 when Rory Sabattini’s father put a 7-iron and putter in his hand. He has experienced all the highs and lows the game can throw at you and has now settled down as a professional golf writer. He holds a Postgraduate in Sports Marketing and has played golf for 28 years.

Source link