A great golf swing begins long before the shot. Actually, yours take away food — The first move you make in your move — sets the foundation for everything that follows. Nail this initial swing, and you’re more likely to keep the club on plane, maintain a stable face, and rotate your body in the proper sequence that later translates to power and speed.
Christine Wang, currently fifth on the Epson Tour in Greens in Regulation, knows this better than most. In a recent conversation about her iron game, Wang credited much of her success on approach shots to the time she has spent perfecting her game.
Wang explained that, at first, she had a tendency to get hung up too quickly while taking food. This caused her swing to flatten out and go off plane, making it difficult to maintain proper tempo, alignment and square her face at impact.
“It’s a lot harder to time your face on the square when you’re not heading straight (to the plane) already,” she said.
To correct this error and get her swing back on plane, Wang turned to a simple yet highly effective drill that helped fine-tune this important part of her swing.
Two-ball catch drill
You’ve probably seen the two-ball drill Wang relies on to keep it moving on track. It’s simple and only requires a club and two golf balls:
Step 1: Create a “gateway”. Place one ball in your normal hitting position and the second a few inches behind it, leaving enough space for your club to move freely between them.
Step 2: Oscillation. Assume your normal stance and setup, then slowly swing the club — halfway through or even at the top of your backswing. The clubhead should push the second ball along the path of your swing.
This gives instant feedback on your intake. If the ball rolls straight back—or along a slight arc—you’re on track.
“Maybe it won’t go straight back, because your body is moving in an arc,” says Wang, “but as straight as it can.”
If the second ball rolls too far in (toward your body), it usually means you’re swinging too early or driving the club too far. If it barely moves, your delivery may be too far out (away from your body).
As you practice, you should start to notice it getting better. One key thing to remember: it’s really only about the first two feet after the second ball. No need to accelerate the ball or push it away from your body – focus on the path, not the distance.
Wang says this drill remains a staple in her practice sessions to this day. While she may not use it as often as she once did, she says it’s a great tool whenever her swing feels off.
Beyond helping you identify problems in your take, the drill also builds confidence and assures you that your swing is on track before you make contact with the ball.
