The driving game: Flag whip drill

Dan Frost is a leading golf coach and gives golfers of all ability the chance to improve their games by offering free, first golf lesson to all golfers.

Frost uses innovative coaching and video analyses to help break down golfers problems. As well as this, he has his own Youtube channel featuring hundreds of golf instruction and tip videos.

Here he shows us how to use the flag whip drill to increase your power and club head speed in your golf swing.

The swing

Ben Hogan used to say he wished he had three right hands when it came to the act of striking a golf ball. Jack Nicklaus said he used to focus on winding up and then swishing the ball away…

The fact is, the great players in the game are never shy when it comes to giving the ball the treatment through impact. And the right-hand whip is the key to achieving just that.

When you look at the overall shape and dynamics of the golf swing, no great player goes from narrow to wide.

Look at any of todays superstars. They all create width in the backswing and unwind with the natural dynamics as the body re-rotates towards the target. The arms fall into the classic hitting position, wrists ‘loaded’ until the last moment.

Flag whip drill

I promise you that if you can find 10 minutes a day, three times a week, swishing this in the back garden will improve your club head speed.

The key is to create width and wind up on the way back. Then transition smoothly and then let rip with the right hand swish.

Two things to bear in mind. First, keep the grip pressure fairly weak. You want the feelings that the hands are passive until a split-second before impact when you pour on the power with the right hand. Second, you will hear the sound of a good swing.

The swish of air will tell you when you’ve made a good swing. And as you develop your instincts, you will recognise the optimum release point and maximise your speed where it matters most.