The 9 o’clock Drill is a clubface-control drill, with speed generation baked in. It starts at the takeaway position, where the shaft is at 9 o’clock—or shaft parallel to the ground, around high high. Set the the clubface close, open, or square, then swing through to finish. Inspired by the John Rahm Drill, this shorter swing (and paused position) helps train face direction while also learning that speed is created from the ground up.

Use this with all your clubs, starting with wedges.

Instructions—

1. Without a ball, start your backswing and stop at shaft parallel, about hip high.

2. Set the clubface closed.

3. From that paused position, swing through to finish, then return to that shaft parallel position.

4. Repeat, in perpetual motion, until you feel the motion of a closed face moving from shaft parallel to finish.

5. Set up to a ball.

6. Swing with the same feel. The ball should start left.

If you successfully start the ball left, move on to an open face to start the ball right. Then a square face to start the ball between your left- and right-starting balls.

Move on to other clubs.

Note—

It is important to do the rehearsal in perpetual motion. Less thinking, more feeling. Also visualize the ball flight.

the goal is to connect the feel of the release with the picture of the shot. Practice it enough, and the swing has a better chance of showing up in competition without needed a full instruction manual at impact.