Catching raindrops

September is here and in some parts of the world this also means the weather may turn, from summer sun to Autumn winds and rain. In the UK it rains a fair bit throughout the year.

So does catching raindrops interest you?

Catching raindrops does not interest too many people, But what if I told catching raindrops could could improve your ball striking and ball fight.

Interested now?
If you are a golfer who is inconsistant with their ball striking and has a ball flight that begins right of the target and finishes further right this is just for you.

Understanding the correct motion of the left forearm and left hand in my opinion is pivotal to good golf.


Lets learn the correct left forearm, left hand and club face movement through impact.
Its a movement based around rotation.

Hold your left arm/hand out in front of you at approx waist level. Imagine shaking hands with someone with your left hand.

Now rotate your left arm from the elbow so your palm is facing the sky. A position where you could catch raindrops.



Now take your left hand grip on a short iron. Once again hold the left arm and now club out in front of you at waist level. If your left hand is well positioned on the handle your palm will face away from the target. The leading edge of the club head should be vertical.

Now begin to rotate from the elbow, again the palm should again point to the sky as if you could catch raindrops, and the club face should point to the ground. Try and keep the relationship between the back of the left hand and left forearm the same. i.e there should be no significant hinging . In reality the back of the left hand and the left forearm should be very nearly aligned together. The rotation movement should be forearm and hand rotating together in unison.

Now your ready for gentle swings.Hold the club in your left hand and at waist level, so the shaft is parallel to the ground. Your spine should be vertical for this exercise. I do not want any forward bend from the hips yet. Gently rotate your shoulders to the right, as if you were making a slow baseball swing. Then stop, you will now rotate your body back towards the target. I would like you to start this rotation with your hips first, then that will pull your torso and and upper body round.
As your upper body begins to unwind start catching raindrops. Remember that it's a rotation of your left forearm and left hand so your palm faces the sky.

Once you have practiced this simple motion a few times and you feel that you have built up a feeling for it, we can progress. Bend forward from the hips until the club head reaches approx shin height.. I would like you to try and retain that relationship of the shaft being at approx 90 degree's to your spine. Then repeat the moving portion of the exercise i.e rotating to the right and un winding to the left. Remember catch those raindrops.


Now you are ready for some small swings. Place both hands on the club and bend forward from your hips until the sole of the club rests on the ground, a gentle flex of your knees should complete your posture position. I want you to hit some shots only swinging the club to about waist high. You should try and feel the same sensations you gained from the one handed exercises, Catching raindrops. In my opinion through impact the left forearm and back of left wirst should remain in the aligned position as I talked about earlier. If this position is maintained the right wrist should be in position of extension. Right wrist extension is shown in the photo below.



If you are able to maintain the 2 positions, catching raindrops and right wrist extension through impact you are well on your way to improving your ball striking.

It will also help if you read my 'Destination impact' blog to pick up a great exercise to help practice impact.


Best of luck with this exercise and post up any comments

Andy