The Drill to Stop Swaying and Sliding for Good

Stop swaying and sliding for a stronger, more consistent strike

A powerful golf swing rotates around a stable centre. Two of the biggest power leaks are the "sway" (too much lateral movement away from the target in the backswing) and the "slide" (too much lateral movement towards the target in the downswing).

The traditional fix is to stick an alignment rod in the ground outside your foot. But this doesn't work on a range mat, it's impossible indoors, and the angle is pure guesswork.

This drill uses SwingMate to create a perfect, vertical "boundary wall" that forces you to rotate instead of moving side-to-side. It works on any surface and is perfectly repeatable.

Need more reps? Learn: Sway and Slide Are Killing Your Rotation and Power.

What's the real goal of this drill?

To replace inefficient lateral movement with powerful, centered rotation, leading to more consistent contact and a huge increase in clubhead speed.

How should you set up before starting this drill?

This drill uses two hinges to create "walls" for your hips.

1. Place the Base: Position the SwingMate base parallel to your target line, just outside your trail foot.
2. Create the "Sway" Boundary: Attach a hinge and set the Base Angle to 90° and the Rod Angle to 90°. This creates a perfectly vertical rod. Position it so it sits just outside your trail hip at address.
3. Create the "Slide" Boundary: Attach a second hinge further up the base plate. Set it to the same 90°/90° vertical position. Position it so it sits just outside where your lead hip would be at impact.

How do you run this drill from start to finish?

This setup creates a "corridor" that your hips must rotate within.

1. The Backswing (Stop the Sway): As you take the club back, your goal is to rotate your trail hip back and away from the ball, without it bumping into the first vertical rod. If you sway, you'll hit the rod immediately. You should feel pressure loading into the inside of your trail foot.
2. The Downswing (Stop the Slide): As you swing through, your goal is to rotate your lead hip back and around, without it crashing into the second vertical rod. If you slide, your hip will smash into the rod. The feeling should be of your lead leg "posting up" as you turn around it.
3. The Feeling: The correct feeling is one of turning inside a narrow barrel. This drill makes that feeling a physical reality.

By providing clear physical boundaries, this drill eliminates the sway and slide from your swing. It forces you to tap into the real source of power in the golf swing: rotation.

What are the quick questions golfers keep asking?

Q: Why does the shadow drill calm down the sway so quickly?
A: Your own shadow is instant feedback. If your head wanders outside the line, you're sliding; stay centred and the shadow barely moves.

Q: How much pressure should you feel in the trail foot when the drill is working?
A: Keep about sixty percent under the trail heel going back, then shift it left as you unwind. Balanced pressure kills the slide.