This is an excellent drill to help you in taking ownership of a change in your technique/approach.
I was coaching a player on the golf course recently and he was struggling to move through to a balanced finish position (something which I feel is essential) I had noticed on a number of shots that he was standing extremely close to the end of the club * I questioned him on how he was feeling and the word he used was “stuck” A few questions and his answers later and he came to the conclusion (on his own) that he was standing closer to the ball than he would normally. At this position in the session the player and the coach normally make small adjustments back and forth to try and move into the “perfect” position (something which I feel on the golf course is difficult to achieve)
This is where the Goldilocks drill works well, either using a ball or not do the following;
- Stand too close to the end of the club (feeling on top of the club/ball)
- Stand too far away from the end of the club (reaching fro the ball)
- Now find the middle point, where you feel “just right”
You should now be in an improved position and feel ready to go.
You have set 2 opposite boundaries which are as far apart as they could be and then moved to the mid point. What I would call a “neutral” position
I really like this drill because it can be done at home, on the range and also incorporated into your pre shot routine to make sure you find the necessary position more often than not.
The most important aspect of the drill is that the player takes ownership of their change; you may just need a trained eye occasionally to confirm that the “just right” position is correct. By communicating with/and seeing your coach regularly this “just right” position will be maintained correctly.
The Goldilocks drill is useful for all parts of the game, not just posture. Anytime you want to make a change try and find 2 opposite boundaries to then feel the mid point (Neutral) position.
* Something that when in a correct position should remain pretty constant unlike how far you should stand away from the ball which will vary dependant on the club you are using. Many people find it difficult to consistently stand the correct distance away from the ball, not surprising when the length of the club is constantly changing as well as the slope of the ground. Develop awareness of how you are away from the end of the club, something that should remain constant and is well in your control.
