Photos by Mike Norris

Using a simple household broom that has been spray painted on either side is not only an effective indoor warmup drill, but can also help cure that nagging slice. The change in color of the broom in the above photos illustrates the correct rotation from the open club position (orange) on your back swing to the closed position (green) on your follow through.

Sweep your slice away!

By Rick DePamphilis

With the New England weather forcing more and more golfers indoors during the early weeks of the season, North Shore Golf checked in with PGA Master Professional Rick DePamphilis at the King of Swing indoor golf center in Revere for a drill you can do indoors to get your game ready for when it finally turns nice outside.Rick’s Tip: You have to go no further than your hallway closet for this one. Just break out the old broomstick, spray paint the broom a different color on each side, and you’re one step closer to sweeping your slice away.

Before you start sweeping away, however, make sure that you set up properly for this swing drill with the correct grip and stance. The hands should be turned [V’s pointed] towards the back shoulder, feet should spread shoulder width apart and arms stretched cleared from chest. Hold the broomstick hip-high and parallel to the ground. Now you are ready to sweep your slice away.

Swing the broomstick back to forward on a hip high plane as if swinging your hands and arms around your belt. Now make the newly color-coded broomstick “change colors” from the backswing open clubface position (orange color code) to the forward swing closed clubface position (green color code). The color change illustrates the proper movement of the clubface as it rotates from a backswing open position, to square at impact, and then closing once again beyond impact. Like a swinging door or gate, the proper rotation of the clubface is precisely that: open–square-closed as the club swings back to forward.

The faster you are able to get the broomstick to change colors from an open backswing to a closed forward swing (orange to green) the more club head speed you will be generating, which should impart draw spin to the ball and sweep away your slice.

Oh, by the way, that swooshing sound you are hearing as you change colors? Well, that’s the sound of your newfound club head speed whipping through the impact area, which just may add a few extra yards to your shot as well. And that extra resistance you are feeling as you change colors faster and swoosh the broom straw through the impact area just may build up additional hand, wrist and forearm strength along the way. All without leaving the comforts of your own home, except for a possible trip to the hardware store for a broom and some spray paint.

Rick DePamphilis is a New England PGA Teacher of the Year and is currently listed as a top teacher in the state, region and country by Golf Digest, Golf Magazine and Golf Range Magazine. One of just five original New England PGA ‘Master Professionals’ certified in golf instruction, his multi-media award winning golf instruction programs are available year round. DePamphilis offers private indoor lessons at the King of Swing and outdoors at both Reedy Meadow GC and King Rail Reserve by appointment only. Contact him at King Rail at 781-334-2877.