9 To 3 — Golf Drill

The 9-to-3 swing is your gateway to consistent, crisp ball contact and eliminating those frustrating topped shots that derail promising rounds. This fundamental partial swing technique, spanning from 9 o'clock to 3 o'clock positions, teaches golfers of all skill levels how to control their low point and develop proper sequencing. Leading instructors like Alistair Davies Golf emphasize the critical importance of positioning your low point 4 inches after the ball by moving your belt buckle forward

How to practise it

  1. Set up with belt buckle forward Position your belt buckle slightly toward your front leg at address, mimicking Alistair Davies' impact position setup. Keep arms wide away from your body.
  2. Practice 9-to-3 motion without ball Swing hands from 9 o'clock to 3 o'clock position, maintaining wide arm structure. Focus on brushing the ground after your setup position.
  3. Add ball with quarter-speed swings Place ball and make slow 9-to-3 swings, ensuring club contacts ball first, then ground. Feel the belt buckle move forward during swing.
  4. Build to half-speed with rhythm Increase tempo while maintaining the forward belt buckle and wide arm structure. Club should bottom out 4 inches past the ball.
  5. Test in rough grass Following The Scoring Method's advice, practice in longer grass to feel the club cutting down through impact rather than sweeping up.

What is the 9-to-3 swing and when should I use it?

The 9-to-3 swing is a half-swing technique where you take the club back to the 9 o'clock position and follow through to 3 o'clock, creating consistent contact for shorter shots. According to The Scoring Method, this technique is perfect for 50-yard wedge shots and helps beginning golfers develop bet

How can the 9-to-3 swing help me stop topping the ball?

The 9-to-3 swing promotes better contact by encouraging a more controlled, shorter swing that maintains proper posture and connection throughout. As Alistair Davies Golf emphasizes, topping occurs from poor contact, and the abbreviated 9-to-3 motion helps golfers maintain their spine angle and strik

Can I use the 9-to-3 swing with different golf methods like the Juju Swing?

Yes, the 9-to-3 concept can be adapted to various swing methods, including specialized techniques like the Juju Swing. The Juju Swing demonstrates that their wedge matrix incorporates similar principles, showing that the 9-to-3 timing works regardless of your primary swing methodology.

How each of them teaches it

Coaches who demonstrate the 9 to 3 drill, each linked at the second they start.

  1. ChrisRyanGolf: Lost Your Swing Before a Big Round? DO THIS (from 0:53). A partial-swing drill focusing on a specific finish position to automate correct impact, weight transfer, and body rotation.
  2. Alistair Davies Golf: You’ll NEVER Top a Golf Shot Again After This!. A half-swing drill where the golfer swings from the 9 o'clock to 3 o'clock arm positions to focus on arm structure and low point control.
  3. The Scoring Method: Extending Your Wedge Game for Beginning Golfers (from 0:10). A distance control technique using a clock-face visualization where the lead arm reaches 9 o'clock in the backswing and 3 o'clock in the follow-through.
  4. Todd Graves: Moe Norman's Purity of Technique Revealed! #shorts (from 0:45). Swinging the club back to waist-height (9 o'clock) and letting the hands release naturally through impact to feel leverage and speed production without overswinging.

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