Alignment Stick Whoosh — Golf Drill

Alignment stick whoosh drills are speed-training exercises that use a lightweight alignment rod to help golfers identify exactly where their maximum clubhead speed occurs through auditory feedback. This technique is designed for golfers of all levels—from high handicappers struggling with a 'casting' motion to single digits looking for extra yardage—by solving the problem of a premature release. Most players waste their energy at the top of the swing, but the 'whoosh' teaches you to save that fi

Where should the loudest 'whoosh' occur in the downswing?

The second 'whoosh' should occur just past the impact position. If you hear it before the ball, you are 'casting' the club and losing [lag](/learn/lag).

Can I practice these speed drills in slow motion?

While slow-motion practice helps with path, [TS Golf](/creator/tsgolf) warns against it for speed development. Practicing shallowing or releasing too slowly often fails to translate into a real swing.

How do I transfer the 'whoosh' feel to a real golf ball?

Perform five repetitions with an alignment stick or Mach 3 whip, then immediately hit a ball. The goal is to replicate the feel of loading and unloading the levers at full speed.

How each of them teaches it

Coaches who demonstrate the alignment stick whoosh drill, each linked at the second they start.

  1. The Art of Simple Golf: Your Driver Swing is Probably Costing You 20+ Yards (from 1:50). Swing an alignment stick (or upside-down driver) aiming to produce the loudest whoosh sound past impact at the 5 o'clock position rather than early in the downswing.
  2. Giles Gill Golf: Tempo: This 3 Minute Drill Beats Years on the Range (from 4:05). Swing an alignment stick to create an audible whoosh early in the takeaway and another louder whoosh past the impact zone.
  3. Performance Golf: How to Increase Clubhead Speed and Hit Straighter Drives | 90-90-90 Swing System (from 7:39). Swinging a light alignment stick to hear the 'whoosh' sound late in the arc, ensuring speed is delivered at and through the ball rather than early.

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