Head Cover — Golf Drill

Head cover drill. Filmed by golf.studio.

Head cover golf drills are ingenious training exercises that utilize your equipment's protective covers as physical barriers or targets to improve swing path, strike quality, and launch conditions. These drills are designed for everyone from the high handicapper battling the soul-crushing "hosel rocket" to the single-digit player looking to optimize their [Attack angle](/learn/attack-angle). By providing immediate tactile feedback, they solve the problem of "ghost feels"—those moments where you

What happens if I keep hitting the head cover during the drill?

That is exactly why the drill exists! It means your swing path or [Attack angle](/learn/attack-angle) is off. If you hit the cover next to the ball, you are likely swinging 'over the top.' Slow down your swing to 25% speed until you can miss the cover, then gradually increase speed.

Can I practice these head cover drills at home?

Absolutely. You don't even need to hit a ball. Set up the head cover on a carpet and practice making 'air swings' where the clubhead passes through the gate. It’s excellent for building muscle memory without the pressure of ball flight.

How many reps should I do before I see an improvement in my ball striking?

You will feel the difference immediately due to the 'barrier' effect. However, to make it permanent, try the '3-and-1' rule: three swings with the head cover in place, followed by one swing without it, trying to replicate the same feel.

How each of them teaches it

Coaches who demonstrate the head cover drill, each linked at the second they start.

  1. Golf Studio: Why hitting up on your driver goes further (from 4:26). Placing a headcover one foot target-side of the teed ball to train an ascending blow without clipping the cover.
  2. Michael Kanev Golf: Unlock Your Best Golf Drives Now ⏳. Place a driver head cover under the lead armpit (left arm for right-handed golfers) and keep it pinned during the backswing and downswing to maintain connection.
  3. Warren Bennett Golf Academy: 9/24 - How to Create MAXIMUM WIDTH in Your Golf Swing (from 6:10). Place a fairway wood head cover under the lead armpit (or trail armpit for width) and feel it drop out before reaching the top of the backswing to ensure the arms move away from the body.
  4. Georgia Ball Golf: Are you guilty of these HUGE Driver Mistakes? (from 9:00). Positions a head cover a few inches in front of the ball to force an upward swing path, preventing hitting down on the driver.
  5. Georgia Ball Golf: Fix Your Driver Swing FAST with These 3 Powerful Drills (from 5:54). A feedback drill where a head cover is placed in front of the ball to force the golfer to hit 'up' on the driver.
  6. Meandmygolf: How To Stop Shanking the Golf Ball (from 3:36). Place a head cover immediately outside the golf ball to prevent an 'over the top' path that leads to hitting the hosel.

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