The "pump" drill has revolutionized how golfers understand the downswing sequence, and top instructors like Meandmygolf have made this technique accessible to players at every level. This powerful training method teaches the crucial lower-body-first movement that separates elite ball strikers from weekend warriors. When Meandmygolf demonstrates their signature pump drill—setting a 90-degree wrist angle and practicing three deliberate pumps while shifting to the target—golfers finally grasp what
How to practise it
Set your 90-degree wrist angle at the top Take your normal backswing and pause when your wrists are fully hinged. Feel the weight of the clubhead behind your hands.
Practice the three-pump motion slowly From the top, shift toward the target while lowering your hands slightly, then return to start position. Repeat three times without hitting the ball.
Execute the third pump as your actual swing On the third pump, continue through to impact with full rotation. Feel your lower body leading while the club drops down in front of your body.
Maintain head stability during the pump Keep your chin and shoulder connected while your lower body moves. Practice the sensation of moving your shoulder away from your chin through impact.
Integrate into full swings without pause Hit balls with the pump feeling but without the practice motions. Focus on the lower body initiating while the hands drop naturally.
What is the pump drill and how can it help my golf swing?
The pump drill involves keeping your head stable while moving your shoulder away from your chin during the downswing. As mentioned in the Meandmygolf video, even tour pros like Rory McIlroy use this pump motion to create proper shaft angle and improve ball striking.
Why do I keep standing up through impact and how do I stop it?
According to JChownGolf, amateur golfers stand up through impact primarily because of how they're trying to release the golf club. The way you release the club dictates how your body moves, so focusing on proper release mechanics will help you stay down through the ball.
I swing over the top and slice - is this a swing problem or something else?
According to TPI co-founder Dave Phillips on Meandmygolf, the over-the-top move isn't actually a swing issue for most amateur golfers. The real reason lies in the body-swing connection, suggesting that physical limitations or movement patterns are the root cause rather than swing mechanics alone.
How each of them teaches it
Coaches who demonstrate the pump drill, each linked at the second they start.
Golf Studio: Stop coming over the top: the pump drill. Swing to the top of the backswing and pump your hands down to hip height twice with your back to the target before swinging through on the third downswing to sequence the transition correctly.
JChownGolf: 99% Of Golfers Move Their Right Arm COMPLETELY WRONG (from 7:51). Rehearse stopping at shaft parallel in the downswing with correct chest-down and right-side bend posture, pump two or three times, and then swing through to retain trail arm flex.
Porzak Golf: Is Keeping Your Head Still Necessary? (from 4:30). Performing partial downswing pumps from the top of the backswing to feel the hands and arms dropping into position before the chest rotates through.
David Atkins Golf Coaching: 3 June 2026 (from 0:23). Perform downswing rehearsals stopping near impact to feel the hands travel on an inside plane before making a full swing.
Meandmygolf: Use the pump drill: Set 90-degree wrist angle in backswing, then do three pumps - shift to target and lower hands while adding rotation, with the third pump being the actual shot
Meandmygolf: Practice the pump sensation by splitting the club on the shaft and pumping down to get the feeling of lower body moving first while the club comes down more in front
Meandmygolf: Keep your chin and shoulder tucked together during the downswing, and practice the sensation of keeping the head stable while moving the shoulder away from the chin