Turns out, fixing your face (clubface, that is) changes everything.
I wasn’t expecting breakthroughs. Just a little less “blast right” and a little more “ball goes where I aimed.” But by the end of the evening, I had two baby draws, a sore right shoulder, and a game plan that actually feels doable. Not bad for a Thursday night.
This was a full swing clinic with Chris Johnson—four women, one pro, a lot of reminders, and one surprisingly helpful phone app. Here’s how it went.
Why I Signed Up: Easing Back In, Not Fixing Everything
This full swing session was part of a 7-week women’s golf series I signed up for—a low-pressure way to reintroduce myself to the game and rebuild some fundamentals in a relaxed group setting. I wasn’t hunting for a swing overhaul. I just wanted to work on basics, shake off old habits, and maybe get a little more consistent.
Going into the clinic, I assumed my biggest issues were tempo-related or maybe just gripping too tight. I wasn’t thinking about clubface control—or how open mine might be through impact. That discovery came later, after some slow-motion video, a few drills, and one very enlightening leftward shot.
Warm-Up & First Impressions
We started with wedges. I was hoping to ease in slowly, but instead I immediately asked Chris about my frustrating rightward push. He pulled out OnForm, a swing recording app, and within minutes we were watching my clubface stay stubbornly open at impact.
Helpful? Yes. Humbling? Also yes.
Drill 1: The 7-Iron Reset
Chris had me grab my 7-iron and work on a half-swing drill:
- Backswing to about waist high
- Focus on closing the clubface by that point
- Follow-through to waist high again, clubface ideally pointing at the target
It sounds simple. It wasn’t. Stopping the swing early while keeping everything square felt like trying to freeze a dance mid-twirl. But the results? Immediate.
Most shots went left. Not hook-left—just gentle-left. Some went straight. And only a few veered right, far less than usual. This drill is 100% making its way into my next few range sessions.
Drill 2: Torso Turn Check
Next up: no club. Arms crossed.
This one focused on body-led rotation, especially with the driver. Chris cued me to:
- Drop my left shoulder down and in
- Let the right leg straighten
- Let the left knee bend inward
- Turn from the hips so the body leads and the arms follow
This one actually felt pretty natural—no wrist weirdness, unlike the face control drills. Bending less at the knees and waist was a bit unfamiliar and did put some pressure on my lower back, but the motion itself clicked. It felt useful and repeatable.
I’m planning to sneak this into my pre-shot routine, at least on the tee box, and possibly between Zoom calls. (Mobility disguised as golf practice? Yes, please.)
Driver Swings & Draw Dreams
The driver still gave me a few rightward misses, but they were softer. A few straight shots showed up. And—wait for it—two draws. I didn’t imagine them. I watched both of those babies arc back to center like I’ve been trying to do for weeks.
Chris emphasized shoulder, hip, and knee positions again, reminding me that body mechanics set the table for clubface control. Still plenty of work to do—but for the first time, it doesn’t feel out of reach.
The Good Vibes Clinic Club
Let’s be real: some clinics feel like you’re on display. This one didn’t. The other women were welcoming, supportive, and clearly having a good time. That made it easier to shake off a few shanks, breathe through the mis-hits, and focus on the fixes.
Even when I felt tight or frustrated early on—still carrying tension from a shaky morning—it didn’t take long to loosen up. Both physically and mentally.
Mental Cues That Worked
I didn’t think much about tempo—but somehow, it improved. Maybe because I had a clear thought to anchor my swing: close the face. Add in a few gentle cues I’ve been working on:
- “Watch it disappear”
- “Breathe”
- “Be graceful”
—and suddenly I was swinging instead of steering.
Takeaways & What’s Next
✅ I’ll definitely keep doing the 7-iron half-swing drill (maybe with other clubs too)
✅ The torso turn drill is officially part of my off-course mobility routine
🔁 Still need to sort out the early shoulder tightness—might add strength work for support
🔁 And I’ll keep watching for tempo and clubface cues, especially on the tee
🔜 What’s Next: Swing Shape in Progress
While this clinic gave me some serious clarity on clubface control, I’m still in the middle of figuring out how to consistently manage club path—and how to get the two working together. That’s the real magic.
So I’ll be:
- Doing a little research on clubhead path vs. face position
- Testing out a few more drills and routines
- Reporting back soon with a full post called “Train the Swing Shape, Not Just the Hit”
Because it turns out… the swing is less about the moment of impact and more about the shape that leads to it. Stay tuned.
“Swing with grace. Let the body lead. And maybe, just maybe, hit one with a baby draw.”