How to Make Ball First Contact - The Shoe Lace Drill with Michael Breed

Learning how to make ball-first contact has so many advantages. It is a key element in the feel of your shot, and the distance the ball travels. It is one of the biggest separators in handicap level, and enjoyment of the game.

In this video, Michael Breed shows you a great drill to help you make ball-first contact. The Shoe Lace drill will teach you to move the low point of your swing farther forward, so you can hit the ball and then the ground! This will increase your distance, and give you more control of the spin rate and the launch angle. When you can control spin rate and launch angle, you can develop some consistency. If you're looking for distance and consistency in your game, this video is a must watch.

For more videos like this, check out the "Contact" Playlist at the link below:

[jeffpanozzo]

Through this video and watching where your club bottoms out, I finally figured out the visual of what I should be seeing. Can’t wait to get this onto the practice range.

[mitchfromtwitter]

Michael, with the bottom of the golf swing a couple of inches ahead of the ball, where do you focus your eyes on? The ball? A couple of inches ahead of the ball? Where please?

[alanbolla]

This is a real eye opener!!! I've tried this with a coin instead of a string, but never tried to swing easy, so I gave up. Now I see that maybe I stand a better chance for success if I work UP to a full swing🤩🤩

[nickoly]

I have used the shoe lace before but now I use a cloth as I always have clothes with me to clean my ball or to clean my clubs. Great drill and I have suggested it to others.

[HDTVMAN]

Interesting seeing the forward angle of the shaft and the forward angle of your legs as you make contact.

[flapnoman]

Hi Michael. I am an avid listener to your Sirius Radio show - presently working on my strike point. My coach has me working with 'hips and hands beat the club head to the ball'. Between his instruction and this video, my 10, 000 hours of practice😃to get my ball striking more consistent will be an adventure I am looking forward to.

[rectolee]

Wow just do this 👏👏👏 thank you much 🍷🏌️‍♂️

[zacharywarner]

I absolutely love that u do these videos. Thankyou so very much, i learn so much from you. You have really helped my game. Im currently a 1.2 hcp 👍

[wpk]

I've had success laying a towel on my mat and using the one ball away idea and it's really helped my ball contact. For me, it seems that I have to make sure that there's NO sway and make a decent turn. I had not heard the late straighten of the trial arm but it certainly makes sense. Thanks

[c_vincent_p]

Awesome drill! This is my biggest problem, and this is a simple drill to start slowly at first and then make it more challenging as I go. Thank you. New sub for sure. Looking forward yo going through your collection to get better this summer.

[mikerodrick]

Hi Michael; During this video, you stressed shaft lean but not the body moving in front of the ball as well which helps create the lean of the shaft. Your body movement can be seen on the video but less experienced players may not notice it if they're concentrating only on the shaft. Also, would this drill be good for driver as well by being certain the clubhead does hit the string before beginning to travel up to the ball rather than hitting it on the downswing. The string drill for irons is great & what I struggle with because I tend to pick the ball off the turf rather than taking a divot in front where it belongs. I don't thin it but I don't hit the ball 1st. Ball position maybe or shallow attack angle? Thanks for your great videos. I used to watch you on the golf channel. Be well!

[stephenbarr]

If you think this drill is easy, try it for yourself, it’s infuriating for an early releaser like me, but you must stick at it, probably the most vital concept and skill to develop 👍

[mitchfromtwitter]

I’ve also used a towel and/or a headcover to do this drill.

[oceanyt]

Hi, can put the tee instead of the string? Is it one club head or 8 inch distance ?

[johnwagner]

Out of curiosity what is the loft on that 6 iron u are using?

[RITH]

The only way I can achieve this is roll my left ankle counterclockwise behind me while holding a good angle

[jayboek]

Just put a towel down. Way easier. 😆