Okay, so I’ve been trying to up my golf game lately, and I kept hearing about Dustin Johnson’s iron swing. Everyone talks about how powerful and consistent it is, so I figured I’d give it a shot and see if I could learn anything.
First thing I did was watch a bunch of videos online. I mean, a lot of videos. Slow-motion, different angles, you name it. I just wanted to get a good visual of what his swing looked like.
Then, I headed to the driving range. I started by just trying to mimic the general motion, not even worrying about hitting the ball perfectly. It felt really weird at first. His bowed wrist at the top felt super unnatural to me, like I was going to snap my arm in half.
My Practice Process
- Warm-up: I always start with some easy swings, stretching, get my blood flowing with some pitching wedges.
- Visualization: Before each swing,I closed my eyes and tried to picture DJ’s swing in my head.
- Slow Motion Practice: I’d then try a few practice swings in slow motion.
- Focusing Key Points: Mainly a strong grip, bowed wrist, and that big shoulder turn.
- Hitting Balls:I started hitting some balls, just focusing on making solid contact. I wasn’t worried about distance or even direction at the beginning .
- Recording Myself: I set up my phone to record my swing a few times. It’s always a little embarrassing to watch, but it helps me see what I’m actually doing, not what I think I’m doing.
- Repeat, Repeat, Repeat: I just kept hitting balls, making small adjustments, and trying to get that feeling ingrained in my muscle memory.
Honestly, the first few sessions were rough. I shanked a bunch of balls, topped a few, and generally felt like I had no control. But I stuck with it.
I kept practicing, focusing on a few key things.
I really tried to get that bowed wrist at the top, and I worked on making a bigger shoulder turn.
I also focused on keeping my lower body stable, like they always say.
After a few weeks, I started to see some improvement. I wasn’t hitting it like DJ, obviously, but I was definitely making more solid contact. My shots were going straighter, and I even gained a little distance.
It’s still a work in progress, for sure. But I’m going to keep at it. I think there’s something to this DJ swing, and I’m determined to figure it out. Maybe one day I’ll actually be able to hit a decent iron shot consistently. That’s the dream, anyway!
