Alright, so I decided to head out to the range yesterday. Been feeling kinda stuck with my swing lately, same old problems cropping up. I remembered reading something, maybe on some obscure forum or whatever, about a different way to practice, someone called it the ‘Malnati drill’ or ‘Malnati golf’ – honestly, can’t recall exactly, just the name stuck. Seemed simple enough, less about brute force, more about rhythm or something.
Got myself a big bucket of balls, found a spot away from the usual crowd. The idea, as I pieced it together, was less about hitting target after target and more about feel. So, I started differently. Didn’t even pick a target for the first dozen balls.
Getting Started with the Feel
I just grabbed my 8-iron. Took a few really slow, almost ridiculously slow, practice swings. Focused only on the weight shift, feeling my feet grounded, then the turn. Didn’t even think about the ball. Felt kinda silly, just swaying there.
Then, I tried hitting some balls with that same super slow tempo. Like, 50% effort maybe? The first few… well, they didn’t go far. One dribbled off the tee. Another went kinda sideways. Definitely not impressive.
But I stuck with it. Kept that slow, deliberate pace. Didn’t worry where the ball went. Just focused on making clean contact, feeling the clubhead meet the ball without forcing it. It was weirdly calming, actually. Usually, I’m all tensed up, trying to smash it.
Finding a Rhythm
After maybe 20 or 30 balls like this, something started to change. I noticed a few things:
- My misses weren’t as bad. Fewer shanks, fewer tops.
- The contact felt more solid, even at that slow speed. A nice ‘thump’ sound more often.
- My body felt more connected, less like separate parts flailing around.
So, I gradually increased the speed, just a little bit at a time. Still keeping that focus on rhythm, not raw power. Moved onto a 6-iron, then a hybrid. Same process: slow swings, focus on feel, then gradually speed up while trying to maintain that smooth tempo.
It wasn’t magic. Didn’t suddenly start hitting everything pure. But by the end of the bucket, I felt different. Less worn out than usual, strangely. And the shots, especially towards the end, were definitely more consistent in terms of strike and direction, even if they weren’t my absolute longest hits.
Finished the session just hitting a few easy wedges, trying to keep that same smooth feeling. Packed up my clubs feeling… well, not frustrated for once. Felt like I actually worked on something specific, something internal, rather than just bashing balls aimlessly.
Overall, this ‘Malnati golf’ thing, or whatever it’s called, was an interesting experiment. Forced me to slow down and pay attention to the process, not just the result. Gonna try it again next time, see if it sticks.
