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Instruction

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The light stuff

Practicing with whiffle balls is a fun and productive way to build confidence and solid swing habits.

BY BOB MADSEN, PGAPublished: July, 2010

Hitting whiffle balls can help you trust your swing fundamentals to get the ball airborne (PHOTO: Eddie Meeks).
Ever notice practice time can be hard to come by? PGA professionals are always looking for ways students can practice what they have learned on the lesson tee. One solution is homework done with super-lightweight plastic practice balls — more commonly known as whiffle balls.
   
Real golf balls feel great when struck well. But mis-hits can be downright bone jarring. Whiffle balls don’t hurt and feel light, making it easier to enjoy practice and build confidence.
   
Whiffle balls get airborne with practically no effort. This gives you a chance to relax and learn to trust the club to send the ball up instead of scooping (a.k.a. trying to get under the ball) with the club, which is absolutely incorrect and can be quickly cured with whiffle ball practice.
   
When I was growing up, my parents would cut a hole in the turf and install a peanut can so I could actually tear up the lawn and “play” golf. Most of what I am able to do today as a shotmaker I learned with whiffle balls. Not only do they get airborne easily, they really want to curve.


Bob Madsen is PGA director of instruction at San Diego’s Sycuan Resort. E-mail him at bmadsen@sycuanresort.com. For more information, call (888) 764-4566 or visit sycuanresort.com.

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