Pete Cowen's Push-Pull Driver Drill
Danny Maude “saves” his shots with his hands. Peter Cowen traces the cause to the core: an irregular body movement. He teaches him the “push-pull” technique—pushing into the ground to pull with the hips—using exercises with feet together and a stick against the thigh.
To be continued
What the lesson shows
Peter Cowen notices that Danny has a right hand and forearm that “run” through the impact. For him, it's a matter of logic: when a car breaks down, you don't change the windshield wipers—you check the engine. The engine is the body movement. It doesn't have to be perfect; it just has to be consistent. The best players also manipulate the club, but with a more consistent swing. Think of it this way: a horse doesn't pull a cart—it pushes against the ground to pull it. In golf, we're looking for the same kind of “push-pull” instead of a simple rotation that causes you to lose contact with the ground.
First exercise, feet together: twist your feet toward each other, then your ankles, knees, hips, and abs, moving upward—including your arms—before “snapping” your arms downward and finishing in balance. Second exercise: Place an alignment rod in a spiral behind the knee and along the thigh; push to load it, then pushes the leg back to where it came from To double the load, then drive with your glutes and quadriceps. Keep your left foot open by at least 10 to 15°, with your knee pointing in the same direction. With the driver, Pete places the ball at the heel of his left foot—or just inside it for a flatter trajectory—and advises leaving the tee in the ground.
The Exercise, Step by Step
- With your feet together, twist your feet toward each other and let the twist travel up to your shoulders, arms raised, then snap your arms downward and finish in a balanced position.
- At address, turn your left foot out at least 10 to 15 degrees, with your knee pointing in the same direction.
- During the backswing, push off with your foot and pull your hip back, without letting your right knee buckle.
- As you begin the downswing, push the leg back to where it came from and hold the position for a fraction of a second.
- Next, push off with your left leg and glutes, and stretch as you twist through to the finish, with your left foot planted.
- Start with small strokes using the same hand pressure, then gradually make them longer.
- With the driver, place the ball against your left heel (just inside to flatten the trajectory) and aim to leave the tee in the ground.
Key Takeaways
Mistakes to Avoid
- Treating the hands when the problem actually stems from the body.
- Just turn: you lose traction.
- Overworking your hips and “rotating” them while going downhill.
- Holding the body still while waiting for the club: the swing becomes slow and short.
- Look for the squat by crouching down instead of creating it by pushing off.
Driving Range Mode
Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.
- Exercise with feet together, without a ball, a few repetitions
- Spiral stick against the thigh: push, push back, pull
- Ten minutes a day, even without a ball—just use a stick or a handle
- Short shots, then the driver—the goal: to leave the tee in the ground
Your Questions
What does “push-pull” mean in Peter Cowen's work?
Push off the ground to drive with your hips, almost at the same time, like a horse pushing off the ground to pull its cart. This isn't just a simple rotation, which causes you to lose your balance.
How do you use the alignment rod in this exercise?
Pete wraps it in a spiral behind his knee and along his thigh. Pushing on it applies tension; pushing the leg back toward where it came from doubles the tension; then he pulls using his glutes and quadriceps.
Why open the left foot?
He recommends opening the foot at least 10 to 15 degrees, with the knee pointing in the same direction, to feel the push and pull against the ground. He quotes Padraig Harrington, who pushes with an open foot to protect his knee and hip.
Where should you place the ball on the driver with this swing?
On the left heel, or just inside it, to flatten the trajectory. To make it rise, stretch upward more as you turn.
Learn More
Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Peter Cowen). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons, without hosting them.