Hit the Driver Straight with Sergio Garcia: The Bell
Sergio Garcia has even noted his driver reference points on his alarm clock. In an interview with *Me and My Golf*, he breaks them down: a truly square address, a downswing that starts downward as if you were pulling a bell’s clapper, followed by the draw, the safety fade, and the long shot.
To be continued
What the lesson shows
Although Sergio Garcia is known for playing on instinct, he still sticks to a few routines during his warm-up. First, the address: If he stands too open, his hips rotate too quickly and the club gets stuck behind him. With his hips and shoulders square, he takes a smooth backswing, keeping his right elbow close to his body. At impact, he keeps his head up, doesn’t duck, and finishes firmly on his left side. He also tees his ball much higher than before: having been trained with balls that spun a lot, he used to swing down on the ball. With today’s equipment, he upward strike and said he gained at least 12 to 15 yards.
His best-known image is the bell chain: At the top of the swing, the first movement is downward, rather than pushing the shoulders forward. This positions the hands correctly to swing back around the ball. For the draw, he aligns himself slightly to the right, swings from the inside out, and relaxes his hands—just like a straight shot in tennis—while letting his body follow through. Otherwise, the ball will hook to the right or slice. To hit the fairway, he prefers a fade: He starts on the left side, the ball comes back a little, and the trajectory is lower. In terms of distance, he goes from 95% to 100% of his maximum effort.
The Exercise, Step by Step
- Check your posture: keep your hips and shoulders square—definitely not open.
- Tee the ball high enough so you can swing up through it.
- Lift gently, keeping your right elbow close to your body.
- At the top, pull down as if pulling a bell's chain, without moving your shoulders.
- For a draw, align yourself slightly to the right, swing from the inside out, and relax your hands—your right hand should move like a straight shot in tennis.
- Let your body continue through the movement until you finish strongly on your left leg.
- On a narrow fairway, aim for the left edge and let the ball fade back.
Key Takeaways
Mistakes to Avoid
- Standing at the address with an open stance—the mistake Garcia sees most often among amateurs.
- Push your shoulders forward at the start of the downswing.
- Stop your body on impact: the ball will either hook to the right or slice.
- Dive toward the ball instead of staying up high.
- Aim too low and swing down with a modern driver.
- Slow down your swing to improve your accuracy.
Driving Range Mode
Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.
- Checking Hip and Shoulder Alignment Using a Club on the Floor
- Slow swings: the first downward movement, like the chain of a bell
- Tennis straight shot stroke using only the right hand
- Alternating between a draw and a fade, followed by a 100% shot
Your Questions
What does “pull the bell chain” mean?
At the top of his swing, Garcia begins the downswing with a downward motion, as if he were pulling the chain of a bell, rather than pushing his shoulders forward. This positions his hands correctly so they can come through from the inside.
Why is Garcia teeing his ball higher than before?
He grew up playing with balls that had a lot of spin and would drop sharply. With balls that have less spin, he hits them on an upward trajectory and says he’s gained at least 12 to 15 yards.
How can you prevent a draw from turning into a hook?
After releasing your hands, your body should continue to rotate. If it stops, your hands will take over and the ball will hook, or you’ll hold back and the ball will fly off to the right.
What shot does he play to hit a narrow fairway?
A fade: start toward the left edge; the ball curves back slightly. With less spin, it's easier to control the release, and the trajectory is a little lower.
Learn More
Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Sergio Garcia). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons, without hosting them.