Draw with the driver: Lewis Wallace and Michel Teichet
On the 9th hole at Les Bordes—a left-dogleg par 4—you need to hit a draw off the tee. Lewis Wallace and Michel Teichet, creator of the Birdie series, each explain in their own words how to bring the club from the inside—a video designed for slicers and those who want to hit the ball farther.
To be continued
What the lesson shows
Lewis Wallace Square a baguette in the belt loop, with most of the weight on the left side. At the top of the backswing, the hips are closed. Many slicers are repeatedly told to “bring their hips through,”, open their hips too quickly: The club passes over the plane, the path becomes out-to-in, and—with the clubface open relative to the path—the ball flies to the right. The key, according to him: Keep your hips and shoulders tucked in during the very beginning of the downswing, to trace the in-to-out path, with one side slightly closed off from that path. Rather than a lateral transfer, he speaks of pressing the left foot toward the floor, the vertical power of long hitters like Bubba Watson, combined with a controlled tempo.
Michel Teichet aims for the same position with another sensational move: “arms first”, keeping his back turned to the target—what he calls “falling into the trap”—and then he releases the clubhead by relaxing his right wrist. He emphasizes the prerequisites: standing behind the ball, a wide stance, shoulders square or slightly closed, and proper ball position, since a ball positioned too far to the left opens up the shoulders. He notes from long-hitter Joey Miller that there should be no tension in the upper body. Vertical power helps him gain distance, but he only attempts it on a wide fairway. Lewis Wallace clarifies that “arms first” is intended for players whose upper bodies are too passive.
The Exercise, Step by Step
- Stand behind the ball with a wide stance, shoulders square or very slightly closed, and the ball positioned correctly.
- Place one stick in the belt loop, with the wider end on the left, and another on your shoulders.
- Reach the top of your backswing: your belt should be pointing to the right.
- Begin the downswing by keeping your hips and shoulders tucked in, facing to the right.
- Try to press your left foot into the floor without sliding sideways.
- Then let your hips and upper body open up at impact and let the clubhead fall toward the target.
- Michel Teichet's variation: Lower your arms first, keeping your back turned for as long as possible.
Key Takeaways
Mistakes to Avoid
- Opening the hips too quickly during the first part of the downswing.
- Shift your weight sideways to the left, which also sends the club over.
- Placing the ball too far to the left, which causes your shoulders to open at address.
- Accelerating too quickly with your arms and hands instead of letting your body generate the speed.
- Keep your upper body tense.
- Swinging with your arms first and forgetting to engage your body.
Driving Range Mode
Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.
- Stick tucked into the belt and resting on the shoulders; stop at the start of the downswing
- Empty swings while feeling the pressure of your left foot against the ground
- Exercise: Arms First, with Your Back to the Target
- A series of drives with a controlled tempo
Your Questions
Why do my drives veer to the right even though I'm engaging my hips?
Lewis Wallace sees many slicers open their hips too early: the clubhead passes over the plane, the swing path becomes an out-to-in path, and the ball goes to the right if the clubface is open relative to the swing path.
What should you do at the start of the downswing for a draw?
Keep your hips and shoulders closed relative to the target during the very beginning of the downswing. The club then comes back on a more inside path; they then open at impact.
Should you shift your weight to the left?
He prefers to talk about pressure: pushing off the ground with the left foot, downward rather than sideways. This is the vertical force used by long hitters, which should be practiced with a controlled tempo.
What is Michel Teichet's approach?
He thinks “arms first,” keeping his back turned to the target, then releases the clubhead by relaxing his right wrist. He isn’t necessarily aiming for a draw: a straight, powerful shot works for him, as long as the path is inside.
Learn More
Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Lewis Wallace). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons without hosting them.