Fix a Scoopy Swing With the Range-Bucket Hip Drill

A common fault behind inconsistent strikes and a closed club face is scooping, or throwing the club at the ball with the arms instead of letting the body's rotation do the work. Golf coach Josh Mayo uses an ordinary range bucket to retrain that pattern.

What causes a scoopy strike?

"Your primary issue is scooping or throwing the club with your arms," Mayo says of the fault. "This leads to inconsistent strikes and face angles, with a closed face being your most common issue." The fix is a change in sequence: rotating the hips and shifting weight through impact, with the arms simply following the body's turn rather than initiating the power. Many high-handicap golfers assume swinging the arms harder at impact creates distance, when it's the body's rotation that should be doing most of the work.

How does the bucket drill work?

Mayo has golfers grab a bucket of balls by the handle and address it as they would a ball. From there, rotate back by pushing down into the right foot and turning that hip back, then rotate forward with the weight shifting into the left foot, finishing with the bucket facing down the range.

The point of the drill is to control the input rather than try to control the outcome.

"The momentum of the bucket is dictated by where your torso is," Mayo says. "You also need to engage your core and transfer your weight, meaning that your body and the bucket will be working together." A proper rep ends with the hips and belt buckle facing down the range, not still square to the ball as it started.

Why does tempo matter in the drill?

Mayo pairs the movement pattern with a tempo cue once the club is back in hand. "Maintain a deliberate, smooth tempo where the backswing, which starts with the arms and shoulders, takes twice as long as the downswing," he says. Counting "one, two" on the backswing and "three" on the downswing helps prevent a rushed, snatchy transition as the hips fire through impact.