The Snead Squat (Rotation & Lateral Shift)
Curated PGA Drill by Athletic Motion Golf
Ground Force
3 sets of 10 slow rehearsal reps
Golf club, alignment stick (optional)
Advanced
Why This Drill Works (Kinetic Mechanics)
The Snead Squat is a complex combination of rotation and lateral shift, with rotation being the primary move that creates the squat appearance. It is not just squatting the knees or spinning around the trail foot. The left side must pull around while the hip moves forward laterally. It is difficult to replicate and requires significant flexibility and hip mobility (6:04-6:10), so practice slowly and focus on the mechanics.
How to Perform the Drill
Follow these step-by-step instructions. Rehearse slowly to build proper motor patterns before adding full swing speed.
- 1
Step 1
Initiation (Rotation First): From the top of the swing, initiate the downswing primarily with rotation of the hips (4:30-4:42).
- 2
Step 2
Lateral/Pull: Simultaneously, feel the left hip and knee perform a combination of rotational and lateral movement (4:03-4:12), focusing on the left side pulling around the lead hip.
- 3
Step 3
Trail Side: Allow the right knee to stay behind the left, rather than spinning around the back foot (5:01-5:06).
- 4
Step 4
Feel Check: Practice slowly, focusing on the forward lateral hip movement (3:17-3:22) combined with rotation, instead of just squatting the knees (5:06-5:08).
What Good Feels Like
Focus on smooth tempo and maintaining body connection through impact. Your body and club should move as a single synchronized unit.
Common Mistake to Avoid
Rushing transition before completing backswing or lunging upper body forward towards ball at impact. Keep movement controlled.
