GOLF.com: Johnny Miller's One Drill for Pure Iron Contact

A Timeless Drill from One of Golf's Greatest Ball Strikers

Johnny Miller—25 PGA Tour wins, a U.S. Open at Oakmont closed with a final-round 63—may be best known to younger fans as a broadcaster, but his legacy was built on elite ball striking. In a 2013 GOLF Magazine piece, Miller shared what he called his single best tip: the "brush-brush" drill.

How the Drill Works

1. Draw a line in the turf with your club's toe 2. Address the ball centered over that line 3. Make a half swing and brush the grass on the target side of the line—no big divot, just a light graze 4. Repeat immediately: brush-brush, two in a row for rhythm

The simplicity is deceptive. To brush the correct spot consistently, the mechanics must align—specifically, the grip end must lead the clubhead past the line before the wrists unhinge. Most amateurs release their hinge early, sometimes while the butt of the grip is still behind the trail leg, which produces thin and fat contact alike.

Why It Works

Delaying the unhinge until the last possible moment creates shaft lean at impact—a slight forward tilt toward the target—which is the hallmark of Tour-quality iron contact. Beyond the range, this pattern holds up on uneven lies where early release is exaggerated and costly.

Strokeslab Perspective

The drill directly targets the root cause of poor SG: Approach numbers for most amateurs: inconsistent strike depth. Building the feel of handle-lead impact is exactly the mechanical change that translates into tighter dispersion and repeatable carry distances.