WHAT IS THE GRID - HOW TO USE IT?

Mike Bygrave
Apr 24
3 min read

The Grid: A Visual Blueprint for Building Better Golf Swings

One of the simplest yet most powerful tools I’ve introduced to my players lately is The Grid—a visual template laid out on the ground that immediately brings structure and clarity to a golfer's geometry.

It’s not flashy. It’s not tech-heavy. But it’s a game-changer for helping players understand how the geometry of their swing really works—especially when paired with TrackMan feedback.

Why Geometry Matters in the Golf Swing

At its core, the golf swing is a geometric motion built on arcs, tilts, and rotations. When you understand the geometry—especially how your spine tilt affects your hand path, how your low point relates to your ball position, and how your club path and face relationship shapes the shot—you start playing with intention, not reaction.

That’s where The Grid comes in.

🔲 What is The Grid?

The Grid is a set of visual lines laid out on the ground using alignment sticks or tape:

Baseline (Target Line): Your visual anchor—where the ball to target line is pointed.
Club Path Lines: Represent the direction the club travels relative to the baseline.
Hand Path Arc: Shows how the hands should move inwards around the body (both in takeaway and follow-through).
Low Point Marker: A reference near the left armpit— teaches players where the club should bottom out (and also where Swing Direction is measured).

You can adapt this for Stack & Tilt, standard setups, or custom builds for slicers, drawers, and better players.

🧠 What The Grid Teaches (With Drills & Visuals)

1. Seeing the Geometry

Target line = foundation.
Club travels on an arc, not straight.
Hands move inward, not down the line.
Use cones or sticks to form a clear visual arc.

2. Low Point Awareness

Low point is usually under the left armpit (for irons).
Ball must be struck before the low point.
Ball positioned behind low point = in-to-out club path.
That’s why draws are built in with proper ball position and path geometry.

💡 Drill: Mark the low point on the ground. Place the ball slightly back of it. Make swings where you brush just after the ball. Great for iron control.

3. Exit Path Visuals

Many players swing out to the right and leave the clubface open.
Seeing the club exit low and left helps shape the arc properly and reduce overdraw or hooks.
Better players use this feel instinctively—but it can be trained visually.

💡 Drill: Visualize the club exiting toward the left thigh post-impact, not the target line.

4. Hands In / Club In

Crucial for slicers or anyone with steep/over-the-top moves.
The takeaway and downswing should have the hands working inwards, not straight back.
This promotes a shallow, inside path.

💡 Drill: Use a stick angled in over the trail shoe. Hands should stay inside of it on takeaway, then return to that zone on the downswing.

5. TrackMan Integration: Turning Geometry into Data

TrackMan takes this visual structure and adds real numbers to the feel:

Club Path: The Grid helps build +2 to +5° in-to-out paths—ideal for controlled draws.
Attack Angle: Grid-based low-point awareness helps compress irons and reduce fat/thin shots.
Face-to-Path: The exit visuals help players deliver a curved hand-path reducing over-draws.

💡 Tip: During TrackMan Combine or Skills Tests, overlay The Grid to create purposeful patterns—you're not just hitting targets; you’re building structure.

🎯 When to Use The Grid

Beginner to Intermediate: Teaches structure and eliminates guesswork, also builds a more consistent address position with a more constant ball position. Use tee claws also to build this into the mat.
Better Players: Refines feels like “hands low & left” or “exit left.”
On the Range or Simulator: Adaptable to both. Great under TrackMan or just with alignment sticks.

🧩 Final Thoughts

The Grid is more than a drill station—it’s a visual framework that helps you understand how the swing should look and feel geometrically.

In an era where players get lost in numbers, swing tips, and social media quick fixes, The Grid simplifies everything. It brings feel, structure, and awareness back to the forefront—and when used with purpose, it helps unlock consistent, repeatable ball-striking and curve control.

🏌️‍♂️ Feel the framework, or the blueprint of the ball flight🎯 Own your swing.