Welcome to Play Smart, a regular GOLF.com game-improvement column that will help you play smarter, better golf.
Miles Russell may still be in high school, but his achievements on the golf course already rival those of seasoned professionals. At just 15, he became the youngest player to make a cut in a KFT event, ultimately finishing in the top 20. A year later, he made multiple PGA Tour starts, further establishing his reputation as a prodigious talent. This summer added another milestone to his list when he recorded a made cut at the U.S. Open in his first major championship start. Now 17, Russell is no longer an under-the-radar prospect—he’s one of the most recognized names at amateur tournaments nationwide.
That status was on full display this week at the U.S. Amateur at Merion, where Russell entered as one of the tournament favorites. Although his run ended earlier than hoped with a 2-and-1 defeat to University of Oklahoma rising senior Ryder Cowan, he undeniably left his mark on the event.
“Miles is a great player,” said Cowan after their match. “He’s a guy that you want to beat because he’s so good.”
High praise from one of the nation’s top collegiate players. And the results over the past few years back up that assessment—Russell has serious game.
With that in mind, I wanted to share an effective drill I noticed Russell using during his warm-up before his Round of 64 match against Cowan. It’s simple, but highly effective for improving ball striking. Take a look below.
Russell’s Go-To Drill
Alignment sticks are common tools seen on the range, but Russell uses his in a unique way. After working with wedges, he pulled out a small alignment stick and gripped it between his hands and the club, with the butt end pointing slightly forward near his lead hip. He then went through his normal swing motion while maintaining the grip.
This drill works on several key swing elements at once. First, it keeps the hands ahead of the ball through impact and prevents flipping the wrists at the bottom of the swing. Second, it encourages full body rotation through impact—if the body stalls, the alignment stick makes contact with the lead hip. Third, it promotes shifting weight fully onto the lead side instead of hanging back.
Each of these components plays a vital role in consistent ball striking, and they’re clearly part of what makes Russell such a strong ball-striker. If your swing struggles with any of these areas, this drill could be worth trying.