In the ever-evolving world of golf instruction, some advice remains as timeless as a classic novel. Here at GOLF.com, we’re reviving such enduring wisdom in our series, Timeless Tips, where we revisit the sage guidance offered by golf legends and instructors within the pages of GOLF Magazine. Today, we journey back to our September 2013 edition to delve into Johnny Miller’s “single best tip” for enhancing your ball striking prowess. For those who crave more, joining InsideGOLF grants you unrestricted access to the entire GOLF Magazine digital archive—offering $140 worth of value for just $39.99 a year.
While Johnny Miller may not have accumulated as many major wins as some of his peers, he was by no means lacking in talent. Over his career, Miller secured 25 victories on the PGA Tour, including a memorable U.S. Open triumph at Oakmont in 1973, where he famously carded a final-round 63. Widely recognized as one of golf’s all-time great ball strikers, Miller certainly commands attention when he speaks about swinging a club.
Back in 2013, Miller graced GOLF Magazine with an instructional piece, sharing what he considered his ultimate tip for better ball striking. Take a look and give it a try; you just might find yourself making more consistent, solid contact than ever before.
### Johnny Miller’s Single Best Tip
To this day, nerves still get the better of me on the first tee, especially in the company of unfamiliar players. Recalling my early days on tour, there were plenty of jitters, notably when confronting a tricky shot like a half wedge over water or a long iron from a tight lie. To counter this anxiety, I developed what I believe to be my most valuable tip: a drill designed to accentuate the critical components of the swing and instantly boost confidence for executing the shot. I’ve dubbed it the “brush-brush” drill, and I promise, if you give it a shot, you’ll start hitting cleaner, crisper shots.
Start by using the toe of your club to draw a line in the grass on the practice range, setting up centered over it. Execute a half swing aiming to gently brush the grass on the target side of the line, avoiding a big divot—just a light brush—and repeat. Doing this twice in succession helps establish a good rhythm: “brush-brush.”
This might sound straightforward, but achieving the correct brushing action requires you to align numerous elements of your swing. Success in this drill not only reinforces sound mechanics but also prevents the dreaded chunked shots—a surefire way to ruin your round.
The secret is ensuring the grip’s butt is either even with or ahead of the line before you release your wrist hinge and let the clubhead skim the grass. Many amateurs falter by letting their wrists unhinge too soon when the grip is lagging behind the line—some do so with the grip behind their right leg. Lead with the grip handle, delaying wrist unhinging to the last moment, to achieve that crisp, Tour-level impact, with your shaft leaning slightly forward.
What’s outstanding about this drill is how it not only hones your impact position but also guarantees ball-first contact across varying lies. While anyone can manage decent contact on a flat range, real-world scenarios involve tricky, uneven lies. Uphill, downhill, or sidehill stances exacerbate impact issues, and a swing that consistently brushes behind the ball will leave you in trouble unless everything’s perfectly aligned. Mastery of this technique prepares you to handle these challenges competently. With 60 years in the game, I can attest—this drill is unrivaled.
