Golf pro tip: How some rope work can unwrap your swing

You watched all four rounds of the Masters and you're ready to hit the links and putt and chip like tournament champion Patrick Reed or make some eagles like low amateur and Arlington Heights native Doug Ghim.

However, your clubs have been in the garage since your final round last year and you never made it to the indoor range during the off-season. But you're still hoping we'll see temperatures in the 70s this week so you can get out and play.

How are you going to get ready for golf season?

First, we need to work on that swing. Get the shoulders and arms working properly after a dormant winter and find a comfortable swing speed. Here's a drill I like to have my students try: buy a rope at your local hardware store that is ¾-inch thick and double the length of your 5 iron.

Start swinging the rope as if you're taking a swing with your golf club and keep going in a continuous back and forth motion for up to 10 swings at a time. Let the rope tap you on the shoulder on the backswing and then the front shoulder on the follow through.

If the rope is swung with the right tempo, it will move smoothly from back to front. If you're too quick it's difficult to stop the rope in time at the end points, which makes it difficult to change directions smoothly.

One of the main issues many golfers struggle with in their swing is understanding how to accelerate smoothly and have the speed show up at the correct time with a low amount of effort. This drill will help you develop a consistent swing speed.

See you on the course.

• Louis Sauer is a PGA Professional and owns LS Golf in Northbrook. He can be contacted by email at swingbylou@me.com, and you can follow him on Instagram at score_golf.

• Editor's note: With assistance from the Illinois PGA, the Daily Herald will provide a golf tip from a PGA Professional each Wednesday.