Instruction
Instructor? Who needs one of those? You do!
It’s a Saturday morning around 10:30 a.m. and you’re making the turn at your favorite course. You step up onto the 10th tee box and take a mighty swing. The club face makes contact and the ball rockets off of the club face. Then you walk about five yards ahead, pick the ball up and make your way back to the tee box to try again! Sound familiar?
Maybe it sounds like most of your rounds and it wasn’t just a bad swing that day. You get home and you start to think about your missed shots and opportunities. Where do you go from here?
Well this IS GolfWRX, so in all reality you go to the Instruction Forum, post a few pics, ask for help. Then try to fix it yourself.
When that goes horribly wrong, you then find “something else” wrong and work on that too. Now your original swing (which probably wasn’t half bad) is all jacked up and you’re playing even worse than before! Whatever should you do? The answer is simple. Spend a few bucks (or at least the cash you were going to spend on a new club) and get some proper lessons.
“But who should I get a lesson from?” you might ask (along with a number of other questions). Well, that’s where it gets a bit tough. You have options.
In most areas, there are multiple teachers or instructors, generally one per local golf course (and in a lot of cases even local driving ranges) and sometimes more. So just pull your phone book out or stop by your chosen golf course and ask the person at the desk. Most of the time there will be signs, and if the place has a website you can probably find more information there (many pros have a bio section that will list how long they’ve been doing this, any certifications, any notable students, etc).
“But lessons are expensive!” you might say. That is untrue, as the prices of lessons vary (in my area you can pay anywhere from about $45 per half hour to about $150+ per hour).
The rate usually depends on the location that the pro is teaching from (anything you give them, they generally have to give a large chunk to the course/shop). This doesn’t mean someone who is cheaper is going to be worse at teaching you, and conversely someone more expensive is not going to necessarily give you a good lesson either.
Another way to keep your costs down is online lessons. You can upload a video to an instruction website like the Golf Channel’s Swing Fix and have an instructor provide feedback and a lesson plan. These lessons go for about $30, with the cost decreasing a bit if you buy packages of multiple lessons (four lessons for about $90).
When taking a lesson (no matter the format) I would not let the instructor talk you into a package right out of the gate. Why not? Because you have no clue if they can teach you a thing. Your chosen instructor may be the top instructor for all of the touring professionals on the PGA Tour, but if he or she cannot provide you with the necessary information in a way that you can distill or that you “get” the lessons will be useless to you!
When looking for an instructor, you’ll want to take a few things into account:
- What’s your budget? This does matter to just about all of us and very well may drive how your learning goes. You might decide you don’t like a very specific part of your game and that’s where you’ll commit your resources.
- Does this person “feel right”? A simple conversation with them before committing to a single lesson should get you past this one.
- Does the instructor offer the technology you want? Some golfers are data people, so they need numbers or video or the like. Others don’t want to mess with that and just go with feel.
- Can the instructor teach you in a manner that allows you to take in the information and then turn it into an improving golf game? Some instructors are hands on — they’ll move you about so that you can feel proper positions. Others will give you “thoughts” or “feelings” to use.
Here’s to improving your game! We all know golf can be tough and frustrating and sometimes a little help can go a long way even for the best golfers.
The LPGA Tour is kicking off its 2026 season this week at Lake Nona Golf and Country Club in Orlando, and the pros are dealing with something most Florida golfers rarely face: freezing temperatures.
“It’s colder here than in the UK at the minute, which is a first,” said England’s Charley Hull during Wednesday’s media day at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions.
Even Lydia Ko, who lives at Lake Nona, seemed surprised by the cold snap. “We’re pretty much getting to below zero in celsius here, which maybe in other parts of the country they would be thankful, but when you’re in Florida it is a little bit of a surprise,” she said.
If the world’s best players are adjusting their games for cold weather, recreational golfers should, too. Here’s how to play smart when the mercury drops.
Understand What Cold Does to Your Game
Before you change anything, you need to know what you’re fighting against. Cold air is denser than warm air, which means your ball won’t fly as far. Period.
Hull noticed this immediately during practice rounds at Lake Nona. She mentioned hitting a gap wedge into the 18th hole during a previous win but needing a 4-iron during Tuesday’s practice round. That’s a difference of four or five clubs for the same shot.
Action item: Expect to lose 5-10 yards on every club in your bag when temperatures dip below 50 degrees. Plan accordingly and don’t be stubborn about club selection.
Layer Up Without Restricting Your Swing
Hull admitted she wore three pairs of pants during practice. While that might be extreme for most of us, staying warm is critical to playing well in cold conditions.
Your muscles need warmth to function properly. When you’re cold, your body tightens up and your swing gets shorter and faster. Neither of those things help you hit good golf shots.
Action item: Wear multiple thin layers instead of one bulky jacket. Look for golf-specific cold weather gear that stretches with your swing. Keep hand warmers in your pockets between shots. And don’t forget a good hat because you lose significant body heat through your head.
Take More Club Than You Think You Need
This is where ego gets in the way of good scores. When it’s cold, the ball doesn’t compress as well off the clubface. Combined with denser air, you’re looking at serious distance loss.
The pros at Lake Nona are dealing with a course that measures 6,642 yards but plays much longer this week. If they’re adjusting, you should too.
Action item: Take at least one extra club on every approach shot. In temperatures below 40 degrees, consider taking two extra clubs. It’s better to fly the ball to the back of the green than to come up short in a bunker.
Adjust Your Expectations on the Greens
Cold weather affects putting in ways most golfers don’t consider. The ball is harder and doesn’t roll as smoothly. Your hands are cold, making it harder to feel the putter. And if there’s any moisture on the greens, they’ll be slower than normal.
Ko mentioned that she still sometimes reads the greens wrong at Lake Nona despite being a member for years. Cold weather makes that challenge even tougher.
Action item: Hit putts more firmly than usual. The ball needs extra speed to hold its line on cold greens. Take a few extra practice strokes to get a feel for the speed before you putt.
Embrace the Mental Challenge
Hull said something interesting about cold weather golf: “I like the mental toughness of it.”
That’s the right attitude. Everyone on the course is dealing with the same conditions. The player who stays patient and doesn’t get frustrated by the extra difficulty will come out ahead.
Action item: Lower your expectations by a few strokes. If you normally shoot 85, accept that 90 might be a good score in 40-degree weather. Focus on solid contact and smart decisions rather than perfect shots.
Warm Up Longer and Smarter
This might be the most important tip of all. Cold muscles are tight muscles, and tight muscles get injured easily.
World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul revealed she’s been protecting a wrist injury that bothered her late last season. Cold weather makes those kinds of injuries more likely if you don’t prepare properly.
Action item: Spend at least 20 minutes warming up before your round. Start with stretching, then hit easy wedge shots before working up to your driver. Keep moving between shots on the course to maintain body heat and flexibility.
The pros at Lake Nona this week will adapt and compete at the highest level despite the cold. You can do the same at your local course by following these tips and keeping a positive attitude.
PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “Playing Through” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, each Monday.
Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more tips!
Brooks Koepka is back on the PGA Tour, and whether you love him or hate him, the guy knows how to win when it matters. After his LIV Golf stint, the five-time major champion returns this week at the Farmers Insurance Open.
What makes Koepka fascinating? He doesn’t fit the mold. His swing isn’t textbook. He doesn’t obsess over mechanics. Yet he’s won three PGA Championships and two U.S. Opens, regularly making it look easier than guys with prettier swings.
So, what can average golfers learn from someone who treats the game so differently? Quite a bit.
Stop Overthinking Every Shot
Koepka describes his approach as “reactionary” rather than mechanical. While most tour pros grind over swing thoughts, Brooks sees the target and hits it. No mental checklist.
This might be the most valuable lesson for weekend golfers who’ve watched too many YouTube swing videos.
How to actually do this:
On the range, hit five balls where you stare at the target for three seconds prior to addressing the ball. Don’t think about grip or stance. Just burn that target into your brain. You’ll be shocked at how pure you hit it when your brain focuses on where the ball is going instead of how you’re swinging.
Next time you play, give yourself a rule: Once you pull the club, you’ve got 15 seconds to hit. Koepka is one of the fastest players on tour because he doesn’t give his brain time to sabotage him.
If you feel tension in your hands at address, you’re trying to control too much. Koepka’s grip pressure is famously light. Loosen up until the club almost feels like it might slip, then add just enough pressure to hold on. That’s your swing thought: soft hands, see the target.
This approach works better under pressure. When you’re standing over that shot with water left and OB right, the last thing you need is a mental checklist. See it, feel it, hit it.
Play to Your Strengths (Even If They’re Not Pretty)
Koepka uses a strong grip that wouldn’t pass muster in some teaching circles. But he’s built his game around what works for him, elite driving distance and recovery skills. He doesn’t try to be someone he’s not.
Here’s how to build your game like Brooks:
Look at your last five rounds and figure out where you’re actually gaining strokes. Bombing it off the tee, but can’t hit greens? Lean into it. Play courses where distance matters more than precision. On tight holes, grip down on your 3-wood instead of trying to thread a driver through a keyhole you’ll miss seven times out of ten.
Koepka knows he can scramble, so he’s not afraid to miss greens. If you’re deadly from 50 to 75 yards, start leaving yourself those distances on the par 5’s instead of going for them in two every time.
Know when to take your medicine. Koepka in the trees at the PGA? He’s punching out to 100 yards, not trying to bend a 6-iron around three oaks. You’re in the rough with a flyer lie and water short? Hit your 8-iron to the middle and move on. That’s not playing scared, that’s playing smart.
Save Your Best for When It Counts
Here’s a wild stat: Koepka’s putting average in majors is often more than a full stroke better per round than in regular events. He elevates when pressure is highest.
How does an amateur tap into that gear? It’s not about trying harder, it’s about caring differently.
Here’s what actually works:
Decide which rounds matter to you. Club championship? Member-guest? That annual trip with college buddies? Circle those dates and treat them differently. Koepka doesn’t care much about regular tour events, but majors? That’s when he locks in.
Two weeks before your big round, change your practice. Stop beating balls mindlessly. Play nine holes in which every shot has consequences. Miss the fairway? Hit from the rough on the next hole too. Three-putt? Twenty push-ups. Koepka’s practice intensity ramps up before majors because he’s rehearsing pressure, not just swings.
Develop a between-shot routine that resets your brain. Koepka is famous for his blank expression after bad shots. Try this: After any shot, take three deep breaths while walking, then find something specific to notice, a tree, a cloud, someone’s shirt. That’s your reset button. By the time you reach your ball, the last shot is gone.
The Bottom Line
Brooks Koepka’s return reminds us there’s no single path to success in golf. His “substance over style” approach proves that results matter more than looking good.
You don’t need a perfect swing; you need a reliable one that holds up under pressure. You don’t need to hit every shot in the book; you need the shots you can count on. And you don’t need to play great every time; you need to play great when it matters.
Welcome back, Brooks. Thanks for the reminder that golf is ultimately about getting the ball in the hole, not winning style points.
PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “Playing Through” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, each Monday.
Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more tips!
Blades Brown made a big impression last week in the California desert, and not just because he’s only 18. He put up numbers that would catch any weekend golfer’s attention. Most of us won’t hit 317-yard drives or find 86% of our greens in regulation, but there’s a lot to learn from how Brown managed his game at The American Express.
Here are three practical lessons from his performance that you can use on your own course this weekend.
Step 1: Give Priority to Accuracy Over Distance Off The Tee
Brown’s driving stats are impressive. He averaged almost 318 yards off the tee, ranking 12th in the field. More importantly, he hit 76.79% of his fairways, tying for fourth place in the tournament.
Think about that ratio for a second. Brown could have swung harder, chased more distance and tried to overpower the course. Instead, he played smart golf and kept his ball in play.
Your Action Item: Next time you’re on the tee box, ask yourself a simple question before pulling the driver. Do you need maximum distance here, or do you need to be in the fairway? If there’s trouble lurking or the hole doesn’t demand every yard you can muster, take something off your swing. Grip down an inch. Make a three-quarter swing. Do whatever it takes to find the short grass. Brown’s approach illustrates that fairways lead to greens, and greens lead to birdies. He made 22 of them last week, along with an eagle.
The math is simple. When you’re hitting three out of every four fairways like Brown did, you’re giving yourself legitimate looks at the green with your approach shots. That’s when scoring happens.
Step 2: Commit To Hitting More Greens
This is where Brown really separated himself. He hit 62 of 72 greens in regulation, an 86.11% clip that tied for first in the entire field. Read that again. An 18-year-old kid tied for the lead in one of the most important ball-striking statistics in professional golf.
How did he do it? By keeping his ball in the fairway (see Step 1) and giving himself clean looks with mid-irons and wedges.
Your Action Item: Start tracking your greens in regulation. You don’t need a fancy app or a statistics degree. Just mark down whether you hit the green in the regulation number of strokes. Par 3s in one shot. Par 4s in two shots. Par 5s in three shots.
Once you know your baseline, set a goal to improve it by 10%. If you’re currently hitting five greens per round, aim for six. The beauty of this approach is that it forces you to think strategically about club selection and shot shape. Brown’s strokes gained approach number was positive (0.179), meaning he was better than the field average. You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to be on the dance floor more often.
When you hit more greens, you eliminate the need for heroic short game shots. Brown only had to scramble 10 times all week, and he got up and down 70% of the time. That’s solid, but the real story is that he rarely put himself in scrambling situations to begin with.
Step 3: Minimize Mistakes And Stay Patient
Here’s the stat that jumps off the page: Brown made only three bogeys all week. Three. In four rounds of professional golf against the best players in the world.
He also made just one double bogey. That kind of clean card doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when you play within yourself, avoid the big miss and trust that pars are never bad scores.
Your Action Item: Before your next round, decide that you’re going to play boring golf. No hero shots over water. No driver on tight holes just because you can. No aggressive pins when there’s a safe side of the green.
Brown’s performance shows us that consistency beats flash every single time. He didn’t lead the field in any single strokes gained category, but he was solid across the board. That’s how you post numbers and cash checks.
Give these three steps a try. Your scorecard will thank you.
PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “The Starter” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, each Monday.
Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more tips!
RBC Heritage Tour Report: More minis, course-specific setups, Spider & GTS launches
Justin Rose WITB 2026 (April): Full WITB breakdown with new McLaren irons
Best fairway woods of 2026: The most versatile fairway woods + the most forgiving fairway woods
Gary Woodland’s winning WITB: 2026 Texas Children’s Houston Open
What’s the story behind Webb Simpson’s custom-stamped irons?
Cadillac Championship Tour Report: Spieth’s sizable changes, McLaren Golf launches, and more
The 24 players who can win the Masters
Rory McIlroy’s winning WITB: 2026 Masters
Kristoffer Reitan’s winning WITB: 2026 Truist Championship
J.J. Spaun’s winning WITB: 2026 Valero Texas Open
Alex Fitzpatrick WITB 2026 (May)
Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (15 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus...
Kristoffer Reitan’s winning WITB: 2026 Truist Championship
Driver: Ping G440 Max (9 degrees) Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 60 TX 3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees) Shaft:...
WITB Time Machine: Rory McIlroy’s winning WITB, 2021 Truist Championship
Rory McIlroy’s victory at the 2021 Wells Fargo Championship 2021 (now the Truist Championship) marked a significant return to form,...
Collin Morikawa WITB 2026 (May)
Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D LS (8 degrees) Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 60 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade SIM Tour (14 degrees) Shaft:...
-
Equipment2 weeks agoJustin Rose WITB 2026 (April): Full WITB breakdown with new McLaren irons
-
Equipment1 week agoWhat’s the story behind Webb Simpson’s custom-stamped irons?
-
Equipment2 weeks agoCadillac Championship Tour Report: Spieth’s sizable changes, McLaren Golf launches, and more
-
Whats in the Bag3 days ago
Kristoffer Reitan’s winning WITB: 2026 Truist Championship
-
Whats in the Bag1 week agoCameron Young’s winning WITB: 2026 Cadillac Championship
-
Whats in the Bag3 weeks agoNelly Korda WITB 2026 (April)
-
Equipment2 weeks agoJustin Rose on the switch to McLaren Golf, learnings from previous equipment moves
-
Tour Photo Galleries2 weeks agoPhotos from the 2026 Cadillac Championship
naflack
Sep 18, 2013 at 2:24 pm
I am also self taught…start every year as a 7 and by years end I’ll be a two. I see both sides of it. I often play with the well intentioned chop who just loves the game but I also have some friends who are aspiring pga instructors.
What I see are people like me who do relatively well on their own and many who seek constant instruction but always struggle…not much in between. I have firm opinions on what I would do of I couldn’t shot a certain score but that aside it appears that physical limitations determine how good a person will play, the others I come across who are self taught and play well are all natural athletes as well.
In fairness to any instructor if someone can’t make the necessary movements how can they improve, I don’t think they can.
Brad
Sep 1, 2013 at 6:33 pm
I’ve been doing this 30 years now. I will give anywhere from 60-100 one hour lessons a week in a seasonal environment. What was said here is all true but also doesn’t really solve anything we didn’t already know. It’s like investing. “Past performance does not guarantee future results.” I’ve seen them all from the unteachable to the sponge who gets it in 3 swings and the lesson is over. History has shown the datatrobes and the analysis/paralysis types take far longer “to get it”, if ever, than the feel players. For myself, the separation factor from other instructors came in refining an approach that detailed to the student upfront what to expect. One that would tell the student the exact feeling they were feeling as it happened. Telling them the exact shot they were going to hit before they hit it. And teaching the student how to teach themselves so they feel like right up front we won’t be married to each other….just dating as friends. As for the “tipping” thing, about 60% of my students tip me. I would assume it’s because I exceeded their expectations from the lesson. I do get into it and become their personal cheering section. The tipping the doctor thing as an analogy falls a little short. Most have the expectation of walking out alive so nowhere to exceed anything there. And I’ve yet to see a doctor cure anything in his office. I can cure a slice forever in 3 balls or less in my office. That’s usually worth it’s weight in lost golf balls saved alone as a tipping reference point.
Nick
Aug 29, 2013 at 2:57 pm
I highly recommend professional instruction. I tried to “self teach” and went no where. It was very frustrating. I’ve dropped 7 points off my index in two years with professional help and finally reached single digits. My job only allows me a round or two a week and perhaps 3 hours of practice on top. I don’t say this to show off, I am far from the best or fastest improving golfer out there. However, I spent the better part of a year going no where on my own and then saw my index drop steadily the minute I started getting lessons. I wish I had opened my wallet sooner because it would have saved me a lot of frustration. Each lesson is not an instant fix (though sometimes they can be) but the cumalitive effect of working on the right things and getting proper feedback (Trackman is defintiely NOT ruining my golf Brandel Chamblee) has done wonders for me and I enjoy the game more for it.
John
Sep 2, 2013 at 9:55 pm
Same here with the teaching myself. Yes, it can work, but through too much trial and error to identity the small things in the swing. A lot easier and faster to have a second pair of knowledgable eyes. Definitely worth while to go to an actual golf instructor, not a club pro.
GW
Aug 29, 2013 at 1:18 pm
WARNING…possible dumb question ahead…is it customary to tip a pro after a lesson?
Bobtrumpet
Aug 29, 2013 at 4:17 pm
Never heard of it. Not saying it’s never been done . . .
Do you tip your doctor or other professional (lawyer, accountant, veterinarian, etc.)?
Aaron
Aug 29, 2013 at 4:34 pm
I always tip my pro. I appreciate the instruction and he always goes above and beyond.
chris
Aug 30, 2013 at 2:14 am
Any little extra is always appreciated from anyone. I do not charge any rate myself. My students pay whatever they seem fit after our lessons. On average i’ll spend 80mins with a student. Mostly all instructors will have a set fee from $40-$100 depending on your location. To tip an extra $5 is more than enough. At the end of series or after a month i’ve been tipped with gift cards for local restaurants. See if your instructor drinks coffee or tea. At the end flip him a $5 starbucks card if you’ve enjoyed the lesson. The extra $5 might get you some “special treatment” if you ever need a quick tune up.
Thanks for putting us in the same group as med professionals, lawyers and vets but we’re our own certain group of individuals.
John
Sep 2, 2013 at 9:52 pm
That seems fair to me. Because by and large, the people who actually gain something valuable from lessons, at least myself, are willing to give pay extra for what they received. Though I don’t really think its necessary to tip someone with a set price, because they know what they are getting out of it anyways, so it really comes down to the question, ” was it worth it in the first place?”.
John
Sep 2, 2013 at 9:48 pm
To me the tip is the fee you paid them for the lesson. Or the return business they get from you. A tip is for a waiter or cart boy who make it off tips. Not the pro with a nice salary.
mike blanco
Sep 10, 2013 at 10:19 am
There are not that many Pro’s that make much salary. I am not saying any just not many. I have been a Pro for over twenty years. I never expect to receive a tip after I give a paid lesson. I have received many and lots of nice gifts at Christmas time, but never expected. However here is something to think about. Has your Pro ever been asked by you or any other players for a quick tip? That may be a good time to tip him back.
Ronald Montesano
Aug 28, 2013 at 11:47 pm
“… I have taught myself to a +8 as of late!”
An 8 handicap is someone who shoots around 82. A +8 is someone who shoots around 62. If you taught yourself to a +8, Peter, you should teach the game to everyone.
Tot
Aug 29, 2013 at 2:35 am
haha, I was thinking the same thing, this guy must be better than Woods!
Peter Reich
Aug 29, 2013 at 6:10 am
So call it a typo… Great input by the way.
chris
Aug 28, 2013 at 10:40 pm
As a PGA Instructor with 7+ years of independent teaching I understand your problem. Most local pros want to teach out of the book and have little experience in applying new methods/theories. I invite all new students over to the house for a lite bbq dinner to answer any questions they may have. Its an easy “get to know one another” time spent with new students. Not all new students agree with my methods but they’ve atleast gotten to know me and my family in the process. I’d suggest you call around and pick the brains of your local instructors. If that doesn’t work my email channel is alwsys open! Keep the chin up and rotation accelerated, Chris
Matt
Aug 29, 2013 at 11:50 am
Chris,
What is your email?
Peter
Aug 28, 2013 at 9:24 pm
As a self taught golfer I wish I could find a pro that had a legitimate teaching style and philosophy! I have been to every public club and course and they either only want to yeah you to hit the ball straight only, no fades or draws, no creativity, or they want to tell me the best thing for my game would be new clubs that are the biggest and bulkiest things I have ever seen! Since those failures I have taught myself to a +8 as of late!