Instruction
There’s no need to fear lessons
I did five lessons today. Five different lessons.
The first person was in-to out, shut face, hitting hooks that barely got off the ground. The correction involved swinging more left through the ball and adding a slightly weaker grip.
The next person was out-to-in, wide-open face, hitting shanks and balloon slices. The correction involved a slightly stronger left-hand grip, and adding a shut face going up at impact with a more laterally sliding body motion.
The third person hit toe hooks, almost exclusively. The correction involved more rotation of the arms on the down swing and a “deeper” backswing.
Next up was a brand new player, who learned the grip, stance, ball position and posture — the building blocks of the swing.
And the last player shanked almost every pitch or chip he hit. We corrected his overly inside-out path and very late release.
Everyone has a different problem in golf, and therefore everyone needs a different lesson. A good rule of thumb for playing might be this: If you hit the same shot several times in a row, in other words you have no self-correctional ability, you need a lesson.
Remember, you DO NOT have to keep slicing, shanking, etc. You just need to be honest enough with yourself to admit you do not know what the problem is. If your car breaks down, you take a look to see if it’s something simple and if it isn’t, you take it to a mechanic. You probably don’t spend a week under the hood pretending you know what to do.
The first inclination golfers have when they go bad is to try and fix the problem. The next stop might be a friend who plays better than them, or to possibly read a magazine, watch the Golf Channel, etc. The last case scenario is to see a professional for a lesson. One reason for that sequence might be the cost; but there is also a certain hubris in this thinking. I’ve found that golfers are fearful of taking a lesson for a few reasons. They usually believe at least one of the following things:
- I’ll get worse before I get better.
- The pro will laugh when he/she sees my swing.
- I’ve been playing so long, I can’t change my swing.
The list goes on, but I’m here to tell you that after a lesson from me or another qualified professional:
- You will NOT get worse.
- You will not show me anything I have not seen in the 40,000 or so lessons I’ve done.
ANYBODY can change if they really want to. It just takes being honest with yourself, swallowing a little pride and asking for help. Here’s a rule of thumb: If you hit the same shot over and over, several times in a row, there’s a very good chance you don’t know what is causing the problem.
Everyone enjoys golf on a different level. Some are attracted to a ride in the park with friends on a nice day in a nice place. The score… so what? Sometimes over the years I wish I was so constituted.
But others just want to play better golf, it’s really that simple. If you’re in that camp, and you have been in a golf funk for some time, you might consider a lesson. Golf is always fun, but maybe a little more fun for some of us when we do better.
A teacher should know the swing in all of its complexity, but teach it in all it’s simplicity! I am not going to tell you all I know, only what YOU need to know about what YOU are doing that’s causing the problem.
I saw two members today on the tee that I have not seen since last winter. One went from a 21 to a 13, and the other stopped shanking (almost every shot) and is playing quite happily in the 80s. And both were given a few simple corrections and thoughts. PAINLESS, believe me.
As always, feel free to send a swing video to my Facebook page and I will do my best to give you my feedback.
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!
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Dennis Clark
Nov 20, 2013 at 7:58 pm
Thx to all. Great feedback. Remember my article was not an ad for more business. I have as much as I want! It was more directed to the people who might be wary of instruction because of things they’ve heard or myths that have been perpetrated. I only fix what needs to be fixed, and leave as much of the old swing as possible. If I can get you hitting the ball better with ONE little change, that’s my goal. If that doesn’t work, Ill go to two things– rarely more. Starting over is a nightmare for both teacher and student. And rarely helps anyway!
Jeff
Nov 13, 2013 at 9:21 am
Dennis, I agree with what you are saying – all of it. Unfortunately, in this area (Baton Rouge) Trackman Mania has taken over and pushed the lessons with good instructors to the 150.00 range. We used to have a guy here in town, Burt Burdick, who was a an older Pro that could fix any problem you had w/o Trackman and for about 50-60.00 per lesson. I once heard a Pro say – find yourself a Pro…. an older Pro….. who isn’t trying to pay off expensive fitting stuff and they can give you an excellent lesson at a great price. I’m looking for just a guy like that for my 13 yo son who just started a few months ago.
Martin
Nov 14, 2013 at 8:21 am
I really agree that pro´s with great experience is a good thing. I have taken lessons during the season and a few times (without extra cost) we were using flightscope. My pro, primarily, wanted to show me some numbers to increase my understanding of the swing path. And it was a real eyeopener. But the other lessons was correction, drills etc all the traditional stuff. Maybe this isnt something for your son yet, but even though I am a little conservative at times, new technique can be a good thing as well.
Craig Matthews
Nov 12, 2013 at 12:20 pm
Got to say I had two lessons this summer and it was the best thing I’ve done for my game. I have been playing for about 14 years and a 14hdcp but back issues had me driving the ball about 180 yards. At 63 years I should be able to do better. The pro changed my grip which got me back in form and although 220 is my best drive I am now able to compete.
Fred Bluhm
Nov 11, 2013 at 7:35 pm
I’m a nine hcp. I went to have a lesson a few months ago to try and improve on my game. It was my first lesson in over 40 years. The pro asked me to tee it up with my driver and hit one so he could see where I was at. I hit the ball around 250 yards down the middle. The first thing the pro said to me was… “ok, let me tell you what you’re doing wrong.” I haven’t been back since. I’ll keep trying to improve on my own. Nothing against instructors, but maybe at this stage of the game, I’m my best teacher.
Dennis Clark
Nov 12, 2013 at 4:40 pm
I totally agree
Regis
Nov 11, 2013 at 2:36 pm
My advice. Ask around. Get two or three names. Tske a lesson from one. If you bond buy a package. If not move to the next. Although one lesson can help, a weekly session with a pro you feel comfortable with over the course of a month or two is the best recipe for improvement.
Chris Hanson
Nov 9, 2013 at 11:59 am
Taking lessons from a PGA Professional like yourself definitely makes the game more enjoyable, especially if the student puts the time in to practice. Great article Dennis, keep them coming.
Tom
Nov 9, 2013 at 9:12 am
My body has changed over the years with injuries and age. Taking lessons every three years will insure that I enjoy playing golf well into my sixties and beyond.
Conrad MacDonald
Nov 8, 2013 at 9:09 pm
I haven’t paid for lessons in years. I get one every few weeks and it really helps, especially video.
paul
Nov 8, 2013 at 8:12 pm
I watched my swing on the v1 app. so cool. thought my one arm bent to much. went for a lesson and the pro agreed. problem is he found a bunch of other issues, but when i left the lesson a half hour later i was doing much better.
Zack
Nov 8, 2013 at 4:44 pm
I took lessons for the first time this summer. Definitely was a little intimidating. The pro had me hitting the ball so much better in less than 10 minutes. I would have spent a ton more money going to the range hitting the same shanks over and over again trying to figure out my swing myself. Definitely a believer in seeing a pro now!!
Grant Hargate
Nov 7, 2013 at 9:52 pm
I have been playing at golf since I was 12. I am now 56. I have worked with three different PGA professionals. They have always seen something that I could not.
I always improved. It always felt strange. My eldest son an engineer in Houston is now working with a PGA instructor. He will improve. I can guarantee it. PGA instruction is the best there is.
Grant Hargate
Nov 7, 2013 at 9:53 pm
One more thing. Spend the money on lessons before you buy new clubs.
RG
Nov 8, 2013 at 1:20 am
That maybe the best lesson in golf.
Dennis Clark
Nov 7, 2013 at 5:48 pm
Good luck. Accepting limitations is a noble thing. Sounds like you’re pretty happy with the state of things.
naflack
Nov 7, 2013 at 5:30 pm
My fear is that I’ll be taught to someone elses success.
The way they swing successfully will be the swing they teach me.
The second sounds ludicrous but spreading honestly…I don’t trust someone I don’t know to have any more knowledge of the swing than what I already know. The third is that I don’t practice and have no plans to start, I know my game and I accept my ability with my refusal to practice. Not all teachers are created equal and I’ve heard some doozies.
Sean
Nov 11, 2013 at 4:20 pm
I think it goes without saying that lessons are for people who want to improve. Not sure this page needed such a strongly-worded contrary position, such as yours.
naflack
Nov 14, 2013 at 4:54 pm
First of all there this isn’t strongly worded.
Second of all lessons in and of themselves don’t make you better.
Of the people I regularly play with some take lessons and some don’t but it isn’t by any means a reflection of ability. Arguably the guys who take the most lessons are the poorest players among us. Natural physical ability will not allow all of us to break 80… I have been a 1 before and the amount of time required to stay there vs the amount of time required to be a 3 isn’t comparable, I’ll take the 3. That doesn’t mean I don’t want to get better but I know I’ve maximized my natural ability. We wonder why the game is stagnant, people generally don’t want to have to make such wife reaching investments of time and money to enjoy their free time.
Some pros are great but some are terrible…
If we all needed lessons for every sport none of us would bother playing. I learned how to throw a football and baseball, how shoot a basket and dribble, I didn’t pay for lessons.
Dennis Clark
Nov 15, 2013 at 3:42 pm
I think you have to give consideration to those less athletic than you. I teach many people who picked up the game late and need guidance with it. One of my students won on the hooters tour last week with -13 for three days (he’s a +4) and he’s coming for a lesson this weekend also. So that’s why they make chocolate and vanilla…
naflack
Nov 18, 2013 at 1:33 am
fair enough…perhaps i took a little offense to the phrase “strongly worded”.
i have friends who teach the game and often suggest to me that my attitude towards the whole thing is the difference between me being a 3 and breaking par but i wonder why it has to be so serious for those of us who play when we get the chance, which can be rare. i am not trying to be flippent or disrespectful…i couldnt even teach the game to my wife.