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.
Instruction
The Wedge Guy: Beating the yips into submission

There may be no more painful affliction in golf than the “yips” – those uncontrollable and maddening little nervous twitches that prevent you from making a decent stroke on short putts. If you’ve never had them, consider yourself very fortunate (or possibly just very young). But I can assure you that when your most treacherous and feared golf shot is not the 195 yard approach over water with a quartering headwind…not the extra tight fairway with water left and sand right…not the soft bunker shot to a downhill pin with water on the other side…No, when your most feared shot is the remaining 2- 4-foot putt after hitting a great approach, recovery or lag putt, it makes the game almost painful.
And I’ve been fighting the yips (again) for a while now. It’s a recurring nightmare that has haunted me most of my adult life. I even had the yips when I was in my 20s, but I’ve beat them into submission off and on most of my adult life. But just recently, that nasty virus came to life once again. My lag putting has been very good, but when I get over one of those “you should make this” length putts, the entire nervous system seems to go haywire. I make great practice strokes, and then the most pitiful short-stroke or jab at the ball you can imagine. Sheesh.
But I’m a traditionalist, and do not look toward the long putter, belly putter, cross-hand, claw or other variation as the solution. My approach is to beat those damn yips into submission some other way. Here’s what I’m doing that is working pretty well, and I offer it to all of you who might have a similar affliction on the greens.
When you are over a short putt, forget the practice strokes…you want your natural eye-hand coordination to be unhindered by mechanics. Address your putt and take a good look at the hole, and back to the putter to ensure good alignment. Lighten your right hand grip on the putter and make sure that only the fingertips are in contact with the grip, to prevent you from getting to tight.
Then, take a long, long look at the hole to fill your entire mind and senses with the target. When you bring your head/eyes back to the ball, try to make a smooth, immediate move right into your backstroke — not even a second pause — and then let your hands and putter track right back together right back to where you were looking — the HOLE! Seeing the putter make contact with the ball, preferably even the forward edge of the ball – the side near the hole.
For me, this is working, but I am asking all of you to chime in with your own “home remedies” for the most aggravating and senseless of all golf maladies. It never hurts to have more to fall back on!
Instruction
Looking for a good golf instructor? Use this checklist

Over the last couple of decades, golf has become much more science-based. We measure swing speed, smash factor, angle of attack, strokes gained, and many other metrics that can really help golfers improve. But I often wonder if the advancement of golf’s “hard” sciences comes at the expense of the “soft” sciences.
Take, for example, golf instruction. Good golf instruction requires understanding swing mechanics and ball flight. But let’s take that as a given for PGA instructors. The other factors that make an instructor effective can be evaluated by social science, rather than launch monitors.
If you are a recreational golfer looking for a golf instructor, here are my top three points to consider.
1. Cultural mindset
What is “cultural mindset? To social scientists, it means whether a culture of genius or a culture of learning exists. In a golf instruction context, that may mean whether the teacher communicates a message that golf ability is something innate (you either have it or you don’t), or whether golf ability is something that can be learned. You want the latter!
It may sound obvious to suggest that you find a golf instructor who thinks you can improve, but my research suggests that it isn’t a given. In a large sample study of golf instructors, I found that when it came to recreational golfers, there was a wide range of belief systems. Some instructors strongly believed recreational golfers could improve through lessons. while others strongly believed they could not. And those beliefs manifested in the instructor’s feedback given to a student and the culture created for players.
2. Coping and self-modeling can beat role-modeling
Swing analysis technology is often preloaded with swings of PGA and LPGA Tour players. The swings of elite players are intended to be used for comparative purposes with golfers taking lessons. What social science tells us is that for novice and non-expert golfers, comparing swings to tour professionals can have the opposite effect of that intended. If you fit into the novice or non-expert category of golfer, you will learn more and be more motivated to change if you see yourself making a ‘better’ swing (self-modeling) or seeing your swing compared to a similar other (a coping model). Stay away from instructors who want to compare your swing with that of a tour player.
3. Learning theory basics
It is not a sexy selling point, but learning is a process, and that process is incremental – particularly for recreational adult players. Social science helps us understand this element of golf instruction. A good instructor will take learning slowly. He or she will give you just about enough information that challenges you, but is still manageable. The artful instructor will take time to decide what that one or two learning points are before jumping in to make full-scale swing changes. If the instructor moves too fast, you will probably leave the lesson with an arm’s length of swing thoughts and not really know which to focus on.
As an instructor, I develop a priority list of changes I want to make in a player’s technique. We then patiently and gradually work through that list. Beware of instructors who give you more than you can chew.
So if you are in the market for golf instruction, I encourage you to look beyond the X’s and O’s to find the right match!
Instruction
What Lottie Woad’s stunning debut win teaches every golfer

Most pros take months, even years, to win their first tournament. Lottie Woad needed exactly four days.
The 21-year-old from Surrey shot 21-under 267 at Dundonald Links to win the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open by three shots — in her very first event as a professional. She’s only the third player in LPGA history to accomplish this feat, joining Rose Zhang (2023) and Beverly Hanson (1951).
But here’s what caught my attention as a coach: Woad didn’t win through miraculous putting or bombing 300-yard drives. She won through relentless precision and unshakeable composure. After watching her performance unfold, I’m convinced every golfer — from weekend warriors to scratch players — can steal pages from her playbook.
Precision Beats Power (And It’s Not Even Close)
Forget the driving contests. Woad proved that finding greens matters more than finding distance.
What Woad did:
• Hit it straight, hit it solid, give yourself chances
• Aimed for the fat parts of greens instead of chasing pins
• Let her putting do the talking after hitting safe targets
• As she said, “Everyone was chasing me today, and managed to maintain the lead and played really nicely down the stretch and hit a lot of good shots”
Why most golfers mess this up:
• They see a pin tucked behind a bunker and grab one more club to “go right at it”
• Distance becomes more important than accuracy
• They try to be heroic instead of smart
ACTION ITEM: For your next 10 rounds, aim for the center of every green regardless of pin position. Track your greens in regulation and watch your scores drop before your swing changes.
The Putter That Stayed Cool Under Fire
Woad started the final round two shots clear and immediately applied pressure with birdies at the 2nd and 3rd holes. When South Korea’s Hyo Joo Kim mounted a charge and reached 20-under with a birdie at the 14th, Woad didn’t panic.
How she responded to pressure:
• Fired back with consecutive birdies at the 13th and 14th
• Watched Kim stumble with back-to-back bogeys
• Capped it with her fifth birdie of the day at the par-5 18th
• Stayed patient when others pressed, pressed when others cracked
What amateurs do wrong:
• Get conservative when they should be aggressive
• Try to force magic when steady play would win
• Panic when someone else makes a move
ACTION ITEM: Practice your 3-6 foot putts for 15 minutes after every range session. Woad’s putting wasn’t spectacular—it was reliable. Make the putts you should make.
Course Management 101: Play Your Game, Not the Course’s Game
Woad admitted she couldn’t see many scoreboards during the final round, but it didn’t matter. She stuck to her game plan regardless of what others were doing.
Her mental approach:
• Focused on her process, not the competition
• Drew on past pressure situations (Augusta National Women’s Amateur win)
• As she said, “That was the biggest tournament I played in at the time and was kind of my big win. So definitely felt the pressure of it more there, and I felt like all those experiences helped me with this”
Her physical execution:
• 270-yard drives (nothing flashy)
• Methodical iron play
• Steady putting
• Everything effective, nothing spectacular
ACTION ITEM: Create a yardage book for your home course. Know your distances to every pin, every hazard, every landing area. Stick to your plan no matter what your playing partners are doing.
Mental Toughness Isn’t Born, It’s Built
The most impressive part of Woad’s win? She genuinely didn’t expect it: “I definitely wasn’t expecting to win my first event as a pro, but I knew I was playing well, and I was hoping to contend.”
Her winning mindset:
• Didn’t put winning pressure on herself
• Focused on playing well and contending
• Made winning a byproduct of a good process
• Built confidence through recent experiences:
- Won the Women’s Irish Open as an amateur
- Missed a playoff by one shot at the Evian Championship
- Each experience prepared her for the next
What this means for you:
• Stop trying to shoot career rounds every time you tee up
• Focus on executing your pre-shot routine
• Commit to every shot
• Stay present in the moment
ACTION ITEM: Before each round, set process goals instead of score goals. Example: “I will take three practice swings before every shot” or “I will pick a specific target for every shot.” Let your score be the result, not the focus.
The Real Lesson
Woad collected $300,000 for her first professional victory, but the real prize was proving that fundamentals still work at golf’s highest level. She didn’t reinvent the game — she simply executed the basics better than everyone else that week.
The fundamentals that won:
• Hit more fairways
• Find more greens
• Make the putts you should make
• Stay patient under pressure
That’s something every golfer can do, regardless of handicap. Lottie Woad just showed us it’s still the winning formula.
FINAL ACTION ITEM: Pick one of the four action items above and commit to it for the next month. Master one fundamental before moving to the next. That’s how champions are built.
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” on RG.org 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!
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.