Instruction
Stickney: Fix the real cause of the problem with a launch monitor
As teachers, we all have our own ideas of how golfers should swing the club. Sometimes our recommendations for a particular student follow the norm while other times they can be a little different because of an injury or some other kind of irregularity.
In a perfect world, after you made a few swings in front of us teachers, we would be able to see the end result of what you can do based on our experience, your coordination, your time to practice, your desire, etc. From there, we could make our own best guess as to how to get you playing your best in the shortest amount of time. While improving someone’s golf game never has been and probably never will be a perfect science, the inventions of high-speed video, 3D Motion Analysis software and Doppler Radar launch monitors like FlightScope and Trackman, it has never been easier to see what players can and cannot do fundamentally.
Sometimes teachers can make things too hard for their students and at times we can get off-track if we go too fast during a lesson. I am just as guilty as any of the teachers you know; it can be tough sometimes because we see so many people. The bottom line is that there is a cause for everything in the golf swing, and through lessons we hope to improve whatever effect is holding you back from the results you want.
I would like to show you a swing sequence from a buddy of mine; a former mini-tour guy who is a total feel player (if you don’t know what that means, think Fred Couples). He’s proof that it’s often a good idea for instructors to put their technology to use on a student before they jump into quick fixes that could actually be a disservice.
Here you will see that as a teacher you must sometimes use your technology in a way that slows you down. You cannot always jump into fixing all the effects you see right away or you can create new problems without fixing the old ones.
Photo 1
You can see that this player had a swing path that was moving 11.8 degrees from in to out, which was obviously an issue. The key for me, however, was to understand why is the path was moving so rightward. It would have been easy for me to tell him to feel like he was hitting over-the-top cuts and that would have fixed the path. But without knowing the real cause of the in-to-out path, I couldn’t be sure that was the best way to help him.
Photo 2
Look at the front angle of his swing (Photo 2) and you might notice a reverse hip shift. His right leg is angled inward, his left knee is out toward the ball and his torso is leaning over the right leg to counter balance the body. Think about it this way: As the hips run out from under this player, his left shoulder will dip down and his arms will go up. From here, the club is in an overly upright position and if he didn’t drop his club under his path would be too far to the left to hit a consistent draw.
Photo 3
Photo 3 is evidence of this. His right knee is straightening too fast in the backswing (for this player, but not all players of course) and the left knee is moving outward toward the ball. That pushes the arms out away from the body. From here, all he can do is re-route the club deeply to the inside to shift the path right of his face so he can move the ball right to left.
Photo 4
From the position in photo 4, he has pushed the swing direction so far to the right that it will be very hard for him to not hit blocks or big swinging hooks. So, the EFFECT was an overly in-to-out path that was causing an inconsistent ball flight, but the CAUSE was his faulty pivot motion (the reverse hip shift) that pushed the club into a position at the top that necessitated an overly aggressive drop to the inside in order to hit draws.
How did we fix it? It was simple.
I told him to let his shoulders lead. They would power the backswing, PULLING the hips to the top. This slowed down the rate of the hip rotation and the reverse hip shift went away.
With a better pivot, the arms weren’t pushed away from the body and the shoulders turned a touch more perpendicular to the axis of the spine to the top. That rounded out his backswing a touch and cured his need to re-route the club so deeply during the downswing. Remember, for better players and feel players, if you can put them into a better fundamental position at the top, the downswing usually will improve. Fix the cause, not the effect!
This was all the more evidence that if teachers are too fast with their diagnosis they can miss the boat on the simple fixes that bring rampant improvement. I always try NOT to go off on a complex mechanical tangent unless it is necessary. Usually, fixing the things that happen earlier in the swing will greatly influence the things that happen later. That’s why teachers should always think twice (and maybe a few more times) before they act, and modern technologies like FlightScope and Trackman are great resources to consult if there is any uncertainty or for a second opinion.
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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scientific golfer
Dec 29, 2014 at 8:05 pm
While killing time in the gym at my home course during a frost delay I was getting in my setup and doing practice swings with a medicine ball while looking in the mirror (something I do often when waiting to tee off, or while waiting for the range to open). I noticed I too had over active knee, leg, and hip movement (at least in my mind). Unlike your student I didn’t use shoulder motion as a fix. I went lower down for my fix, and decided to isolate the leg movement directly. I already balance over my ankles, and inside of my feet (to stabilize myself and maintain posture during the swing). While I could think about holding a knee in position its hard to do that with both at the same time. What I need up doing was using a key Ernie Els wrote about in the wedge section of his short game book. I went with the feeling of having pressure down into my legs which activated muscles in the legs to stabilize and reduce motion. Ernie discribed it as how an Olympic weight lifter rests the barbell on the legs before slinging it up for the lift. I believe some people like to call the act ground force resistance. Getting back to its effect on the golf swing it quieted my lower body (knees, legs, and hips), lead to a shorter swing that kept my arms more in front of my chest near the top of the swing, and made my transition and downswing more automatic. I also think more efficient with less moving parts, and less area to go wrong. Its an alternative you might want to consider if you see the problem occur again (unless you see a problem with this solution).
Robert
Sep 13, 2014 at 11:47 pm
I learned a long time ago that having the proper grip and posture makes it so much easier to hit the ball well. If anyone goes to a lesson and the teacher does not start with your grip, then leave immediately. It is incredibly hard to succeed without a proper grip and stance. I worked on just those two things for months and it did wonders for my golf game and I’ve helped plenty of people by telling them to do the same. Your chances of hitting it well increase so much by having proper fundamentals.
Tom Stickney II
Sep 14, 2014 at 12:39 am
Setup is key
Anon
Sep 10, 2014 at 12:38 am
I have never seen a 1.50 smash factor before, much less a 1.51! That’s incredible! Is that clubhead speed measurement accurate at 99 mph?
Tom Stickney II
Sep 10, 2014 at 1:18 am
Yep…he’s a great ball striker
TP
Sep 9, 2014 at 11:18 pm
Hi Tom, really enjoy your work.
Just a question, with photo 2 the face to path was -2.4 and the flight showed a slight draw however with photos 1, 3 and 4 the face to path was -6.8 however the ball shaped left to right.
Just wondering why?
Thanks
Tom Stickney II
Sep 10, 2014 at 1:20 am
Two different swings. If you see a face to path with an opposite spun axis there is gear effect from off center hits
Ross
Sep 10, 2014 at 1:03 pm
So not such a great ball-striker after all?
Tom Stickney II
Sep 10, 2014 at 3:21 pm
Better than most
Tom Duckworth
Sep 9, 2014 at 7:07 pm
Thanks this story really helped me. Lately I have been trying to focus on posture and I think I have been having somewhat the same issue with my lower body. So you gave me something to think about my next range session. Lets the shoulders turn correctly with good posture and the hips should take of themselves.
Tom Stickney II
Sep 9, 2014 at 7:51 pm
delayed hip action per homer kelley is a good way to play.
CD
Sep 10, 2014 at 3:12 am
Your point about launch monitors and looking at causation is fine, but you whilst you fixed his ball flight the tips of his vertebrae will now be clanging together and calcifying over time (arthritis) if the player attempts to turn his thoracic spine before the lumbar section. His initial hip pivot looked sound, more in unison and there appeared to be a transfer of weight. I don’t disagree that a chain of causation for the in to out path might lead to the hip motion, but better ball flight and natural ranges of motion are not necessarily mutual. The next link up in the chain might sometimes be the one to fix and not the base?
steve ball
Sep 10, 2014 at 3:07 pm
exellent comments — sounds like the fantastic information the golf world is learning from the guys at TPI. Evals first then the swing
Tom Stickney II
Sep 10, 2014 at 3:24 pm
What if he doesn’t or won’t work out? What then?
Tom Stickney II
Sep 10, 2014 at 3:23 pm
I disagree
Tom Stickney II
Sep 10, 2014 at 3:28 pm
I disagree…I have an exercise science degree so I’m familiar with the pelvic actions you’re discussing thus my opinions.
KB33
Sep 9, 2014 at 2:36 pm
YES, thank you! More socialization of this type of instruction is beyond important.
Tom Stickney II
Sep 9, 2014 at 3:02 pm
Glad you liked it.
Doc Todd
Sep 9, 2014 at 12:48 pm
I wish there was a local place in OKC that had this technology! If these radars weren’t so expensive, I’d look t one for personal use.
TR1PTIK
Sep 9, 2014 at 2:40 pm
I’m sure you could find a pro who has one in your area. I didn’t think I’d find any in JOMO, but one of the local course pros bought a Flightscope this season to use during lessons. I have an appointment on Friday.
Tom Stickney II
Sep 9, 2014 at 3:00 pm
Let me know how it goes!
Tom Stickney II
Sep 9, 2014 at 3:02 pm
Oaktree has one
Doc Todd
Sep 9, 2014 at 5:14 pm
Thanks Tom, I will check them out and see if they will do lessons for non members or reciprocate fees.
Tom Stickney II
Sep 9, 2014 at 5:42 pm
Anytime
steve ball
Sep 10, 2014 at 3:06 pm
Doc,
this is steve ball from ball golf center. we have this trackman technology that is displayed here. We are also Level 3 TPI fitness which means we can discuss the comment from above about stacked vetebrae, T spin rotation… which is really the cause of this players problem, I believe. Until that is addressed it is hard to make swing changes. Call if you would like to discuss
steve ball 842-2626
Tom Stickney II
Sep 10, 2014 at 3:25 pm
Let me know what you two come up with. I’ll pass it on.
Don
Sep 9, 2014 at 11:01 am
Thank you Tom for bringing this to light. I have gone through a couple of instructors whom I think were more focused on fixing the effect as you say. My instructor now really took some time to look at my swing and my ball striking improved significantly. Ironically it was a similar issue to your example.
Tom Stickney II
Sep 9, 2014 at 11:35 am
Awesome. Thx
NT
Sep 9, 2014 at 10:24 am
Great Article!
Tom Stickney II
Sep 9, 2014 at 10:26 am
Thx.