Instruction
Do you have a swing flaw or an idiosyncrasy?
The more technologically advanced we’ve become in the golf instruction world, the better we’ve gotten at correcting swing flaws. We’ve also gotten better at recognizing swing idiosyncrasies. Deciphering between the two — a swing flaw and an idiosyncrasy — is now our job as swing instructors.
When I was growing up, video cameras were very expensive and not readily available to the public. They were reserved for TV news crews. Around the early 1980s, however, cheaper video cameras were introduced to the general public. That allowed people to take video of anything and everything. It was during this time that today’s “golf instructors” were born.
I have to admit that when my parents bought their first camera, all I wanted to do was take it to the range and see what I looked like compared to the guys I watched on the PGA Tour. I finally had an opportunity to “see” what I looked like — an eye-opening experience.
In the early days, programs like the Neat System, Astar, Swing Solutions, and the V1 allowed us to see the swing as it’s shown above. This is when we entered into the era of “position golf.”
The idea was that if the swing wasn’t aesthetically pleasing, then it was ill-suited for the player. The belief was that if a position was “off” then it would keep a golfer from playing well. We became a nation of golf instructors that taught aesthetics over function, myself included.
Therefore, if Jack Nicklaus had come to us with his flying right elbow, we would have all tried to correct it. Lee Trevino would have been told to line up straight, and Fred Couples would have never existed with that funky lift and reroute. Sadly this was very common in the 1990’s when amateurs took lessons.
Now, there has been a new advent of golf instruction and it is slowly helping us to understand that there will always be “funky” moves that players have, and those moves aren’t necessarily a career killer. Trackman has shown us that the ball only knows what happens during impact, and if a player can consistently find repeatable impact characteristics, then it doesn’t matter much how the swing looks. We are in the age of preaching function over aesthetics.
I personally couldn’t care less HOW you do “X” or “Y” as a better player. Golfers should strive for consistent numerical numbers that create the ball flight that the they desires. This line of teaching has now given players the freedom to swing in a way that works for THEM — not to be forced into a swing model or position that doesn’t. In fact, I can put just about everyone into a position that looks better on camera, but you still won’t be able to “play from there.”
Therefore, we must now ask the question: “Is it a swing flaw, or is it an idiosyncrasy?”
- If it’s a move that causes a player to fight something on the way down, then it’s a flaw.
- If it’s a move that does not alter the player’s ability to swing the club down into impact consistently, then it’s an idiosyncrasy.
Therefore, if Nicklaus can fly his right elbow and have success in delivering the clubhead and clubface to the ball with reasonable consistency, then he is welcome to fly away. If it gets aggressive to the point of detriment, however, then we must move it back to his normal right elbow position. You should never try to permanently eliminate a natural move, no matter how goofy or funky it may be, if golfers show proficiency with it.
By accepting idiosyncrasies, we can rid players of nit-picking positions on video and saying hypersensitive things like, “I hate my backswing and my right arm position at the top.” Those things just simply aren’t that important if you’re hitting the ball consistently.
So remember, your funky move might simply be an idiosyncrasy. Stressing about changing it will only do you harm in the end. Ask your teacher (or find one!) who can help you learn if you have a swing flaw or an idiosyncrasy.
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!
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!
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!
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Mad-Mex
Dec 26, 2014 at 10:14 pm
Nice article, refreshing in the cookie cutter swing era, I am sure no one would teach the Arnold Palmer or Trevino or Rodriguez swing!
Matthew Carter
Dec 25, 2014 at 11:29 am
Jim Furyk comes to mind….
Tom Stickney
Dec 25, 2014 at 4:22 pm
Matt- no doubt
Andrew Cooper
Dec 24, 2014 at 7:06 pm
Great article Tom. I hope you’re right and golf instruction is moving into a more enlightened era.
Jump
Dec 24, 2014 at 9:19 pm
Well thought out article. +1
Tom Stickney
Dec 25, 2014 at 4:21 pm
Jump. Thx.
Tom Stickney
Dec 25, 2014 at 4:22 pm
And– thx. Hope so
Shwing
Dec 23, 2014 at 12:33 pm
Swing your own swing!
Logical thought
Dec 23, 2014 at 12:36 pm
What if your own swing is terrible and causes you back pain?
tom stickney
Dec 23, 2014 at 7:45 pm
Shw— got to find what works!
tom stickney
Dec 23, 2014 at 7:45 pm
Logical– time for a change
Logical thought
Dec 23, 2014 at 7:33 am
Professionals with inefficient swings have been doing that move(s) since childhood and it’s one of the big reasons they have success with it. Most amateur golfers have a late start to the game and will never have the time to find that level of success. So my question is this Tom. Might a more mechanically sound swing be easier to become consistent with? Should we not be looking for the swing method that is simplest to learn and therefore quickest to become consistent with?
Tom Stickney
Dec 23, 2014 at 11:49 am
See my last article on swing methods and models.
Logical thought
Dec 23, 2014 at 12:40 pm
I’ve read it.
I’m more or less asking this: With all the research and technology going into the golf swing, shouldn’t researchers and instructors be looking for a way to measure the efficiency and simplicity of a swing so we can determine which methods are best? And in turn which are easiest for an amateur to learn and yield the best results.
Logical thought
Dec 26, 2014 at 4:52 am
As usual. No response to comments trying to incite discussion, only responds towards the praise….
Dennis Clark
Dec 22, 2014 at 6:53 pm
The golf hall of fame has its share of “funky” moves. This we know for certain. Good job Tom.
Tom Stickney
Dec 22, 2014 at 7:13 pm
Thx sir!
golfing
Dec 22, 2014 at 2:31 pm
Jack was across the line at the top, but his teacher never told him to do
otherwise, we see that new coaches tech by the looks of it, instead of the
results of it… to mechanical or visual positions, but it´s much more than
that, we humans are all different and have ways to to the job a little different from each other, the finesse of the swing is what Tiger had that
take him apart, how we (you and the club) swing, in relation to the ground
as your guide.
golfing
Dec 22, 2014 at 2:37 pm
Also the tour pro swing you try to copy, is not going to help you
much, as a higher swing speed needs a very stable lower body, and
for your swing you need rotation on the back swing or you will get
stuck behind and play catch up.
tom stickney
Dec 22, 2014 at 2:46 pm
Golf- Tour pros’ motions do require some different motions
tom stickney
Dec 22, 2014 at 2:44 pm
Golfing- we all made mistakes in the video era, but hopefully we won’t do the same things numerically with Trackman in this generation!
golfing
Dec 22, 2014 at 2:55 pm
Ok we all agree that the mechanical swing is killing
the swing or golf game, people are getting frustrated.
But Trackman is a visual thing too, the swing should
be seen as a Art more than a Science.
Tom Stickney
Dec 22, 2014 at 8:55 pm
Golf– TrackMan can be used to also teach feel.
other paul
Dec 22, 2014 at 2:13 pm
I play a flat swing plane because of a shoulder injury and I just can’t lift my rear arm high enough. Instructor told me to feel like I am going higher when i practice. And I have gotten a bit better. Ball flight isn’t so low and fat shots are decreasing.
tom stickney
Dec 22, 2014 at 2:45 pm
Other– you have to find what works for you for sure!
Andy Nelson PGA
Dec 22, 2014 at 2:02 pm
Tom-
Great article, its quite a sight to see how golf instruction has evolved over my years in the business. In terms of instruction, the guys that focus on improving someone’s natural motion, aka Butch Harmon’s style in my opinion, are the ones that generally stay busier and have happier students.
Well done!
tom stickney
Dec 22, 2014 at 2:45 pm
Thanks Andy
Crash2k1
Dec 22, 2014 at 1:42 pm
Outstanding! The ball does not know or care how the club gets to impact. Once I figured how to hit shots vs how to make a pretty swing my ball striking became more consistent and more easily repeatable. Remember: you record strokes, not aesthetically pleasing swings.
tom stickney
Dec 22, 2014 at 1:48 pm
Thanks!
Zra
Dec 22, 2014 at 1:27 pm
Nice writeup, Tom.
I always believe that there’s more than one way to swing a club. The general ideas of great swing may be roughly the same, but how the swing is delivered can be varied.
My parents took me to instructors since i was a kid, so my swing is pretty nice standard looking. For some people though, my tempo was too fast, and try to suggest i slow down. Never worked out for me, and now i tend to tell other people who attempted to talk me to “slow down and swing easy” that even though Nick Price isn’t swinging it smoothly like Davis Love III is, he is still just as successful” lol.
Tom Stickney
Dec 22, 2014 at 12:51 pm
Thx sir!
patricknorm
Dec 22, 2014 at 11:40 am
Excellent article Tom. I have a bent right arm ( I’m a leftie), hip replacement and knee replacement and a wonky lower back from a car accident and, I’m a 6 handicap. And If you saw a video of my swing its easy to criticize. I don’t like the way it looks but I know how it should feel and look. I consistently hit the middle of the club face and am fairly straight. I’ve had many lessons from a pro who gets my swing and deficiencies.
Last March I went to a club fitter who tried to change my swing. Ruined my back for months. I tried to explain my quirks but he would have none of it. Clubs were fine until my back finally settled down. Regardless, I know my Trackman numbers and often make adjustments to suit my ball flight during a tournament. This article was indeed a breath of fresh air.
tom stickney
Dec 22, 2014 at 1:48 pm
Thanks Patrick
Andrew
Dec 22, 2014 at 9:03 pm
Tom, Your article is encouraging. I have a flying elbow, nearly to the point it looks like a baseball swing. Maybe, I need to accept it and focus on other parts of the game. Andrew
Tom Stickney
Dec 23, 2014 at 1:22 am
Andrew- try the other way of thinking for a bit; you’ll know what works!