Instruction
You don’t really want to improve your swing, do you?
Some golfers want to implement the swing changes their golf instructor suggests, but simply do not have the talent or time to make lasting improvements. This article isn’t about them. It’s about the golfers who have the physical ability to make certain swing changes, but refuse to let their ingrained motions be altered.
Why would someone spend the money to take lessons from a teaching professional and either not listen to the instruction, or not take the necessary steps to ingrain the changes? I’ve found that most of these golfers, often better players, do not understand the process required to make real, impactful improvements to their game; improvements that will allow them to succeed under pressure in competition.
Homer Kelley’s book The Golfing Machine has a few great quotes regarding the process of proper instruction. One of my favorites: “The student must approach instruction as a step-by-step process. The only real short cuts are more and more know-how. Every board and every panel must be cut to fit its place and fit in with the overall design. It’s premature to expect the complete results of instruction before the last factor is fitted in, understood and mastered.”
Kelley goes on to say that each player deserves instruction tailored to their skill level: “The student who can play and practice only occasionally should not be induced to proceed on the lines and precision that a prospective champion would need.” In my instruction, I always tried to build the best, most consistent swing I can for my students with the least amount of work on their part. And for me, keeping most of their original swing pattern intact is usually the path of least resistance.
The instructor’s job is to “inform and explain, the players’ job is to absorb and apply,” Kelley wrote. Therefore, a teacher and a student must work together, because a one-sided teacher-student relationship just will not reap meaningful benefits.
Good golf instructors WILL NOT want to change what you’ve always been doing in your swing unless it’s for the betterment of your game… trust me on that. A successful golf swing is full of compensations for moves that are idiosyncratic to each player. But if I’ve determined that you need to change your position at the top of your swing and you’re not allowing me to show you how or help you through the process, then our progress will stall.
Golfers taking lessons also need to remember that improving a golf swing takes time. The pieces come together in stages, and it may be awhile before your new swing feels natural. Depending on the severity of the change, you may spend days, weeks or even months trying to ingrain a new motion.
Let’s say your trouble shot is a low hook, and you decide you want to fix it. You ask around and decide to take lessons from a reputable instructor who has a solid track record working with golfers of your skill level. He offers drills and technical information tailored to your game, and uses technology (high-speed video, a launch monitor, etc.) to provide real feedback. And after one or more lessons, he will provide an ultimate “fix” for your low hook.
Now the hard work begins. Your instructor is there to help you through any stumbles that might occur, but are you up to the challenge? Will you make the time to change? Are you able to deal with higher scores in the short term for lower scores in the future?
If not, then you don’t really want to improve your swing, do you? And that’s OK. Golf is supposed to be fun, and you don’t have to shoot low scores to enjoy your time on the course. Just be honest with yourself before you spend your time and money on lessons, or criticize a golf instructor who did his or her best to help you.
Here’s a four-minute video of Rory McIlroy taking about the work he’s done to improve his game.
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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Dill Pickleson
Dec 12, 2016 at 6:13 pm
Do your research as opposed to expect a pro to just magically get in your head and find out why you lift when he says rotate. Have an understanding of the swing and what your issues may be and talk to your pro. I’ve found the more I know, the more I get out of the pro. My experience is they all have a lot to offer.
Myron miller
Dec 12, 2016 at 9:04 am
I’ve had a number of intructors over the years and i’d say over 90% of them (and possibly even higher percentage) have made a swing change and then said continue doing that with no type of anything to how to continue doing the change or how to make the change permanent. No plan for how often to practice or what to practice (drills, etc) to make the change stick. Its all well and good to have the person make the change at the lesson tee but if he can’t really feel it and can’t continue it, with no way to really ensure that the change continues, what good is blaming the student for not practicing enough.
I’ve taught other things and I have learned thru the years, that if follow-ups and drills or things are not provided with plans on how often to do them, that the student will never actually learn the subject/change. And I put that blame on the instructor and not the student. its also on the instructor to understand how the student learns – visually, verbally or what and to help him with ways to make the changes needed.
And as someone mentioned, the student’s body has a lot to do with things. Having the student do moves that he can’t consistently repeat due to body issues is not productive. I’ve had more than a few instructors try to have me do things that I can’t physically do repetitively. I have a lot of physical issues and can’t do many things do to physical limitations.
So I would disagree that the onus is the student’s problem for not practicing and following up enough. Yes, there are students that are not motivated. but many of us, need followup plans and drills to help with reasonable recommendations on doing the drills given that we have other lives and can’t practice 10 hours a day like some people. Most of us are lucky to practice once per week besides playing. So reasonable expectations and suggestions on what it will take are useful.
TexasSnowman
Dec 11, 2016 at 11:11 am
Tom, you must be an exceptional teacher. I am single digit, and I have only taken a few lessons in my 46 yrs of playing. One reason I have not taken more is that I feel I have gotten low-value from the pros I have engaged. I share many of the frustrations voiced in some of the other comments. Many of the golf pros I have encountered are just too into themselves. Paragraphs are overrated.
Tom Stickney
Dec 12, 2016 at 8:44 am
Contact me and I’ll find a teacher for you
Dill Pickleson
Dec 12, 2016 at 6:08 pm
thanks, that’s a more constructive response.
Dill Pickleson
Dec 12, 2016 at 6:07 pm
Sounds like the opposite to me….
cgasucks
Dec 10, 2016 at 2:07 pm
Convincing a person to change his/her flawed golf swing is like convincing a drug addict to get clean…
If they want to improve their lives they must do 2 things.
1 – Admit they have a problem
2 – Have the motivation to do something about it
Dan
Dec 10, 2016 at 1:37 am
As a golf coach from australia, the first point of call is to ask the student what they wish to achieve? Then follow that up with a conversation about their lifestyle, time to practice and play? Do they have any injuries or anything that may cause an issue with swing instruction that I need to be aware of? Should a coach be accountable? Absolutely! But accountability is a two way street! I don’t personally believe in drastically changing a players natural hannits, unless it is a serious cause of poor shots! I do believe that a player playing off of 18 has had to shoot 13over par or better once, a ten marker he shot 5over par or better at least once! This leads me to believe that they are capable of better golf with what they are currently doing! What we as coaches should be doing is identifying players strengths and weaknesses and letting the player know what they are.
It’s quite often going to be inconsistencies in the swing, that’s not saying that a visually good or bad swing are better than one or other, but a good coach can identify ways to help build a consistent swing with what they player is already doing.
All I hope to achieve with my players is that they shoot better scores, enjoy the game more and understand their own swings.
Philip
Dec 9, 2016 at 10:21 pm
Maybe because the instructor is focused to much on the result and not enough on the cause – and no matter what you tell the individual “brain” the body will continue to do what is necessary to reduce pain and stress on the body – in spite of what the individual wants to do … just a thought. It has worked well for myself, starting to listen to my body instead of fighting it. I do not expect an instructor to know what my body needs and wants to be able to make the better golf swing the instructor is trying to help me achieve – I just let my body guide me towards the end goal the instructor has shown me … in the only way my body can do it, which would be impossible for any instructor to know. If an instructor thinks they know better than any students body .. then that instructor doe snot understand cause and effect and the uniqueness that each of us has. We are not robots – and even robots are not exact.
KK
Dec 9, 2016 at 8:07 pm
Easiest way to cut strokes is to work out 4-5 days a week. Most golfers don’t have the drive to do that. They sure don’t have the drive to incorporate swing changes. Let’s start teaching robots to golf instead.
David Ober
Dec 12, 2016 at 3:09 pm
Work out? As in “lift weights, stretch, and do cardio”?
Honestly? You think that’s going to help a 15 get to a 6? I can’t tell you how many wonderfully fit and limber guys I know who play golf two or three days days a week, who simply can’t figure out how to truly play this game.
If you don’t “get” the golf swing, working out isn’t going to make you appreciably better. The guys I’ve known who have made large strides in their games (I’ve seen a guy go from 12 to 2, for instance), have all dedicated themselves to learning how to strike the ball more consistently, while simultaneously working on their short games and mental games.
In my opinion, doing that takes work on the range and on the course, not the gym….
Jeff D.
Dec 9, 2016 at 7:48 pm
So, I’ve taken a lot of lessons over the years from different instructors. I think that we see the same thing happen in lessons and business presentations. I think people in both settings absorb very little of what is presented and what they do initially absorb – they quickly either completely forget or partially forget and misconstrue.
So while some people do their best to practice- the practice is imperfect – at best. For a few years I have believed MEGSA type equipment might allow for “Perfect Practice” and make the learning curve much shorter.
J
Dec 9, 2016 at 7:00 pm
This is my biggest complaint with golf instruction. I have never gone to an instructor (as an adult anyway) and been given a plan and a road map. If I were an instructor I would plan out a strategy over a time frame and plot checkpoints to hit at certain intervals. As it stands now there seems to be almost no accountability on the instructors side. If a player does not improve, it must be the students fault because “they really don’t want to improve”, or “they’re just looking for a quick fix”. Part of the instruction process should involve the analysis and goal setting with a correlation to not just understanding what to work on but also understanding how to work on it. From my point of view, golf instruction is and has been broken for a long time. You may be one of the exceptions Tom, but I have for the most part, been incredibly disappointed as an adult with the quality and focus of the instruction I have received. I think the pro’s who teach a lot of junior golfers are much better at this type of thing, providing structure and instilling discipline. I agree it’s much easier to communicate from the position of authority and elder status to a 12 year old kid than a 35 year old lawyer or such (can’t fill a cup that’s already full philosophy), but many adult students crave that firmness and discipline and imho showing the student (of any age) how to empty their cup and learn through process is just as important as any mechanical swing instruction and I think that is rarely a focus. I don’t want a buddy or partner as a golf coach, I, and I believe others want an authority figure who will also take some ownership and responsibility for the success or failures of the student and this means earning trust, having someone to support you. Unfortunately. My experiences as an adult trying to improve has been mostly suffering my failures and frustrations alone (to the point of contemplating quitting the game, a place I’m in even now.) then trying to squeeze as many questions and as much understanding I can into a 1 or 2 hour lesson as often as I can afford the 125-250$ an hour price tag. We learn nothing else in life in this fashion, why has this become the acceptable standard? If I were an instructor, the 1 hour lesson would not exist.
KK
Dec 9, 2016 at 8:02 pm
Step 1 of your plan should be to stop yapping so much. GolfWRX is not your diary.
Jafar
Dec 9, 2016 at 8:37 pm
Step 2 Ignore idiots like the above
J
Dec 9, 2016 at 9:20 pm
Perhaps I’m just a person who sees an established pro who is well respected and has won lots of awards and accolades from different golf publications and establishments in a bloated industry that like to pat eachother on the back and give eachother awards for the purpose of selling more books or instruction. The only thing that matters is how well you serve the guy standing in front of you at the time and as a whole I believe golf is failing at this. This is not my diary, but it’s the best avenue I have to express my opinion which is that PGA professionals should expend more effort to helping players and taking some ownership of the poor state of instruction and, in many ways the poor state of the industry as a whole instead of pointing the finger at the student and perpetuating the idea that their students are just unmotivated and lazy. A student requires a teacher to give them tools, then help them use those tools effectively. Giving a student tools with no knowledge is just as useless as asking someone to perform a task that requires a tool they do not possess.
KK
Dec 9, 2016 at 9:50 pm
And learn to use paragraphs. Please. For the love of humanity.
ASUgrad1988
Dec 9, 2016 at 6:23 pm
Tom:
I would change my swing if it would help. I’m retired so I have a lot of time. I’m a low single digit player, but my game is getting a little worse every year. I’m 62 and the main problem is I don’t hit as many greens, so consequently I practice my short game a lot so I can keep my handicap low. My driving distance is in the 245 yard range where its been for the last 4-5 years. I do stretching, and cardio work, so people tell me they hope to be as flexible as I am when they are 62. If we had someone who could actually help me I would be glad to change, but there isn’t anyone close by. I’ve taken videos of myself and I see parts of the swing I don’t like, but I don’t know how to fix it to get better.
Any suggestions? Is there a swing instructor that would look at my swing from just a video or do they all want to see the player in person?
Thank you, and great article!
Ron
Dec 9, 2016 at 1:10 pm
I used to be a good golfer. I beat balls into the night. When I worked on the night shift, I played a round every morning after work and got to near scratch.
And then I got older. A practice session that lasts more than 30-45 minutes means I can’t practice tomorrow. I can’t hit balls with the frequency necessary to ingrain anything a coach might give me. So, I guess I’m as good as I’m going to get now.
Steve S
Dec 9, 2016 at 12:07 pm
After watching numerous “coaches” at my local driving range I would say that Tom Stickney is a unique individual. I’ve watched numerous folks pay a lot of money to get instruction that I would say is “canned”. I think it is also telling that none of the single digit handicappers that regularly use the range use any of the local half dozen or so instructors.
For me I find that using video from my iphone has been valuable in analyzing and improving my swing. What it has shown me is that I have to improve my flexibility to get better.
tom stickney
Dec 9, 2016 at 11:58 am
Don, you must decide just how important you golf game is to you and what you are willing to “spend” to get to the next level.
It'sDoughTime
Dec 13, 2016 at 11:37 am
It’s all about the Benjamin’s.
tom stickney
Dec 9, 2016 at 11:57 am
The student ALWAYS leads the lesson direction from day one…the interview process we conduct before the first ball is hit will determine our direction and my experience will help the student to understand if this goal is attainable or not…from there we determine a short, mid, and long range plan for success.
Instructors that just “begin” without asking the students what their main objective is will hamper their progress
Robin
Dec 9, 2016 at 11:47 am
I was a real good boxer in the day. I was what you would call a scratch boxer according to golf. But CTES are starting to set in as I grow older,,, I have a tough time remembering swing thoughts…
But when I go to my lessons my swing coach says there isn’t anything wrong with that swing… But when I play I am so inconsistent I wonder why I play. Why is it that ?
All I know this game hurts more than boxing
Scott
Dec 9, 2016 at 11:05 am
Tom,
Should an instructor ask the student if they want to make a change and get rid of an obvious fault or try to make their swing work the way it is?
One story I have from this summer was watching two players under instruction. One, the more experienced player of the two, was very larger. He had a horrible sway back and through. He was awful,but because of his size, maybe he could not rotate and the sway was the only thing he could do. He had a much thinner friend who appeared new to the game and could not get the ball off the ground. The large man wanted his friend to swing like he did and he tried to copy this horrible sway – C to reverse C. Now maybe the instructor was between a rock and a hard place, with the large man shouting instructions, but I do not think the teacher should have allowed the poor instruction to continue. He appeared content to allow the poor motions to continue.