Opinion & Analysis
Clark: A teacher’s take on Brandel Chamblee’s comments
Because I’m writing to a knowledgeable audience who follows the game closely, I’m sure the current Brandel Chamblee interview and ensuing controversy needs no introduction, so let’s get right to it.
Brandel Chamblee, a former PGA Tour player, now plays a role as a TV personality. He has built a “brand” around that role. The Golf Channel seems to relish the idea of Brandel as the “loose cannon” of the crew (not unlike Johnny Miller on NBC) saying exactly what he thinks with seeming impunity from his superiors.
I do not know the gentleman personally, but on-air, he seems like an intelligent, articulate golf professional, very much on top of his subject matter, which is mostly the PGA Tour. He was also a very capable player (anyone who played and won on the PGA Tour is/was a great player). But remember, nowadays he is not being judged by what scores he shoots, but by how many viewers/readers his show and his book have (ratings). Bold statements sell, humdrum ones do not.
For example, saying that a teacher’s idiocy was exposed is a bold controversial statement that will sell, but is at best only partly true and entirely craven. If the accuser is not willing to name the accused, he is being unfair and self-serving. However, I think it’s dangerous to throw the baby out with the bathwater here; Brandel is a student of the game and I like a lot of what he says and thinks.
His overriding message in that interview is that golf over the last “30-40 years” has been poorly taught. He says the teachers have been too concerned with aesthetics, not paying enough attention to function. There is some truth in that, but Brandel is painting with a very broad brush here. Many, myself included, eschewed method teaching years ago for just that reason. Method teachers are bound to help some and not others. Maybe the “X swing” one player finds very useful, another cannot use it all.
Brandel was asked specifically about Matthew Wolff’s unique swing: Lifting the left heel, crossing the line at the top, etc. He answered, “of course he can play because that’s how he plays.” The problem would be if someone tried to change that because it “looked odd.” Any teacher worth his weight in salt would not change a swing simply because it looked odd if it was repeating good impact. I learned from the great John Jacobs that it matters not what the swing looks like if it is producing great impact.
Now, if he is objecting exclusively to those method teachers who felt a certain pattern of motions was the one true way to get to solid impact, I agree with him 100 percent. Buy many teach on an individual, ball flight and impact basis and did not generalize a method. So to say “golf instruction over the last 30-40 years” has been this or that is far too broad a description and unfair.
He goes on to say that the “Top Teacher” lists are “ridiculous.” I agree, mostly. While I have been honored by the PGA and a few golf publications as a “top teacher,” I have never understood how or why. NOT ONE person who awarded me those honors ever saw me give one lesson! Nor have they have ever tracked one player I coached. I once had a 19 handicap come to me and two seasons later he won the club championship-championship flight! By that I mean with that student I had great success. But no one knew of that progress who gave me an award.
On the award form, I was asked about the best, or most well-known students I had taught. In the golf journals, a “this-is-the-teacher-who-can-help-you” message is the epitome of misdirection. Writing articles, appearing on TV, giving YouTube video tips, etc. is not the measure of a teacher. On the list of recognized names, I’m sure there are great teachers, but wouldn’t you like to see them teach as opposed to hearing them speak? I’m assuming the “ridiculous” ones Brandel refers to are those teaching a philosophy or theory of movement and trying to get everyone to do just that.
When it comes to his criticism of TrackMan, I disagree. TrackMan does much more than help “dial in yardage.” Video cannot measure impact, true path, face-to-path relationship, centeredness of contact, club speed, ball speed, plane etc. Comparing video with radar is unfair because the two systems serve different functions. And if real help is better ball flight, which of course only results from better impact, then we need both a video of the overall motion and a measure of impact.
Now the specific example he cites of Jordan Spieth’s struggles being something that can be corrected in “two seconds” is hyperbolic at least! Nothing can be corrected that quickly simply because the player has likely fallen into that swing flaw over time, and it will take time to correct it. My take on Jordan’s struggles is a bit different, but he is a GREAT player who will find his way back.
Brandel accuses Cameron McCormick (his teacher) of telling him to change his swing. Do we know that to be true, or did Jordan just fall into a habit and Cameron is not seeing the change? I agree there is a problem; his stats prove that, but before we pick a culprit, let’s get the whole story. Again back to the sensationalism which sells! (Briefly, I believe Jordan’s grip is and has always been a problem but his putter and confidence overcame it. An active body and “quiet” hands is the motion one might expect of a player with a strong grip-for obvious reason…but again just my two teacher cents)
Anyway, “bitch-slapped” got him in hot water for other reasons obviously, and he did apologize over his choice of words, and to be clear he did not condemn the PGA as a whole. But because I have disagreements with his reasoning here does not mean Brandel is not a bright articulate golf professional, I just hope he looks before he leaps the next time, and realizes none of us are always right.
Some of my regular readers will recall I “laid down my pen” a few years ago, but it occurred to me, I would be doing many teachers a disservice if I did not offer these thoughts on this particular topic!
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Opinion & Analysis
Brandel Chamblee PGA Championship Q&A: Rose’s huge McLaren risk, distracted LIV pros and why Aronimink suits the bombers
PGA Championship week is here, and Brandel Chamblee did not hold back in our latest discussion ahead of the season’s second major.
In our 2026 PGA Championship Q&A, golf’s leading analyst made the case that PIF pulling LIV’s funding has left its players competing in a state of confusion, called Justin Rose’s mid-season equipment switch a huge risk at 45, and explained why Aronimink will be a bombers’ delight this week.
Check out the full Q&A below.
Gianni: With the PIF confirming that they’re pulling funding from LIV at the end of the season, what impact do you expect that to have on the LIV players competing at the PGA Championship?
Brandel: I would imagine that they have all been thrown into a state of confusion, and will be distracted, not knowing where they are going to play next year and not knowing exactly their road back to either the DP World Tour or the PGA Tour. Or in Rahm’s case, being tied to a sinking ship for the next few years, likely playing for pennies on the dollar in events that no one cares about or watches.
I doubt this would put him in the best frame of mind to compete at his highest level. Keeping in mind, however, that majors are the only time that LIV disciples get to play in events that matter, so never disregard the motivation they have to prove to the world they are still relevant.
Gianni: Justin Rose switched to McLaren Golf equipment mid-season while playing some of the best golf of his career. What do you make of the change?
Brandel: I don’t really know what to make of Rose switching equipment. It seems a huge risk on his part, even though it is likely, in my opinion, that the clubs he’s playing are similar, if not the exact grinds, to what he was playing previously, with a McLaren stamp on them.
Having said that, at best, it is a distraction when he seemed to be as dialed in with his game as any 45-year-old could be and trending in the majors to perhaps do something that would definitely put him in the Hall of Fame. At worst, given the possibility that these clubs aren’t just duplicates of his old set stamped with McLaren on them, he’s made an equipment change that would take time, and 45-year-old athletes don’t have the time to do such things.
Gianni: Aronimink has only hosted a handful of professional events since it hosted the 1962 PGA Championship. What kind of test does it present, and does a course with less recent major championship history tend to level the playing field?
Brandel: Even though Aronimink has only hosted a handful of meaningful professional events, it has been fairly discerning in who can win there. When Keegan Bradley won the BMW Championship on the Donald Ross masterpiece in 2018, he was the 2nd best iron player on tour coming into that week. When Nick Watney won the AT&T at Aronimink in 2011, he was 2nd in strokes gained total coming into the week.
In 2020, Aronimink hosted the KPMG Championship, and Sei Young Kim won. On the LPGA that year, she was first in greens in regulation, putts per green in regulation, and scoring average on the way to being the LPGA player of the year. And then there is the 1962 PGA Championship won by Gary Player, who eventually became just one of a few players to win the career grand slam on the way to winning 9 majors. It is a formidable test, and if it’s not softened by rain, it will bring out the best in the upper echelons of the game.
Gianni: Is there a specific hole at Aronimink that you think will do the most to decide the winner?
Brandel: The hardest hole at Aronimink in each of the three tour events that have been played there since 2010 has been the long par-3 8th hole, with the par-4 10th being the second hardest, so most of the carnage will happen around the turn, but with the par-5 16th offering opportunities for bold plays and the tough closing holes at 17 and 18, the finish is likely to be frenetic.
Gianni: The PGA Championship has always sat in the shadow of the other majors. What does the ideal PGA Championship look like in your eyes, and what would it take for it to carve out its own identity?
Brandel: The PGA Championship, to whatever degree it suffers from the comparison to the other three majors, is still counted just as much when adding them up at the end of one’s career. Almost 1/3 of Nicklaus’ major wins were the five PGA Championships he won. Walter Hagen won 11 majors, five of which were PGA Championships.
Tiger Woods twice in his career won back-to-back PGA Championships, and those four majors count just as much as the other 11 he won. The PGA may not have the prestige of the other three, but it carries the same weight. Having said that, I preferred the identity that it had as the last major of the year.
Gianni: You nailed your Masters picks. Rory won, Scottie finished solo second, and Morikawa surged to a tie for seventh. Who are your top 3 picks for the PGA Championship and why?
Brandel: I am not a huge fan of majors played on golf courses that have been shorn of most of the trees, although I understand some of the agronomic reasons for doing so and of course the ease with which it allows members to play after errant drives. However, at the highest level, it all but eliminates any strategy off the tee and turns professional golf into an even bigger slugfest. That means that it will likely be a bomber’s delight this week, but fortunately, Scottie Scheffler is long enough to play that game and straight enough to play it better than anyone else.
The major championships give us very few surprises anymore, going back to the beginning of 2012, so the last 57 majors played, the average world rank of the winners has been better than 15th in the world. So look at the highest ranked and longest drivers who are on form coming into the PGA Championship who also have great short games as the surrounds at Aronimink are very challenging. That’s Scottie Scheffler by a mile and then McIlroy and Cameron Young with a far bigger nod towards DeChambeau than I gave him at the Masters.
In this episode of the Club Junkie Podcast, we dive into one of the most interesting flatstick releases of the year with a full review of the new TaylorMade SYSTM 2 putters. After spending time on the greens, I break down what makes this design stand out, where it performs, and why it has me completely torn between loving it and fighting it. If you are into feel, alignment, and consistency, this is one you will want to hear about.
We also take a look at some of the putters in play on the PGA Tour last week. From familiar favorites to a few surprising setups, there is always something to learn from what the best players in the world are rolling with under pressure.
To wrap things up, I walk through the process of building a set of JP Golf Prime irons paired with Baddazz Gold Series shafts. From component selection to performance goals, this is a deep dive into what goes into creating a unique custom set and why this combo has been so intriguing.
This year my 50th birthday. Gosh, where has the time gone?
As a teenager in rural Missouri, some of my junior high and high school years felt interminable. Graduation seemed light years away. But the older I get, the faster life seems to fly by.
I’m also increasingly aware of my mortality. My dad died recently. Earlier this year, a friend and fellow PGA of America professional and I were texting about our next catch-up. The next message I received was news of his unexpected passing at 48. Shortly after, a woman I dated in college succumbed to cancer at 51.
Certainly, one can share perspective at any age. Seniors help freshmen, veterans guide rookies. But reaching this milestone feels like as good a time as any to do one of those “what would I tell my younger self?” articles.
I’ve had a uniquely varied career in golf. I started as a 27-year-old, average-length-hitting, 14-handicap computer engineer and somehow managed to turn pro before running out of money, constantly bootstrapping my way forward. I’ve won qualifiers and set venue records in the World Long Drive Championships, finished fifth at the Speedgolf World Championships, coached all skill levels as a PGA of America professional, built industry-leading swing speed training programs for Swing Man Golf, helped advance the single-length iron market with Sterling Irons®, caddied on the PGA TOUR and PGA TOUR Champions, and played about 300 courses across 32 countries.
It’s been a ride, and I’ve gone both deep and wide.
So while I can consult and advise from a lot of angles, let me keep it to a few things I’d tell the average golfer who wants to improve.
1. Think About What You Want
Everyone has their own reason for picking up a golf club.
Oddly, as a professional athlete, I’m not internally driven by competition. That can be challenging, as the industry currently prioritizes and incentivizes competition over the love of the game.
For me, I love walking and being outdoors. Nature helps balance my energy. I prefer courses that are integrated into the natural beauty of their surroundings. I’m comfortable practicing alone. I’m a deep thinker, and I genuinely enjoy investigating the game, using data and intuition to unearth unique, often innovative insights. I’m fortunate to be strong and athletic, so I appreciate the chance to engage with my abilities. Traveling feels adventurous. I could go on.
You don’t have to overthink it like I do. For you, it might be as simple as hitting balls to escape work, hanging out with friends, and playing loosely with the rules and the score.
The point is to give yourself permission to play for your own reasons, and let that be enough.
But if improvement is your goal, thinking about your destination—and when you want to get there—is important, because it dictates the steps you need to take. When I set out to go from a 14-handicap to the PGA TOUR as quickly as possible, the steps I needed were very different from those of a working golfer trying to break 90 in six months. That’s also different from someone who just wants a few peaceful hours outside each week, away from work or family.
None of these goals are better than the others, but each requires a different plan that you can work backward from.
2. There Are Lots of Things That Can Work
One of the challenges of golf is that, although there are rules for playing, there aren’t clear, industry-wide standards for how to best play the game. There’s a lot of gray area.
You might hear a top coach or trainer insist that a certain move is the best way to swing or train. Then you dig a bit deeper and, much to your confusion and frustration, another respected coach or trainer says something completely different. I don’t think anyone is trying to confuse you—at least I hope not. It’s just where the industry is right now.
You have to be careful with advice from tournament pros, too. They might be great at scoring, but they’re also human and sometimes just as susceptible as amateurs to believing things that don’t really move the needle. Tour players might describe what they feel, but that’s not always what they’re actually doing when assessed with technology.
I recently ran a test on my YouTube channel (which connects to my GolfWRX article “How to use your hands in the golf swing for power and accuracy”), and, interestingly, two of the most commonly taught hand actions produced the worst results in the test.
Coaches can certainly help. If you find someone you connect with to help navigate, that’s great. But there are many ways to get the ball in the hole. In the current landscape, you may need to seek multiple opinions, think critically, and use your own intuition to discern what seems true and whose advice resonates with you.
I’d recommend seeking someone who is open-minded and always learning, because things constantly change. Absolutes like “correct” or “proper” should raise a red flag. AI can be useful, but it tends to confidently repeat popular advice, so proceed with caution.
3. Get Custom Fit
If you’re serious about becoming a better player, getting custom fit is hugely important. There’s no sense fighting your equipment if you don’t have to. Most better players get fit these days and, if they don’t, they’re usually skilled enough to work around clubs that aren’t ideal.
If you plan to play for a long time, it’s worth spending a little more upfront to get something that truly fits you and your game, rather than continually buying and discarding equipment.
Equipment rules haven’t really changed significantly since the early 2000s. To stay in business, manufacturers keep pushing those limits. If you pull a bunch of clubs and balls off the rack and test them, you’ll find differences. I’ve tested two new drivers and seen a 30-yard total distance gap. Usually, the issue isn’t bad equipment; it’s that the combination of components simply isn’t the best fit.
It’s like wearing a new pair of floppy clown shoes. Sure, they’re shoes—but you won’t sprint your best in them compared to track shoes that fit perfectly.
Be wary of what’s called custom fitting, too. Sometimes the term is used as a marketing strategy rather than an actual fitting. In some retail settings, fitters may be incentivized to steer you toward higher-priced components. That doesn’t automatically mean it’s not the best fit, but you should be aware of potential biases.
I learned a version of this lesson outside of golf. Years ago, I bought a tennis racquet at a big box store from a seemingly knowledgeable employee who thought it would suit me best. The racquet gave me tennis elbow, and I spent months recovering with rest and acupuncture. The next season, I invested more time and money to find what actually fit me, and I walked away with something amazing that I still play with years later.
So if you’re going to get fit, be smart about it.
Find someone you believe has deep knowledge—possibly with certifications, but not necessarily. Make sure there’s a wide inventory across many brands. Check recent reviews for the individual fitter if possible. Make sure you trust that the fitter has your best interests at heart. If they’re wearing a hat or shirt with a specific brand’s logo, proceed with caution. Unless you specifically want a certain brand or look, be wary of upsells, especially if two options perform nearly the same.
Also, while golf is called a sport of integrity, there’s a thread of manipulation in the industry. I once drafted an equipment article for an industry magazine, structured just like one of their previous popular stories, with matching word count and great photos. The assistant editor loved it; it was useful to readers and required little work on his part. But the editor-in-chief nixed the story. When I asked why, I was told it was because I wasn’t an advertiser. It turned out the article I’d modeled mine after was a paid ad cleverly disguised as editorial content.
I really dislike games, clickbait, and fear-based manipulation. I hope this changes, but golfers deserve to know it exists.
4. Distance and Strategy Matter
There’s a real relationship between how far you hit the ball and your scoring average, even at the PGA TOUR level.
I experienced this early in my pro career. I started as a power hitter, swinging in the high 120s and breaking 200 mph ball speed with a stock driver.
Back then, some instructors advised swinging at 80%, so I tried slowing down for more accuracy. That worked fine on shorter, tighter courses. But on longer setups, I was coming into greens with too much club, and par 5s stopped being
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Newton Hino
Apr 6, 2020 at 10:39 pm
Like Main stream media(NBC Golf Channel) they strive on sensationalism and outrages notions etc.
Chamblee is no exception, they need controversy and ratings. So this won’t stop no matter how absurd.
Dennis Clark
Apr 6, 2020 at 3:16 pm
Authors note: I just got a call from Mr. Bob Toski complimenting this article. Bob, of course, is one of the legendary players and teachers of the game, and it was very nice of him to call and say thanks. We talked about individual methods, Jordan Spieth’s grip, and a bunch of his tour days. It was a pleasure to hear from him. He’s 93 and doing well! Thx again Mr. Toski.
Dennis Clark
Apr 6, 2020 at 3:10 pm
Author’s note: I
Al Wood
Apr 6, 2020 at 1:20 pm
Ben Hogan was asked many times why he didn’t have a swing coach or teacher, and he said that he couldn’t find anyone who could beat him. He figured it out on his own. I think too many swing thoughts in your head causes bad reps. Play by feel and get up and wing it and you’ll play better for the average golfer.
Dennis Clark
Apr 6, 2020 at 3:02 pm
the answer is in the dirt! he was one of a kind
Evan
Apr 7, 2020 at 5:23 am
Hogan had plenty of lessons and influences in developing his swing-Stan Leonard, Sam Byrd, Henry Picard, Demaret…It was far from a home made swing.
Dennis Clark
Apr 7, 2020 at 9:31 am
Correct, No one is actually “self taught”. That description generally means “no formal lessons”. But nobody had formal lessons back then did they? That’s like “self help books” :). what does that mean? I’m guessing anyone who is good at golf got there with a decent starting point on the grip, and someone showed them that grip. I had no formal training but i know plenty of people showed me things along the way.
Lessonswasteoftimemoney
Apr 6, 2020 at 10:59 am
After wasting years taking lessons(neighbour is a pga pro at top course in the country) I came up with the idea of just asking a good player on the range what I was doing wrong. Pros always want to totally change your swing rather than just tweaking it. Guy on the range said my practice swing was perfect, but with my actual swing I was trying to kill the ball and was getting off balance. Problem solved!! Just swing easy now and shots are amazing. I was surprised that they actually go farther!! Would have been nive ifmy neighbour the pro had noticed that years ago!!!!!
Hoganben
Apr 6, 2020 at 10:47 am
I came up with the best way to help.my swing…instead of wasting more money on lessons from pga pros I just asked guys I saw hitting perfect shots on the range while down in Florida. I had wasted another $125 usd on a another lesson from a PGA pro who used to play on tour and had got nowhere again. My neighbor is a PGA pro at a top course in the country and he has been of no help over 15 years. On day.we.were.playing an d he said I used to play better…I.thought yeah before I moved next door to you! Pros always want to totally change your swing. Anyway one of the guys hitting ball on the range in Florida said my practice swings with my irons were perfect. He said when I took my actual swing I was trying to absolutely kill the ball which was true. So now my actual swing is nice and easy like my practice swing and I see that the ball actually goes farther this way
Freefrompros
Apr 6, 2020 at 10:41 am
I came up with the best way to help.my swing…instead of wasting more money on lessons from pga pros I just asked guys I saw hitting perfect shots on the range while down in Florida. I had wasted another $125 usd on a another lesson from a PGA pro who used to play on tour and had got nowhere again. My neighbor is a PGA pro at a top course in the country and.he has.been of no help over 15 years. On day.we.were.playing an d he said I used.to play better…I.thought yeah before I moved next door to you! Pros always want to totally change your swing. Anyway one of the guys hitting ball on the range in Florida said my practice swings with my irons were perfect. He said when I took my actual swing I was trying to absolutely kill the ball which was true. So now my actual swing is nice and easy like my practice swing and I see that the ball actually goes farther this way
Walter
Apr 6, 2020 at 10:39 am
Dennis, Are you saying Jordan’s grip is too strong or did I misread your intention. I look at his grip and if anything it looks very weak on the left hand and normal on the right hand. If anything seems weird is how long a left thumb he has in his grip.
Dennis Clark
Apr 7, 2020 at 9:35 am
too WEAK in my opinion. His upper body runs ahead of the golf ball starting down, a sign of a weak grip. he’s a VERY talented player though and he will be back. Maybe after a slight GRIP adjustment.
david goodman
Apr 6, 2020 at 10:17 am
I enjoy listening to Brandell, and Johnny Miller was my favourite. For the most part I agree with Chamblee’s article, and I also agree with what Dennis has to say here. I am also a teacher, and only my students could say if I’m good or not. but I have listened to some teachers near my on the range giving instruction and I’ve rolled my eyes. As said, people who paint with a broad brush always get it wrong. A couple of comments here stated that all teachers suck and can’t play, absolutely incorrect. It IS about ball flight as John Jacobs said,(who I spent some time with, and thought he was brilliant). The only area of disagreement I might have with Dennis Clark is the value of trackman to golfers other professionals. But the key is to find the teacher whose language you understand and identify with. Faldo knows golf, but on the surface they’re too technical for me as a student; I’d rather have Penick as a teacher. Again it’s all a question of your own style of understanding.
Evan
Apr 6, 2020 at 7:30 am
Good to see you back writing here Dennis. There are great teachers out there for sure, such as yourself, however there are plenty who aren’t. On balance, however, I think the game has been taught poorly and that undoubtedly is a factor in the game’s decline in popularity.
TacklingDummy
Apr 5, 2020 at 4:34 pm
This is a good take on the situation because Clark looks at the entire picture rather than take offense by one controversial statement. Nowadays, people seem to judge someone on a few statements and don’t look at the 99.9% of statements they made before. However, Chamblee could have made his statement more tactfully and would of delivered his message better.
Raj lp
Apr 5, 2020 at 2:00 pm
I’ve liked Chamblee’s take on most topics. Not to say I always agree with it but he speaks so openly about most topics. It’s a breath of fresh air compared to walking on egg shells. I’ve had lessons from great teachers who have told me something like “keep your foot planted” which have salvaged a season and those that have tweaked the backswing, the impact, and the follow through in a single lesson which have cost me 2 years of misery.
The best teachers will get you to a great impact position regardless of what template suits you.
Dennis Clark
Apr 7, 2020 at 9:41 am
The idea is WHY did he/she say keep your heel planted. If the teacher cannot explain the reason your lifting your heel is affecting IMPACT, then it not germane to the issue. Should jack Nicklaus give back all his majors? Or Snead all his wins? The left heel like so many things is a preference not a principle. Thx for reading
mikeyC
Apr 5, 2020 at 12:54 pm
In golf, more than any other sport, commentators are afraid to be critical of the games stars. Who is the Stephen A. Smith of the Golf world? When did it become a sin to criticize someone in sports for their performance? Brandel is a breath of fresh air for his candor. Plus he does his homework and knows what he’s talking about.
Dennis Clark
Apr 5, 2020 at 4:38 pm
He’s not being critical of the stars; he’s being critical of a trend if golf instruction which he feels has misdirected some stars. Again, too broad a brush. Many of us do not instruct by how “pretty” swings are, but how well they are getting to good solid impact. If a golfers is spinning around three times and falls down when he hits it, BUT HAS GREAT IMPACT CONSISTENTLY, leave that swing ALONE, that is HIS best swing
Chip2win
Apr 5, 2020 at 7:19 am
So, my take from reading this article is that Dennis thinks that Brandel is MOSTLY right.
Scott McDonald
Apr 5, 2020 at 12:02 pm
Agreed and I believe that he has made some great points. Chamber has a right to his opinions impact is impact but you must get the ball in the hole. Never used Trakman and have little interest. Hard to believe that PGA award winners are not visited but many do section programs where info is shared. PGA is on the hot seat now. Don’t talk about growing the game. DO It. Play with members and show them a great time. Get out and be seen in the community..
Dennis Clark
Apr 5, 2020 at 4:47 pm
I made it clear what I agree with and what I don’t. He’s referring to method teaching and a “trend” in something he calls golf instruction. Every teacher should work with students individually, not a use a Method for every one. And he’s not giving Trackman enough credit; it does serve a goof purpose.I really don’t know what Brandel knows about teaching. Can he stand behind someone who’s hitting the ball on the hosel 4 out of 5 times, and correct it? We wouldn’t know because he doesn’t do that, no record to judge.
steve
Apr 4, 2020 at 8:51 pm
Not a fan of Brandel, seems to make bold statements, even if valid, for his profile, ratings, and clicks…I’m even wasting my time now reading and writing about him, I tune him out when he’s on TV.
Mitch
Apr 4, 2020 at 8:25 pm
None of these teachers can play worth a crap themselves , so why listen to them
John
Apr 5, 2020 at 11:39 am
This is so true. I have had contemplated lessons, and have asked instructors if I can see them hit. Many has said “I don’t think so. I don’t really play, I teach now. blah, blah, blah”
I will say, I have had really bad lessons before. I had a really bad grip, and three instructors missed it until I found one who was like, “wait, your set up sucks. You can’t do anything in golf until grip is fixed.”
grip fixed, body lines fixed themselves, and finally progress.
bottom line, there are bad teachers out there that are terrible. They teach one swing, and don’t fix basic issues. I wish I could get a refund.
Dennis Clark
Apr 5, 2020 at 4:53 pm
RUN! A teacher who cannot demonstrate good solid golf shots has no credibility whatsoever. I’m 71, can shoot my age, hit high draws, low cuts etc on command. Not bragging , just saying we owe that to students.
chip75
Apr 5, 2020 at 1:34 pm
Conversely, many of the best players aren’t exactly great teachers either. A lot of television analysis is basically filling dead-air. How many times have you seen Tiger’s swing taken apart, for a myriad of faults when his swing is basically identical to the one they’re comparing it too? Strike is king, but we rarely hear modern commentators say that a player just mishit it.
As to Spieth, who knows? You find over time tried and trusted feelings or swing keys stop working, players can tie themselves in knots looking for answers, but golf is a game where a couple of inches in ball position can make the difference between striping it or hitting it out of bounds. Our bodies are the same lose 10 pounds, gain ten pounds, everything changes.
Brad Worthington
Apr 4, 2020 at 6:58 pm
Dennis,
Well constructed article with sound discussion points. I’m glad you took the time to write it!
Baba Booey
Apr 4, 2020 at 4:22 pm
One thing I’ve learned about this latest Brandel episode is most instructors are snowflakes (and to an extent this author too).
A. Commoner
Apr 4, 2020 at 7:23 pm
Some people can be glad they don’t have to write for a living.
GolfMan
Apr 4, 2020 at 1:42 pm
I agree with Brandel Chamblee’s comments. I believe golf instruction has gotten worse bc teachers aren’t as experienced as they once were. Back in the day, most of the pro golfers were teachers as well. Think Sam Snead. Just bc you have a PGA degree in teaching golf doesn’t mean you will be a good teacher.
Dennis Clark
Apr 5, 2020 at 5:01 pm
By the same token, Snead never spent 8 hours standing behind students watching thousands of swings for years and years. Teaching does take experience which only comes from TEACHING. I had Sam, God rest his his soul, to a club once to do a clinic and the hour was one of the least informative sessions I’ve ever witnessed. Telling golfers what YOU do because you are so accomplished at the game, does very little for them. Thx for reading.
GolfMan
Apr 5, 2020 at 9:06 pm
Perhaps Sam Snead wasn’t the best teacher, but he certainly knew what it took to be a good player. Nevertheless, you can’t be a great teacher by simply teaching methods learned in a book. A great teacher has an understanding of the game beyond what the book says. A great teacher knows the strategy of the game, has played golf at a high level and knows what works under pressure, and through many hours of practice knows what works and what doesn’t. Sure a teacher with little experience could teach someone the proper grip and setup and some fundamentals, but not much beyond that. It’s hard to teach a language when you don’t know the language yourself.
GolfMan
Apr 5, 2020 at 9:35 pm
Perhaps Snead wasn’t the best teacher, but he certainly knew what it took to be a great player. Nevertheless, you can’t be a good teacher by just reading a book. A great teacher has an understanding beyond what the book says. A great teacher knows the strategy of the game, has played golf at a high level and knows what works under pressure, and through countless hours of practice has figured out what works and what doesn’t. Sure, a teacher who relies on methods from a book and has little or no experience playing the game at a high level may teach you a proper grip and setup, but not much beyond that. It’s hard to teach a language when you don’t know the language yourself.
Keith Finley
Apr 6, 2020 at 10:13 am
Anecdote about Snead- when asked how he draws a shot, Sam replied, “I think draw”. Hmmm
ChipNRun
Apr 4, 2020 at 1:34 pm
My history: I have a hot-cold golf swing and – until the last 10 years – moved around USA quite a bit for work. So, I have had golf lessons from quite a few different people.
A good instructor is one who can see his student’s swing problem, and help the student improve. (If a student has a motivation problem – doesn’t like focused practice – the instructor can’t do much.) Some instructors, we just didn’t connect. Others we connected quiet well.
Some instructors had “one way” they thought all golfers should swing – a way that had NOT worked for me in the past. On other occasions, a post-round tip from an 8-HDCPer was immensely helpful.
For an instructor to be “good” requires: 1. flexible knowledge of the game + 2. good interpersonal fit with student + 3. willing of student to practice effectively.
On Jordan Spieth’s swing: When JS’s tee shots start going awry, the PGA broadcast’s slow motion video often shows a torso too quiet on downswing, with the arms taking over and delivering something to the LEEEFT!
JS is a top golfer who has a recurring swing problem that shows up on slo-mo a couple of times a season. Like many top golfers, JS moves in and out of the ZONE on a month-to-month basis.
Too much nit-picking can lead to “paralysis by analysis.” When I have a mid-seasons lump, if I take a week off I can usually get on track in half a bucket of range balls. I just had too much mental clutter to swing smoothly.
Sooner or later, you just have to line up your shot and hit the ball!!!
Joey
Apr 5, 2020 at 1:24 am
Ummm Isn’t Jordan’s miss alway a push fade? Can you clarify what you mean here?
ChipNRun
Apr 6, 2020 at 12:38 pm
At the 2019 AT&T Pro-Am at Pebble Beach missed tee shots way left on the Saturday back nine: No. 13 to another fairway (double bogie) and left into ocean on No. 18.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/golf/2019/11/26/column-shots-that-defined-the-year-in-golf/40710713/
For shots missed right, look to 2017 and back-to-back missed cuts in the Players and the AT&T Byron Nelson. He shot 75s on both Friday rounds, including a 9 on the Par 5 No. 17 at AT&T/Byron: Two tee shots blocked OB right.
But, Spieth did rebound a month later for back-to-back wins at the Travelers and the Open Championship.
To quote the old Jerry Reid song: When you’re hot you’re hot, when you’re not you’re not.
Dennis Clark
Apr 5, 2020 at 5:16 pm
His grip is notoriously weak. If you add a weak a weak grip to a steep transition, you get an OPEN face which you are compelled to turn into the shot and swing left. Also when the grip is weak and the transition is steep, we have to “BACK UP” to get the golf club back on plane and into a hit position. I agree that his transition was flatter, lower earlier in his career, but look at Phil’s transition; it’s likely the steepest of any GREAT player, but he uses his hands brilliantly, not quietly. Those two MATCH, right now Jordan’s two moves DO NOT match. But again, he is a GREAT PLAYER who will find his way back.