Instruction
DeFrancesco: Golf is a Technique Game
My love affair with swing technique really started when, after a series of back surgeries, I decided that I had to change my swing if I were going to continue playing competitive golf at the professional level.
I realized that my upright backswing and bent back finish needed to be a flatter, more rounded motion that ended up with my upper body more on top of my lower. I began to study Ben Hogan, and to this day, the videos of his swing and the instructional books he authored are the foundation of my own teaching preferences. The instruction I give is also the result of having continued to pursue playing at the highest level of competition while maintaining a busy teaching schedule at a private club.
I have taught the game to players of all levels from beginner to Tour player. Today, most people who have worked with me directly or that know me through my online instructional videos should be familiar with my teaching philosophy. Summarized, I believe that golf is really a technique game in which a good swing hits good shots and you need to hit enough good shots to compete and perhaps win. And by “good” I mean “effective,” which applies to all swings, including pitching and putting.
Golf is a Hard Game
There are a few things that might set my teaching apart from what one might consider conventional. For one, I believe that there are no quick fixes when it comes to improving swing technique. Every change affects something else. While it is possible that one idea may cause other things to fall into place, it just as likely that one change may mess other things up and create even more problems. Therefore, it is very important to have an understanding of how any attempted change will affect other areas of the swing.
Second, I believe that most changes need to be combined with another change in order for any of it to work. I realize that “keeping it simple” is one of the great buzz phrases of the teaching industry, but the game is truly complex and there is really no way to keep it simple. Unless, of course, you have been blessed with incredible talent and can do things correctly without much conscious thought. If you are like me and don’t fall into the category, you should find comfort in knowing that players having that level of talent are extremely rare.
It is hard to be a beginner and it’s hard to get to the next level, no matter what level you’re on. When you finally think you’ve “got it,” it can quickly and mysteriously leave you, for no good reason other than you went to bed and woke up the next day. I know this because I have been playing competitive golf since I was 12 and I have been teaching golf to every imaginable level of student for 27 years. In my career, I have left the game three times, twice due to injury and once for poor play. Each time I was lured back inside of two years and I have realized that there is really no way around the fact that I am a golfer for life.
Developing Good Technique is Physically Demanding
My goal, as it is with all my students, is to provide readers with an honest perspective of the game gleaned from my many years of experience and to offer information and direction to those seeking to improve. One thing you won’t get from me is a promise that anything I say will cause you to improve instantaneously, unlike most teaching methods which spout the same message:
“This (whatever method) will have you hitting the ball better instantly!”
Of course, we all know this is rubbish, but boy do we want to believe that it’s true. Unfortunately, the process of improving one’s technique is long and arduous. It is full of pitfalls, plateaus, and then, perhaps, if you are fortunate, the odd, exhilarating moment when things finally do fall into place and don’t disappear.
There are a few technique items that I emphasize in my teaching that you may find different from the norm. For one, I don’t believe that “maintaining your posture” is the best way to think of pivot movement. Rather, I would like to see my students lower both in the backswing and in transition, just as video evidence proves that a majority of great players past and present have done. I have covered using the ground (what I refer to as pivot compression) extensively in my swing analysis videos in which it is shown to be a common trait of good ball strikers even though they may appear to have very different looking swings. Another unconventional preference of mine (also used by many of the best players) is to have the hands travel outward toward the ball in their first movement in the change of direction, while the shaft of the club kicks back or shallows. This combination sidearm and underhand motion, as Hogan referred to it in his book “The Five Lessons,” is the key to the overall feel and athletic conception of the movement of the golf swing. Hogan put four different examples of this elbow first throwing motion in his book, which to me is proof of his belief in its importance.
The True Test of Technique Is Under Pressure
It is easy to pontificate about the swing and all the various facets of the game if you don’t have to take your theories out onto the course and put them into action. Golf is a truly fascinating game in that there is incredible variation in the techniques that have been used to by the greatest players of all time. Some of them have what may be described as classic swings that follow all of the rules of physics and geometry that a century of study has deemed correct, while others seem to break every one of these rules, which of course means that there are very few real rules that need to be followed. Having done slow-motion video swing analyses of well over 100 past and present Tour players, the thing that stands out the most is just how differently each one of these players achieved their success, although there are enough commonalities among this wide range of swings that we can form an idea of just what is an effective way to move the club through impact for those who are not already blessed with a knack for hitting the ball.
I look forward to contributing to this column each month and you can expect original and thought provoking pieces to be forthcoming. I also hope that you will be enticed to further explore my teaching. My desire and mission is to educate and offer direction to those who are seeking a better understanding of the game. If you come back to look for more of my work here I can promise you that I will be doing my best to give you useful information.
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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Matt Newby, PGA
May 23, 2013 at 1:00 pm
Wayne,
Very well said, several things that people need to understand before they even consider taking lessons. That being said your concept of “pivot compression” is unfortunately not something a lot of instructors understand in my experience. If you want to do some good research on this topic the biomechanics world refers to it as spinal extension and flexion. If you do some research on these topics you can find some great examples of using it in other sports that have really helped my students. Keep the good articles coming.
Darren
Oct 15, 2013 at 10:41 am
So what do you think of the stack and tilt technique
HB
May 21, 2013 at 8:40 pm
The link to your DVD isn’t working 🙁
nick
May 18, 2013 at 1:55 pm
can i presume that if you think one should lower in the backswing and the transition…one should get taller through impact, or something along this line of thinking? Thank You
wayne defrancesco
May 19, 2013 at 6:54 pm
Yes, that is correct. The sequence is down a bit in the backswing, down more in transition to left arm parallel, stable to shaft parallel, then up into impact. The up would be due to the squeezing and pushing of the glutes through impact while maintaining a good deal of the right side bend created by the lateral movement of the hips.
Joel
May 17, 2013 at 3:47 pm
Wayne,
Glad to see you are writing articles for GolfWRX. I’ve been following your Golf Instruction for a few years.
wayne defrancesco
May 19, 2013 at 6:50 pm
Thanks! I look forward to being a regular contributor to GolfWRX.