The First Tee

photo credit: bradleypjohnson   Here are some tips that will make your first tee shot of the day easier:  1)  Make sure you warm-up and hit some practice balls before your round.  2)  Before you assume the address position, visualize your shot.  3)  Choose a target in the landing area.  4)  Pick the right club (perhaps a 3-metal may be better).  5)  Don’t 0verpower the shot by over-swinging or trying to kill the ball.  6)  Relax in the address position especially when you waggle. 

The first tee shot can be the most critical of the day’s round.  It usually sets the tone of the entire round, especially with amateurs.  Don’t take your first shot lightly.  No matter how tight the fairway, choose a target and visualize your shot.

Teacher vs. Coach

photo credit: SD Dirk   What’s the difference between the golf teacher and a golf coach?  The golf teacher is highly knowledgeable about swing technique.  You go to an instructor to learn about the intricacies of the golf swing and to learn of the errors you may be making.  A good instructor will advise you on how to make those corrections and guide you in your effort to swing the club correctly.  Not all golf teachers are good golfers, they don’t necessarily have to be.

A coach shows you how to play the game, how to be competitive and how to be a winner.  They are there to turn to when things go bad, when you need advice or a boost in confidence.  Not all coaches are good teachers.

Basic Training

photo credit: shibuya246   You should know what to expect from a good lesson program.  Since every program is different, there are a few guidelines that you should follow in order to judge the quality of the program you are in.

Your first lesson should begin with the use of short irons.  A good teacher won’t start you off hitting mid or long irons since they are much harder to hit.  A quality instructor wants their student to build confidence and that can’t be done with mid or long irons.  Also, if you are asked to hit more than 2 or 3 clubs during any lesson, it’s time to look for “greener pastures.”

Be  judgemental when picking a golf instructor, after all,  you’re the one footing the bill !

What Makes a Good Instructor?

photo credit: rioncm   Finding a good golf instructor is no easy task for it can take months, maybe years, to find a person that makes “mental contact” with you.

One of the most important attributes to look for in an instructor is their ability to make swinging the club easy for you.  The golfswing, if done correctly, is one of the most complicated activities in all of sports.  A good instructor will simplify the golfswing, break it down and make it easy to understand.  Beware of any instructor that goes into every detail of the swing.  They will leave you confused, bewildered and take your money for doing so. 

Ask around before deciding on an instructor and be quite selective in the process.  Sooner or later you’ll find ”Mr. Right.”

Golf Digest”s top Teachers

photo credit: lineinWhat follows are GOLF DIGEST”S picks for the top instructors in the nation (in order):  (1)  Butch Harmon $600 hr. Ph: 702 777-2444.  (2)  Hank Haney $500 hr. 972 315-5300.  (3)  David Leadbetter $3,500/3 hrs. 407 787-3330.  (4)  Jim McLean $500 hr. 800 723-6725.  (5)  Chuck Cook $250 hr. 512 422-7979.  (6)  Stan Utley GreyHawk G.C. 573 489-2268.  (7)  Jim Hardy, Jim Hardy Golf 866 731-6777.  (8)  Jim Flick, TaylorMade Learning Center 888 546-3542.  (9)  Mike Bender, Mike Bender Golf Academy 407 321-0444.  (10)  Martin Hall, Ibis G. & C.C. 561 624-8922.

They have instructed some of the world’s best golfers such as Phil Mickelson, Retief Goosen, Tiger Woods, Rocco Mediate, Stewart Cink, Ernie Els etc.  Simply call, book your lesson and take plenty of money with you !

Finding the Right Instructor

photo credit: Seattle Municipal Archives   Finding the right instructor can make a huge difference in the outcome of your game.  Most importantly, be selective with your choice.  Find a new instructor if:  (1)  There’s a lack of communication.  (2)  The instructor is impatient.  (3)  Your instructor is a ”clock watcher.”  (4)  He is not willing to spend a little more lesson time, correcting your problem.  (5)  He is not willing to join you for a playing lesson.  (6)  If you feel he is not sincerely interested in improving your game.  

Like a good pair of new shoes, you will automatically know when the “vibes” are right between you and your instructor.  Sometimes, knowledge is secondary to inspiration, find a coach that will inspire you and help you achieve your goals in golf and life in general.

Left Arm Attachment

photo credit: mandj98   Seldom mentioned by golf instructors or publications, is the left arm attachment.  In an ideal golf swing, the left arm must be attached to the torso.  This is especially important during the backswing.

Take a small towel or golf glove and place it under your left armpit (right-handers).  Assume your normal address position, followed by your golf swing.  If the object falls from under you arm at anytime during your swing, you have a problem with a “flying” left arm.  Another method is to have someone stand behind you and a few steps to your right.  During the takeaway they should not see any daylight between your upper left arm and your chest.  This ”attachment” is what brings the club in “the slot” on the downswing.  Make the attachment for lower scores.

Have Patience

photo credit: tnarik   Patience is the virtue of winners.  It takes patience to play good golf and to be the best that you can be. 

When practicing, take your time and examine the flight characteristics of each shot.  On the practice green, develop a feel for distance before sinking any putts. 

During play, when you feel like “going for it,” be conservative, you may not make a birdie but you also won’t make a bogie.  Patience creates purpose and direction.  Tiger Woods is a conservative player.  He knows when to take chances and when not to.  Phil Mickelson lacks patience and its cost him many trophies.

You can develop patience by focusing on your game and avoiding judgement errors.  Patience is something that can be learned.”

“The Haney Project”

photo credit: believekevin   Hank Haney is one of the foremost golf instructors in the U.S., just ask Tiger Woods.  Just how good is Hank?  The Golf Channel has decided to put him to the test by arranging to do a series called “The Haney Project.”  Haney’s job will be to fix Charles Barkley’s swing, one of the worst in the history of the game.

According to Haney, Barkley’s swing is a “worst case scenario.”  “It’s like he’s driving down a road and comes to a stop sign,” Haney said, halfway through his downswing he has a hitch, he stops, stoops and then finishes.”  “He drops his head nearly one foot from where he started,” he said. 

“Barkley hits an average of 1000 balls per practice session and works as hard as I’ve ever seen, so we’ll see,” Haney said.

Lesson Frequency

photo credit: diskychick   How often to take golf lessons is a debatable issue.  Some instructors require a once a week schedule and others may require lessons every two weeks or even once per month.  There are two determining factors.  First, the playing level of the student and second, their ability to execute what they’ve just been taught.

If you are a low handicap player you may require a lesson only once a month or two.  If you are just beginning, you may require a weekly lesson for the first few months.  Generally, for most players, after the first series of lessons as a beginner, only what I call maintenance lessons, should be required.  These lessons are to examine your swing and make sure no bad habits have begun.

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