Get to Know Your Pro... Paul Kruger, PGA Assistant Professional at Plantation

Get to Know Your Pro…

This series of articles will allow you to gain an insight into the Landings Golf Professional Staff’s teaching styles, training preferences and tips.

PAUL KRUGER,  PGA Assistant Professional at Plantation

What is your favorite part of the game to practice?

My favorite part of the game to practice is mental focus, especially as it relates to putting and chipping. Improved focus increases one’s commitment to the desired stroke at hand and leads to improved distance control, which is the key to the short game.

What is the part of your game that needs the most attention?

The part of my game that needs the most practice is bunker play, and for two reasons. First, bunker practice is not as high a priority because I do not expect to be in bunkers in the first place. Second, the variations in sand moisture, type of sand, and depth of sand demand extra practice time to master.

What is the one way a student can practice better?

The way any student can practice better is to always practice to a specific target utilizing an alignment rod or golf club to ensure that the student is properly aligned to the target. If one practices shots to a target without being aligned correctly, the student may start making undesirable swing changes when no such changes are necessary.  

List your top 3 teaching specialties or favorite skills to teach:

My top three favorite teaching areas are putting, chipping and pitching, i.e., the short game. Putting alone accounts for about 43% of one’s score for 18 holes; throwing in chipping and pitching takes increases that percentage to over half your shots!

What are your preferred training tools or technology?

My preferred training tools are my patent-pending putting cubicle for increasing mental focus and a metronome for consistent tempo.

What percentage are you teaching a new concept to a student and what percentage are you coaching that student? 

30% teaching a new concept; 70% coaching a student.

What are your goals as a teacher and coach?

My goal is simply to help my students reach their goals, primarily by having more fun on the golf course by playing better.

Get to Know Your Pro... Vinny Diroff, PGA Assistant Professional at Marshwood

Get to Know Your Pro…

This series of articles will allow you to gain an insight into the Landings Golf Professional Staff’s teaching styles, training preferences and tips.

VINNY DIROFF,  PGA Assistant Professional at Marshwood

What is your favorite part of the game to practice?

I love to practice! If you’re on the MW driving range there is a good chance you might see me. My favorite part to practice is making full swings. I’m always looking for ways to make the golf swing easier and more repeatable.

What is the part of your game that needs the most attention?

The part of my game that needs the most work is putting.

What is the one way a student can practice better?

Students can practice better by dividing their range sessions into two parts. In one part, they are learning new ideas or concepts. In part two, it becomes training in which practicing the motion, making it a more automatic skill and learning variations to apply on the course become more important. Practicing in part two will also involve clearing one’s mind and building up repetitions. Not thinking about swing mechanics can be a difficult thing to do, so the more you practice the better you will get at it. A drill I like to do is as follows:  I put 20 balls aside from the rest and for those 20 balls I only focus on seeing the golf ball in my backswing and seeing it in my downswing. The only judgment I give to those 20 swings are if I was able to achieve my one single goal and that was the only thing I was thinking about. Give it a try, it’s harder than it sounds!

List your top 3 teaching specialties or favorite skills to teach:

1. Full swing                        
2. Bunkers/Sand                         
3. Chipping

What are your preferred training tools or technology?

1. Alignment sticks          
2. Medicine ball/soccer ball         
3. Mirror

What percentage are you teaching a new concept to a student and what percentage are you coaching that student? 

80% new concepts; 20% coaching

What are your goals as a teacher and coach?

My goal is to give more confidence to my students that they can hit better shots and shoot lower scores.

Get to Know Your Pro… Jim Sykes, PGA Assistant Professional at Deer Creek

Get to Know Your Pro…

This series of articles will allow you to gain an insight into the Landings Golf Professional Staff’s teaching styles, training preferences and tips.

JIM SYKES,  PGA Assistant Professional at Deer Creek

What is your favorite part of the game to practice:

My favorite area to practice is my mid-short irons (if you can make it from the fairway, you can help your putting stats).

What is the part of your game that needs the most attention:

The area of my game that needs the most practice is driving. While I may be able to hit it far, I'd like to gain more control.

What is the one way a student can practice better?

One way a student can practice better is by making it challenging and purposeful rather than going to the range and just hitting balls. Having to hit a variety of shots with the same club to different targets and different yardages can be very beneficial. It's not often that you get to hit a "stock" shot on the golf course.

List your top 3 teaching specialties or favorite skills to teach:

1. Short Game (Chipping, Pitching, Bunkers)

2. Long Game (Drivers)

3. Irons

What are your preferred training tools or technology?

I try and keep my training aids simple and easily accessible to everyone. I love using tees and an alignment stick.

What percentage are you teaching a new concept to a student and what percentage are you coaching that student? 

I like to teach 50% of the time and coach 50% of the time. A lot of people are able to understand the concept of the swing, so they just need positive reinforcement to gain confidence.

What are your goals as a teacher and coach?

My goals for teaching/coaching are to make it fun. Whether I'm teaching a young beginner golfer or an advanced golfer, I want them to be able to enjoy the game. Most importantly I want to help grow the game and make it accessible to everyone that wants to give it a try.

Get to Know Your Pro... Mike Morgan, PGA Head Professional at Oakridge

Get to Know Your Pro…

This series of articles will allow you to gain an insight into the Landings Golf Professional Staff’s teaching styles, training preferences and tips.

MIKE MORGAN,  PGA Head Professional at Oakridge

What is your favorite part of the game to practice:

My favorite part of the game to practice is shots from 25-75 yards. I have great memories of playing games with my friends trying to get up and down from difficult situations around the green. We would place balls behind trees, in divots, stick a flagstick 2 feet behind a bunker, etc.  My skills and love of the game grew because we made practice FUN and challenging. 

What is the part of your game that needs the most attention:

I need the most practice at staying in the moment. There have been numerous rounds where I get 2 or 3 under par and begin thinking about shooting 64 or 65. I need the most practice at thinking about the current shot, not about the reachable par 5 I have on the next hole. 

What is the one way a student can practice better?

To improve practice, one can play games, simulate course situations and add pressure to the shot. Otherwise, practice will instead just be a way to get exercise or enjoy the outdoors.

List your top 3 teaching specialties or favorite skills to teach:

My top 3 specialties/favorites are putting, bunkers/wedges and full swing, in that order.

What are your preferred training tools or technology?

My preferred training aids are the laser alignment aid for putting, tour sticks, impact bag and video (when appropriate).

What percentage are you teaching a new concept to a student and what percentage are you coaching that student? 

This depends on the player. If he or she is a beginner, then over 90% of a lesson might be spent teaching a new concept. A lesson with a  lower handicapper would be more like 10% of the time is spent on a new concept while 90% would be spent on coaching.

What are your goals as a teacher and coach?

My goals as a teacher/coach are to help the golfer reach their goals, improve their game and enjoy their time on the range and course.

Get to Know Your Pro... Mike McNutt, PGA Head Professional at Marshwood

Get to Know Your Pro…

This series of articles will allow you to gain an insight into the Landings Golf Professional Staff’s teaching styles, training preferences and tips.

MIKE McNUTT,  PGA Head Professional at Marshwood

What is your favorite part of the game to practice:

I like practicing pitching the most.

What is the part of your game that needs the most attention:

Most of my attention goes to my full swing irons.

What is the one way a student can practice better?

Practice in shorter time frames but more often, like three 20-minute sessions instead of one or two hour sessions. Smaller bits of repeated information is better for learning and skill acquisition.

List your top 3 teaching specialties or favorite skills to teach:

My 3 favorite areas to teach are pitching, putting and driving, in that order. The fastest way to improve your score is by working on short game and putting. One can hit the ball well or not-so-well, but in play… either way, less putts equals a lower score!

What are your preferred training tools or technology?

I like working with Ipad video feedback and a yellow noodle to help guide swing path.

What percentage are you teaching a new concept to a student and what percentage are you coaching that student? 

I teach 70% when introducing a new concept. On-course lessons are really fun because it’s easier to be more of a coach. Even the best players in the world have a coach. Some have both a teacher and also a practice coach!

What are your goals as a teacher and coach?

Easy, I want a player to hit more good shots than bad shots!

Get to Know Your Pro... Nicole Weller, PGA Head Teaching Professional at Deer Creek

Get to Know Your Pro…

This series of articles will allow you to gain an insight into the Landings Club's Golf Professional Staff’s teaching styles, training preferences and tips.

Nicole Weller, PGA Head Teaching Professional at Deer Creek

What is your favorite part of the game to practice:

I like practicing mid irons with a pre-shot routine, wedges and hybrids.

What is the part of your game that needs the most attention:

As my body and swing change over the years, I need to maintain flexibility in my left hip to stay in posture. A tight/sore left hip create a change in posture that results in toed-shots that draw and I like to fade the ball. The ability to create center contact with a slightly open clubface is my main goal. Second would be putting. I get some great results on the practice green but they don’t hold up as much as I’d like on the course… back to more practice!

What is the one way a student can practice better?

Stick to one goal that is measurable. Vary the percentages of blocked practice (repetitive practice) when developing a skill and then random practice for applying that skill on the range. Most golfers think they get an idea after blocked practice only to find that it doesn't hold up on the course because they haven’t transferred practice or practiced under pressure or play conditions. Read Easier Said than Done by Dr. Rick Jensen.

List your top 3 teaching specialties or favorite skills to teach:

My 3 favorite areas are working with the Mental Golf Profile (mental game), short game and on-course strategies. While I really love it all, I’m very partial to our Get Golf Ready programs introducing new people to the game and also teaching youngsters ages 2-6. 

What are your preferred training tools or technology?

I love working with any training tool that helps a student get it, whether visual, auditory or kinesthetic. I use many different systems because I never know what will work, plus it’s fun for me to keep learning as well!  Eyeline Golf Putting & Short Game (Ball of Steel, Mirror/Track, Landing Rings, Track Circles), Teach N Towel, Tour Tempo Bluetooth, video, Slapstick, US Kids Golf Speed Sticks and Tempo/Speed Radar, TAG Teach, ParKit Games, SNAG, Birdie Ball, Star Putter, 3-D feedback, AimPoint, Spray Paint…..

What percentage are you teaching a new concept to a student and what percentage are you coaching that student? 

Over the past few years, I find that I teach maybe 40% of the time and coach 60% of the time, hence more emphasis on my Coach & Train series, Practice with a Purpose and discussions on HOW to practice what one is developing. 

What are your goals as a teacher and coach?

I strive to educate golfers and enhance lives and golf experiences. I help a student attain a goal that is agreed on or discussed to make sure it’s realistic. I’m a Socratic teacher, helping the student become self-sufficient in observing, learning, evaluating and adjusting. My hope is that people will learn a lot about themselves through golf and find ways to better both their life experience and their game.

Get to Know Your Pro... Jason Griswold, PGA Professional managing TLC Tournaments and Handicapping/Chelsea Tee Time Systems

This series of articles will allow you to gain an insight into the Landings Golf Professional Staff’s teaching styles, training preferences and tips.

JASON GRISWOLD, PGA Professional managing TLC Tournaments and Handicapping/Chelsea Tee Time Systems

What is your favorite part of the game to practice?

My favorite part of the game to practice is chipping and pitching. I find when I do not play for a while I lose the feel around the greens. Nothing is more frustrating than when I come off the course and have a less than desired outcome, I look back and calculate that I added a bunch of strokes to my round around the greens. Getting “the feel” back with a practice session takes pressure off the rest of my game as I am confident I can get the ball up and down around the green, even when ball striking leaves something to be desired.

What is the part of your game that needs the most attention?

Putting. I have never been a great putter and I can lose confidence quickly. Like most, I have tried every putter and every way to putt. I now have an anchored belly putter style and it works when I practice, just my luck.

What is the one way a student can practice better?

Like many teachers preach, make every ball count or mean something. Play games against a spouse or a friend. Challenge yourself to make a certain shot or to hit a certain amount of balls onto a practice green or near a particular flagstick. Use your imagination. I recently heard a story about Ben Hogan never hitting more than 20 balls at one time without taking a break in between.

List your top 3 teaching specialties or favorite skills to teach:

My top 3 specialties are: course management, iron play and chipping/pitching.

What are your preferred training tools or technology?

I like using a flight monitor. It will give you spin rate, ball speed and distance. You see these devices getting smaller and more advanced rapidly. Pretty soon there will be “an app for that”. For putting, I like using the Eye-Line. The Eye-Line mirror gives you a visual of where you are over the ball and the rails and lines give you instant feedback on identifying the deficiencies in your stroke. I also like to get the player on video and let the student see what their swing looks like which gives the student the opportunity to critique their own swing. It is funny when a student who thinks “I don’t do that” is flabbergasted when they see what they actually do on the screen.

What percentage are you teaching a new concept to a student and what percentage are you coaching that student? 

85% of the time I am coaching a student. We can work a new concept on plane or path, etc. but when the student finally “gets it” and hits the shot or makes the move we are looking for, “we know it is in there” then I become a coach. This is a game of inches, the 6 inches between your ears. Confidence plays a large role in this game. I believe in the student and I strive to help them to see that belief within themselves.

What are your goals as a teacher and coach?

My goal as a teacher/coach is to get that player to meet the objectives that we set prior to the lesson. What are we trying to achieve? A majority of the time the student will take one step back and then eventually take two steps forward. I particularly enjoy the phone call or the conversation that comes after the lesson saying "everything that you taught me worked today and I shot x today." I certainly enjoy the hugs or high fives I get during and especially after the lesson.

Get to Know Your Pro...

This series of articles will allow you to gain an insight into the Landings Golf Professional Staff’s teaching styles, training preferences and tips.

 

JOHN PHILLIPS, PGA Teaching Professional and Club Repair/Club Fitter at Oakridge

What is your favorite part of the game to practice?

The short game is my favorite to practice. Putting and chipping practice provides the greatest return (saving strokes) for the time spent.

 

What is the part of your game that needs the most attention?

Since I am playing fewer competitive rounds, putting becomes more important for me to practice. Speed control is not as consistent, as number of rounds played is reduced. Speed control is vital to reading putts correctly.

 

What is the one way a student can practice better?

Students should practice chipping and putting three times as much as full swing. These are two areas where the average player can really excel if they commit to practice.

 

List your top 3 teaching specialties or favorite skills to teach:

I enjoy teaching the scoring shots, hybrid and iron swings along with chipping and putting.

 

What are your preferred training tools or technology?

My new favorite teaching tool or technology is "Swing Smart", a small device attached to the golf shaft beneath the grip. It shows an animated 3D figure imitating your last swing. The animation shows swing speed, path of club head on both backswing and downswing, club face position at impact and amount of hand "flip" at impact. It also measures your swing tempo. All of this can be pulled up on your Iphone or Ipad. It's a great teaching tool!

 

What percentage are you teaching a new concept to a student and what percentage are you coaching that student? 

Every student has certain negative tendencies or bad habits which must be identified and corrections made. Once the corrections have been implemented, then the coaching takes over to keep re-enforcing the changes that were made. Every student is "taught" initially and the follow-ups are "coaching".

 

What are your goals as a teacher and coach?

My goal as a teacher is not only to improve the playing ability of my students, but also to give them a better understanding of their swing dynamics and the ability to read ball flight as related to these dynamics.

Get to Know Your Pro…

This series of articles will allow you to gain an insight into the Landings Golf Professional Staff’s teaching styles, training preferences and tips.

RUSSELL ABBOTT, PGA Assistant Professional at Marshwood

What is your favorite part of the game to practice?

I love to working on putting and driving. I have always loved the saying "drive for show and putt for dough". When playing in competition, I love being able to blast the golf ball well past someone to try to "intimidate" them a little for a lack of better wording, however, it makes me  even happier when they see that and then I drain a 20-30 footer on them for a couple of holes. Plus, it sends my confidence through the roof when this happens.

What is the part of your game that needs the most attention?

The part I struggle with the most is my iron game. I am not nearly as consistent as I should be. I do not compress them or hear that sound, like some better iron players get.

 

What is the one way a student can practice better?

I think students should do more situational practice. Instead of hitting 40 7-irons to the blue flag, change angles by hitting to different flags on different sides of the range, change ball flights (high, low, draw, fade). Instead of hitting chip after chip, pick a spot chip to three different pins and then try to make the putt...work on your up and downs....make yourself have some pressure...if you don't get up and down say 40% of the time, you don't get ice cream that week or owe yourself 15 pushups...

List your top 3 teaching specialties or favorite skills to teach:

Putting, short game/bunkers, driving....Driving is such a confidence builder - we only hit 14 (or 18) drives each round but if you are hitting them in play, and well, it infuses your game.  Short game/bunkers and putting are where you can really pick up a few stokes fast with just some simple adjustments. A lot of times we are not even talking about big swing changes or body movements for students to see big differences in results...love to see that light bulb explode in someone's eyes and face.

 

What are your preferred training tools or technology?

I am still very simple here for the most part. I don't think we always need the expensive gadgets to make fixes. I use tees and alignment sticks a lot in my teaching. I have and like to use an Ipad/Iphone for videoing and analysis. It is just so simple to use it for a 3 second swing, turn the device where the student can see it, and then have a 2-5min discussion about the fix. I also like to use a device called the Swingbyte for my more consistent/better students. This device attaches to the club, weighs about an ounce, and provides me with many stats including swing speed, angle of attack, shaft lean, computer generated swing path and more that some people really like to help with their understanding of where they are and where we want to get.

 

What percentage are you teaching a new concept to a student and what percentage are you coaching that student? 

That depends on the student. For me, the higher the handicap, the more I concentrate on concepts/technique. I try to use a lot of encouraging words during this time and try to get the student to see positives.  With the lower handicap player, it is a lot less technique, more fundamentals get out of whack, more coaching and mental toughness are needed here.

 

What are your goals as a teacher and coach?

Keep learning from other teachers/golf players and from personal lessons given to me and then take that knowledge and use in a ways to help my students. I’m always look for better ways to relate to students!

Get to Know Your Pro...

This series of articles will allow you to gain an insight into the Landings Golf Professional Staff’s teaching styles, training preferences and tips.

BRIAN SAMS, PGA Head Professional at Plantation

What is your favorite part of the game to practice:

I most enjoy practicing with the sand wedge shots due to the versatility and creativity required.

What is the part of your game that needs the most attention?

My putting always requires practice to keep the feel and green reading sharpness.

What is the one way a student can practice better?

Students can practice better by establishing a station to assist with consistency in their set up.

List your top 3 teaching specialties or favorite skills to teach:

Chipping, tee shots, and wedge play.

Helping a player improve chipping often helps the entire game based on the proper fundamentals of correct impact. All players enjoy hitting the ball further off the tee.  A player’s score improves with better wedge play.

 

 

What are your preferred training tools or technology?

Establishing the player’s body limitations is the best tool in helping a player improve. The instructor has to be aware of the player’s mobility to know how to help a player improve. The speed whoosh is a great method to increase a player club head speed for greater distance. Using video can be a wonderful aid or a hindrance, depending on the student’s method of learning and how the video is used.

 

What percentage are you teaching a new concept to a student and what percentage are you coaching that student? 

The new player often needs more concept understanding to improve. Be careful not to overwhelm the player with information. The established player will often benefit more from coaching and mental preparation. The instructor must be careful not to overwhelm the player with too much information. A student walking away from a lesson confused is unproductive, no matter if the student is a beginner or advanced.

 

What are your goals as a teacher and coach?

My goal as a teacher and coach is to allow people to enjoy the game more by having a better understanding of concepts to improve their enjoyment. If their golf game improves, all the better. We need to ask the player what they want to accomplish in order to best help them improve. It is a mistake to assume what the student needs. Always ask how you may best assist them.

Chicken Soup for Golf

We all know how easy it is to veer off course in our mental focus during practice. If something doesn’t work out, it’s easy to try something else and then something else until too many ideas have been tried in practice session. In addition, many amateurs spend time trying to figure out what went wrong or are given ideas from others on what is going wrong. There are many things that can go wrong in a golf swing – it’s not 100% controllable. Your decisions, your pre-shot routine and your set-up are controllable, but it’s very important to streamline your swing goal into a single feel, move or image that keeps you on task. I’ve been using an analogy to help golfers stay focused on their task during practice and hope it will help you remember to stay on task.

First, imagine you have been given the important task of going to the grocery store to purchase ingredients for chicken soup. What 3 things would you be searching for? Name 3 in your mind right now. Where would you find those items? Next, think of 3 things you wouldn’t put in chicken soup.  Again, take a moment to think of those. I might consider horseradish, gum and cereal. When you go to the store, are you more focused on what you need to put into your recipe or what you don’t need? How long would it take you to go shopping if you kept going down the aisles and checking off the items you don’t need? Wouldn’t it be easier to just stay focused on what you need?

Think about this analogy for your golf practice. If you don’t know what you need, you should work with a golf professional to help you build your recipe. Once you have your ingredients, stay focused on the task at hand. If you start mentally wandering, bring yourself back to the task. After each shot, ask yourself if you did it or not (i.e. Did I have my grip over enough or did I feel the pause at the top of the swing?).  Rate it on a scale of 1-5 (1 is pitiful and 5 is awesome). If you can answer that one specific question every shot, you will have better focus.  Stay on task and I hope both your chicken soup and your golf swing turn out well! 

 

 

News from the Summit - 9 (and last!)

Notes from Dr. Paul Schempp, PGA Teaching & Coaching Summit Presentation - A professor and the director of the sport instruction research laboratory at the University of Georgia. Dr. Schempp's message, supported by more than a decade of research into the characteristics and development of expertise, applies to individuals and organizations in business, education, and sport.

http://www.performancemattersinc.com/bio/

If you are passionate enough and willing enough to pay the price, you will get it done. “You can’t think and hit at the same time” (Yogi Berra). Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, be in the precious present moment.

• Learn about relationships in your game. Love is a decision, not an emotion. Care, be responsible and respect as a player and as a coach. Have a game plan. Be motivated and motivate others.
• Have a game plan. If you really want to get better, you need a plan. Experts plan 60% or more of the time. Purpose-Goals-Actions-Implement-Evaluate-Adjust. Goals should keep in mind enjoyment, finances, exercise and work.  Experts are much quicker to abandon a plan if it’s not working.
• Learn what motivates you. Fear and reward are temporary.  SELF MOTIVATION is more permanent. Create an environment in which mastery can be achieved.  Experts motive by showing students what they CAN BE.  Use sport as a vehicle. The students are the passengers. Golf instructors: “I don’t teach golf. I teach people to play golf.”

Notes from an excellent presentation by LPGA Tour Player Stacy Lewis and Coach Joe Hallett

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stacy_Lewis            http://legendsclub.com/staff/joe-hallett

• It’s normal to start to doubt yourself if you’ve done well and you start hitting a few bad shots.  Talk yourself through step by step. Let your body take over and quiet your mind. Golf shots don’t have to be perfect. They just have to be good enough to get it done.
• Stacy has the ability to do what she does based on her workouts. She was diagnosed with scoliosis at age 11, has had 5 vertebrae fused and isn’t physically strong enough to do was Joe wanted so they increased her core strength workouts to 6/week. Stacy practiced 6 months of chipping and putting during surgery recovery. 70% of her practice is now short game and putting and course play. She said it doesn’t matter if she can’t do it the course. She also eats enough protein every morning.   
• Stacy uses AimPoint and went from 88^th to 3^rd in putting stats on Tour. She knows her reads are correct and works mostly on speed. She also thinks that her putts always have a good chance of going in.   

Stacy says “Golf isn’t everything. You need hobbies. There are highs and lows all over. You need something to get away to and need balance in life. Commit to your craft.”  Not every putt will go in.

• Joe works to keep players inside their performance patterns knowing they will navigate to their weaknesses. It’s inevitable. Nothing is a fix in golf, it’s about management. Always give a player movement, don’t take movement away or try to stop movement.  Look to complete rather than compete.

Notes from the Summit - 8

Notes from Michael Breed, PGA Teaching & Coaching Summit Presentation on Branding…

-PGA Golf Professional and Golf Channel Instructor         http://michaelbreed.com/

• How will you brand yourself, even if working as an employee for a company? There are 6.8 billion people in the world. 5.1B have cell phones. 4.2B have toothbrushes, 1.2B use Facebook, 1B have SmartPhones. 91% of adults use Facebook monthly. 98% of adults ages 18-24 use Facebook monthly. How will you get your message across about who you are, what you offer?
• Think about logo / name (colors, size), bragging about yourself a little, being honest, a tag line, knowing subject matter, clear writing skills, appearance (colors, manners, polished shoes), plans of action (what steps and when, have motion with direction), preservation (links and leverage), 3^rd party Recognition (90% trust peer recognition, 14% trust ads).
• The average person has a 7-second attention span. A goldfish has an 8-second attention span. Limit your message, make it worth it. (He also mentioned that’s one of the reasons he’s so fast-paced on the Show… he can only roam 25 feet  from where he was standing as the average person loses interest in speakers who wander… interesting data on good speaking habits!)

Notes from Speaker Panel with Todd Anderson, Mike Bender, Randy Smith, Chuck Cook and Martin Hall

• Focus more on ball flight than body parts and mechanics. Use Trackman for fitting and some teaching. Technology is great but can be overwhelming. Don’t lose yourself in the data and small picture. Have balance. Use video carefully. 
• Use feedback and exaggeration. Work with training stations.
• If there isn’t any power to develop (no chance at increasing distance), work a lot on short game.  Justin Leonard is 100-125 less on than other on driving distance but still won some big events with his short game.
• No re-building. Use what a person has and can do. Great players will make mistakes. Keep it simple. Worst mistake is to make a reclamation on the Tuesday before the U.S. Open.
• Todd Anderson’s Drill: Play for a Wedge Score, a Regular Score and a Short Game Score.
• Mike Bender’s Drill: To stop a slice, move the impact bag out to the right (for a right-handed golfer).
• Randy Smith’s Drill:  To stop chicken wings, play ball in the front of the stance and make divots.