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.