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!
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