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Learn to become your own swing teacher

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A great golf teacher is one who imparts enough knowledge in his or her students that those students can self-correct based on knowing and feeling their OWN swing. That’s why the most important role of a teacher is to provide opportunities for discovery — those “aha” moments where real learning begins.

When students leave a lesson tee, they want to be sure they “get it.” To clarify, “it” is the true cause and effect in their swing. If they know the “it” and how to fix it, they’ve moved into self discovery, which is the key to long-term progress. I call this type of learning if this, then that and it is the most effective way of internalizing “the secret,” whatever that might be to you.

Ever wonder why you improve during a lesson but can’t take it to the golf course? It’s because you didn’t really get it. You didn’t discover enough on your own to go play.

The “how-to” lesson needs to go the way of the dinosaur if golfers are going to have real, sustained progress. Relying on your instructor during a session is fine, but at some point you need to get enough information so that you can self correct. There is a vast chasm between being told what to do and learning it on your own. I’m not saying that you don’t need guidance, but make sure to search for the essence of your feeling during the lesson, not just the teacher’s description of that feeling.

Here’s an example:

TEACHER: “On this next swing, turn more in the backswing.”

STUDENT: Why?

TEACHER: “Because it gives you a better chance of hitting more from the inside. When you see the ball slice, FOR YOU that means you did not turn properly in the backswing. Let’s do some drills to help you FEEL that.”

Investment in a lesson is more than simply financial if you, the student, want to get better. I cannot tell you how many times I have seen a false sense of improvement, which are better results based entirely on my feedback. Very often I say nothing after a few flubbed shots for a student, just to see what they have learned. Golfers on their own are in the best classroom in the world, the classroom of TRIAL and ERROR. A keep-making-mistakes-until-you-don’t approach to learning is going to create the best long-term progress you will ever have.

“What did I do on that swing, pro” should be a provisional state of confusion: a question to be answered when and only when the learner is completely at a loss. Invest yourself in the learning process deeply enough that you get your “aha” moment. Learn to embrace failure; it’s the best way to succeed. Golf is not a connect-the-dots, how-to game that you will learn by book or tape. You could learn history that way, but not golf. At least not for very long. Self discovery has a lasting effect. Being told what to do has a very fleeting effect (about an hour in most cases).

We teachers are trying to change habits — deeply ingrained muscle motions — that have been a part of your swing for a very long time. Those habits are not going to suddenly disappear by being TOLD WHAT TO DO. That’s why the instructor may say the same thing several different ways. For example, “turn your shoulders,” “get your back to the target,” “get your left shoulder under your chin” and “rotate your upper body” are all ways of saying the same thing. Which one works for you? Which one provides you with that “aha” moment where you can FEEL the new motion?

Perhaps you can relate it to something you’ve done before. Throwing a baseball or a football involves turning the upper body away in the wind up. Try every suggestion until one clicks. It will if you’re looking in the right place.

I have a building at my golf academy and often I sneak inside and watch students practice after a lesson just to see what they have actually learned. My concern is what happens when I leave. When the fear of looking foolish in front of the pro subsides, the real work of trial and error begins. You have maximized your investment if you have enough information to work you through to point of improvement on your own.

My lesson plan is simple and the diagnosis take all of a few minutes. The rest of the lesson is working with a student to provide them opportunities for self help. This takes years of experience. The subject matter — the “science” if you will — is finite, but communicating ways of self discovery are infinite.

For those of you not familiar with the work of Mike Hebron, I suggest you research him. I have learned a lot from him, but I never teach theories. His research into learning is beyond abstract because I have daily empirical evidence that it works. My lesson tee is its own trial-and-error classroom, where I implement only that which I know is effective.

Look for your own “aha” moments. They are there waiting for you.

As always, feel free to send a swing video to my Facebook page and I will do my best to give you my feedback.

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Dennis Clark is a PGA Master Professional. Clark has taught the game of golf for more than 30 years to golfers all across the country, and is recognized as one of the leading teachers in the country by all the major golf publications. He is also is a seven-time PGA award winner who has earned the following distinctions: -- Teacher of the Year, Philadelphia Section PGA -- Teacher of the Year, Golfers Journal -- Top Teacher in Pennsylvania, Golf Magazine -- Top Teacher in Mid Atlantic Region, Golf Digest -- Earned PGA Advanced Specialty certification in Teaching/Coaching Golf -- Achieved Master Professional Status (held by less than 2 percent of PGA members) -- PGA Merchandiser of the Year, Tri State Section PGA -- Golf Professional of the Year, Tri State Section PGA -- Presidents Plaque Award for Promotion and Growth of the Game of Golf -- Junior Golf Leader, Tri State section PGA -- Served on Tri State PGA Board of Directors. Clark is also former Director of Golf and Instruction at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort. Dennis now teaches at Bobby Clampett's Impact Zone Golf Indoor Performance Center in Naples, FL. .

32 Comments

32 Comments

  1. Josh

    Dec 21, 2014 at 6:24 pm

  2. abman

    Oct 11, 2014 at 4:56 am

    Great article. I think thanks to Youtube, in general, the self-teaching movement is growing. I’ve been self-teaching with a highspeed video for the last five years and love going to the “lab” (practice range) to try out an idea and then see what the film says. I’m blown away by how many different feelings you can have that all produce a golf swing.

    What I want to know is when I get an “aha moment” or good feeling I go through a period from a hour to a few days where the feeling is new and I’m grooving it and all is well. Then the “newness” goes away and shots don’t go as good because I can no longer feel the move but I know through video it’s still there. So my body instinctively looks for that “newness” again and on to another feeling. Like I’m addicted to the learning or myelination part. Is this normal? Does this happen to pros over the long term? Is there a point where you should stop learning and searching for new aha moments or should I just consign myself to always be learning? I’ve heard pros have different swing keys week to week depending on what their swing is doing due to fatigue or injury. What are your thoughts?

    • Dennis Clark

      Oct 11, 2014 at 4:56 pm

      Well remember i suggested “guided practice”. I don’t mean teaching yourself without the aid of a trained eye. If you’re having trouble keeping the feeling you want to get someone to work with that can watch your motion as you develop it. There is no substitute for a trained, OBJECTIVE eye. not “how-to’ …just can you feel this type of approach.

      • ANOTHER JEFF

        Oct 12, 2014 at 8:29 pm

        Dennis,

        Can you give us your thoughts on MEGSA type of equipment? It seems to me that this type equipment could be as revolutionary to golf swing development as Video has proven to be. At this point I think it is prohibitively expensive for home use – maybe even range use.

        For those who do not know MEGSA basically allows a Teaching Pro to “dial you in” into what – to me – resembles a Proper Golf Swing Jig. It allows for both positive and negative feedback when learning the swing. It seems like it could “fast track” “digging it out of the dirt” to me.

        • Dennis Clark

          Oct 14, 2014 at 7:34 pm

          sure i like Most efficient swing…anything that helps golfers get a feel, that offers feedback based on feeling is good. It’s elaborate and expensive so not something the average golfer can use regularly but I expect some training centers will have them soon. The problem might be just that; you “feel” it there, then have to go home. His bender Stick is handy too.

    • Dennis Clark

      Oct 14, 2014 at 7:39 pm

      video in and of itself cannot offer feedback. In motor skill learning there is only one way to change a motion and that is feedback-from the golf ball, the flight of it or other stimuli the body can FEEL, not see. I’d say your experience is common, the feeling does go away, thats why we have coaches to guide you back to the feeling. Not to tell you how, simply to let you experience it yourself. And then on to another it’s just the nature of the beast. 🙂

  3. Jafar

    Oct 6, 2014 at 2:10 pm

    I’d say instructors should be clubfitters also and the student should only bring 1 club to the practice session, like a 6 or 7 iron, and get their swing path and lie angles matched up along with shaft length for better posture.

    From there you can begin other lessons on fading/drawing or high vs low trajectory shots.

  4. RobG

    Oct 6, 2014 at 9:50 am

    My best teacher has always been my shadow. If I find myself struggling I make a few swings in a position where I can see my shadow on the ground while I’m swinging. I have found it really helps me control the length of my backswing, it helps me keep the transition to the downswing nice and smooth, and keeps me in tempo and in sync.

    • Dennis Clark

      Oct 6, 2014 at 1:25 pm

      Lamont Cranston, if you’re 0ld enough to remember, “The Shadow Knows” 🙂

  5. Dennis Clark

    Oct 5, 2014 at 10:12 pm

    I’m mostly self taught, found my game in the dirt as Mr Hogan said. When I first started teaching I was at a loss to understand why my students couldn’t get “it”. I learned that I was not properly guiding them; I was merely showing them “how”. That was my LIGHT BULD TEACHING MOMENT.

  6. Max

    Oct 5, 2014 at 12:14 pm

    Geezz…that’s kinda like doing your own diagnosis when your sick and NOT going to your family doctor. Max

    • Dennis Clark

      Oct 5, 2014 at 4:08 pm

      Whoa Max…doctors deal with life/death. I teach a golf swing. A little different, no? But if you’d like that analogy, then think of it like this: If your golf swing is sick, go to a teacher. But when you do, be looking for the light bulb moment that might help you take over on your own. You may need one lesson for that, you may need several, but soon your guided trial and error process will begin to show better, long term results.
      good luck.

      • paul

        Oct 5, 2014 at 4:28 pm

        You mean the quality of my golf swing isn’t life or death!!!!???? Since when?? ????

        • Dennis Clark

          Oct 5, 2014 at 7:27 pm

          LOL. Old saying: “Golf is not life or death; it is much more important than that”!

          • Bear

            Oct 5, 2014 at 9:01 pm

            I’m a paediatrician. I love patients using the internet, the available information, involvement and engagement that it brings are fantastic. But the value is as an information source. Diagnosis of health problems is very difficult using algorithms, whether they are internet or computer based – there is a critical element of experience, human empathy and interaction, and just ‘feel’. The analogy to the golf swing is a good one. I have loved reading especially Dennis’ views, my improvement has come from some lessons from a good (golf) professional, coupled with a much deeper understanding from especially the ‘net’. In this context, loved this article in particular Dennis.

  7. Dan

    Oct 5, 2014 at 10:30 am

    Great article. I have never taken a lesson, but read all the books and watched a lot of instructional video and for me personally nobody made it click better than Brian Manzella. Anybody who is starting out on their swing and doesnt have time or money for instruction look his stuff up. I dont know what his reputation in the industry is, and frankly I couldnt care less. I went from the 90s to the 70s very quickly after studying his stuff. For the short game I liked Stan Utley. I’m still searching for the material on putting that will take me to the next level. Perhaps I will break down and see a pro for that.

    • Dennis Clark

      Oct 5, 2014 at 11:45 am

      Great. Keep up the good work. There are a lot of great teachers you just found the one that worked for you. Well done

  8. Jeff

    Oct 4, 2014 at 11:40 pm

    As a high school golf coach I preech self awareness, especially with the short game. There are many ways to get a ball up and down but the key is understanding how your club works with ball. So i have them experiment to come to their own conclusions. Amazingly, (joking) it has made some of them put the 60* away when greenside and opt for PW. I love your articles and just forwarded this one to some of my players.

    • Dennis Clark

      Oct 5, 2014 at 10:11 am

      Yes, the short game is a great place to start experimentation. They need feel, creativity ONCE they have learned a few basics. Good work

  9. Philip

    Oct 4, 2014 at 10:41 pm

    I just have to get a large mirror for the winter. It’ll help me a lot in getting the right feels.

  10. Tom Stickney

    Oct 4, 2014 at 7:28 pm

    Self-diagnosis is the key. Hebron’s stuff is great.

  11. David

    Oct 4, 2014 at 6:33 pm

    Nice article Dennis. Some words of wisdom there. I´ve had some lessons during the 10yrs or so I´ve been in the game, both online and in person, amazingly I´m yet to find a teacher that cares, and I mean really cares for my progress, out of all the teachers I remember 1 that cared and asked about my game, how I was doing ect, unfortunately he´s not around anymore. So I read all those fancy articles about this and that, good and bad. But what really matters to me is to have a teacher that I trust and cares about My progress, asks my how I´m doing and offers help if I´m in need. I think partly golf is in decline because of this, bend your knees 50$ pls stuff.
    I like your articles though, well thought out most of the time.

    My opinion “A great teacher is the one that cares”

    Unfortunately few and far between.

    Dave

    • Dennis Clark

      Oct 4, 2014 at 7:41 pm

      Dave I appreciate the comments. Send me an email id like to respond at some length.

  12. Michael Johnson

    Oct 4, 2014 at 3:16 pm

    Great Article. Love the mirror in the photo with the article. Where can I get one for myself?

    • jd

      Oct 5, 2014 at 11:26 am

      there’s a place called Bob’s mirrors and stuff in Peoria, North Dakota. No direct flights so you may have a layover.

  13. sgniwder99

    Oct 4, 2014 at 1:30 pm

    This article definitely rings true from my experience. I usually find that I actually start hitting the ball better about 2 practice sessions after a lesson with my instructor, and that has a lot to do with being left to my own to experiment a bit to see what my feel keys are to produce the moves that he tries to get me to produce. This is one reason that I think practicing on video is so helpful: so I can actually have a process of trial and error, rather than just pure guesswork.

    • Dennis Clark

      Oct 4, 2014 at 2:05 pm

      Right. You get my point. Too much Reliance on how-to from the teacher does not make for long term retention. Self discovery after guidance does. Thx

  14. Bobby Tewksbary

    Oct 4, 2014 at 1:16 pm

    Dennis – great article! I was a baseball player and now coach hitters at all levels (from 8 yr olds all the way up to MLB players.) I started playing golf last spring and got to re-enter a learning process and it has been terrific for my coaching! I have an even greater appreciation for the failure and self discovery that I’ve been going through myself. Great stuff!

    • Dennis Clark

      Oct 4, 2014 at 2:06 pm

      Bobby you’ll need direction and guidance for sure but the time between those lessons is critical. Glad you enjoyed it.

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Instruction

Clement: Stop ripping off your swing with this drill!

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Not the dreaded headcover under the armpit drill! As if your body is defective and can’t function by itself! Have you seen how incredible the human machine is with all the incredible feats of agility all kinds of athletes are accomplishing? You think your body is so defective (the good Lord is laughing his head off at you) that it needs a headcover tucked under the armpit so you can swing like T-Rex?

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How a towel can fix your golf swing

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This is a classic drill that has been used for decades. However, the world of marketed training aids has grown so much during that time that this simple practice has been virtually forgotten. Because why teach people how to play golf using everyday items when you can create and sell a product that reinforces the same thing? Nevertheless, I am here to give you helpful advice without running to the nearest Edwin Watts or adding something to your Amazon cart.

For the “scoring clubs,” having a solid connection between the arms and body during the swing, especially through impact, is paramount to creating long-lasting consistency. And keeping that connection throughout the swing helps rotate the shoulders more to generate more power to help you hit it farther. So, how does this drill work, and what will your game benefit from it? Well, let’s get into it.

Setup

You can use this for basic chip shots up to complete swings. I use this with every club in my bag, up to a 9 or 8-iron. It’s natural to create incrementally more separation between the arms and body as you progress up the set. So doing this with a high iron or a wood is not recommended.

While you set up to hit a ball, simply tuck the towel underneath both armpits. The length of the towel will determine how tight it will be across your chest but don’t make it so loose that it gets in the way of your vision. After both sides are tucked, make some focused swings, keeping both arms firmly connected to the body during the backswing and follow through. (Note: It’s normal to lose connection on your lead arm during your finishing pose.) When you’re ready, put a ball in the way of those swings and get to work.

Get a Better Shoulder Turn

Many of us struggle to have proper shoulder rotation in our golf swing, especially during long layoffs. Making a swing that is all arms and no shoulders is a surefire way to have less control with wedges and less distance with full swings. Notice how I can get in a similar-looking position in both 60° wedge photos. However, one is weak and uncontrollable, while the other is strong and connected. One allows me to use my larger muscles to create my swing, and one doesn’t. The follow-through is another critical point where having a good connection, as well as solid shoulder rotation, is a must. This drill is great for those who tend to have a “chicken wing” form in their lead arm, which happens when it becomes separated from the body through impact.

In full swings, getting your shoulders to rotate in your golf swing is a great way to reinforce proper weight distribution. If your swing is all arms, it’s much harder to get your weight to naturally shift to the inside part of your trail foot in the backswing. Sure, you could make the mistake of “sliding” to get weight on your back foot, but that doesn’t fix the issue. You must turn into your trial leg to generate power. Additionally, look at the difference in separation between my hands and my head in the 8-iron examples. The green picture has more separation and has my hands lower. This will help me lessen my angle of attack and make it easier to hit the inside part of the golf ball, rather than the over-the-top move that the other picture produces.

Stay Better Connected in the Backswing

When you don’t keep everything in your upper body working as one, getting to a good spot at the top of your swing is very hard to do. It would take impeccable timing along with great hand-eye coordination to hit quality shots with any sort of regularity if the arms are working separately from the body.

Notice in the red pictures of both my 60-degree wedge and 8-iron how high my hands are and the fact you can clearly see my shoulder through the gap in my arms. That has happened because the right arm, just above my elbow, has become totally disconnected from my body. That separation causes me to lift my hands as well as lose some of the extension in my left arm. This has been corrected in the green pictures by using this drill to reinforce that connection. It will also make you focus on keeping the lead arm close to your body as well. Because the moment either one loses that relationship, the towel falls.

Conclusion

I have been diligent this year in finding a few drills that target some of the issues that plague my golf game; either by simply forgetting fundamental things or by coming to terms with the faults that have bitten me my whole career. I have found that having a few drills to fall back on to reinforce certain feelings helps me find my game a little easier, and the “towel drill” is most definitely one of them.

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Clement: Why your practice swing never sucks

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You hear that one all the time; I wish I could put my practice swing on the ball! We explain the huge importance of what to focus on to allow the ball to be perfectly in the way of your practice swing. Enjoy!

 

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