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Q&A with Instructor Dennis Clark: Why golfers don’t improve and more

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Editor’s Note: Dennis Clark, a PGA Master Professional, is the most widely read and commented instructor on the GolfWRX Featured Writers section. He has been writing instruction stories for GolfWRX since April — since that time he’s amassed more than 150,00 views and 350 comments on the front page and in the forums. For this Q&A, we sent him some of the most common instruction questions we see in the forums, as well as questions about his own teaching philosophies. Click here to view Clark’s Featured Writers Profile, where you can view his previous instruction stories. 

WRX:  Thanks to new technology, golfers and instructors know more about the golf swing than ever before. Strangely, handicaps have not gone down very much. Why do to think that is?

DC:  You can’t learn to play the game, you have to play it to learn. The traditional lesson where the teacher tells the student what to do is part of the problem.  There has to be more active learning where the teacher provides opportunities for the student to discover their way of doing it! Personal discovery, an “Aha!” moment, goes so much further than being told what to do and forgetting it by the time you get to the parking lot. Mike Hebron has done tremendous research in ths area.

WRX: You teach all kinds of golfers — everyone from the very beginner to golfers who are trying to make a living playing golf. But let’s talk about average golfers. What’s their No. 1 problem?

DC:  Well, shot wise it’s slicing, no question. 75 percent of all golfers slice in some form or another. But in a larger sense, the counter intuitiveness of the game is a tremendous obstacle. Most other sports are more intelligible in that what you should do is what you do!  Not golf.  It’s often the opposite of what you think. Take slicing for example.  When you stand facing 90 degrees to the right of your target, it SEEMS like you should swing left. And when you do, you slice. It’s maddening.

WRX:  Can you help anyone play better? Are their hopeless cases?

DC:  The hopeless case is rare. But often the student is their own worst enemy. Preconceived notions, impatience, unrealistic expectations, performance anxiety — these types of mindsets are hindrances to learning.  You have to realize that  you are often being asked to do something you’ve never done before and physical motions are so ingrained that it takes time and disciple to change it. Attitude is a much bigger impediment than lack of physical skill.

WRX: You have said you teach on an individual basis? Could you elaborate?

DC: Sure, lessons come in two kinds :

  1. Those you are going to correct
  2. Those you are going to create

Say a 15-handicap just started shanking and he goes to 20. Well, what he wants is to lose the shank and get back to 15, not a new swing. So I would work with him on correcting that shank, whatever that fix is. There are probably five reasons someone shanks. I have to find the right fix for him. Then comes a young gal for her first lesson and her goal is to play golf for a living someday — very different animal. Or a guy who just retired and he wants to be the senior club champ:

“Start from scratch pro, I’m all yours,” he says.

It’s like I have to build a foundation or repair the roof. How do I know which lesson to give? I ask them.

WRX: Does teaching get old?

DC:  No, never. If I taught golf it would get old, but I teach people to play golf. Big difference. Different personalities, learning styles and every hour a new puzzle to solve. If I was a method teacher, I imagine it would get old pretty quick.

WRX: How do you formulate lesson plans for your students?

DC:  John Jacobs taught us to diagnose the ball flight, explain the problem and correct it. It sounded pretty simple so I’ve stuck with it. Of course, now there are systems like FlightScope and Trackman that are essentially built-in ball flight detectors. We are less reliant on our eye today, but I still get a feel from watching the ball. And there is always one core fault that I have to find. Every move they make is based on that flaw. Very often it’s a reaction to a shot they usually hit so I try to change the shot hoping to get a different reaction. Get a slicer to draw the ball and I’ve got a friend for life! And I never give more than a few things in a lesson. One, two, three at the most. The game is hard enough!

WRX: What about seniors who have lost distance?

DC:  Speed is only partly physical. The other part is confidence. If I could measure practice swings, I’m betting they  would average 5 mph faster than one’s real swing at the ball. Why?  They lack confidence and put the breaks on through impact. Or they have been told to “slow your swing down” (one of the worst tips ever). They have to learn to play NATO golf — Not Attached To Outcome!  Stop worrying about where the ball is headed and take a good rip at it. Now, the other part of distance is correct impact. And this is where I find FlightScope and TrackMan to be quite valuable. We live in an age where I can tell exactly how far someone is hitting it and how far they are capable of hitting it. If someone is too steep or hitting the toe or using too little loft, then we can correct it. But we do lose speed as the musculature loses elasticity and strength, no doubt.

WRX: Do you give a lot of short game lessons?

DC:  Most of my students don’t ask for them, but they should. An 18 handicap hitting 3 or 4 greens per round might get up to 6 GIRs with full swing improvement.  He/she is still missing at least 12 or 13 greens a round. Do the math. And these are shots that you don’t need strength or speed to execute. Putting alone is over 40 percent of the game. Two out of every three shots most people play in a round are LESS THAN FULL SWINGS.

WRX: Everyone has hit a shank, which is probably the most embarrasing shot in golf. What’s the main cause for shanking?

DC:  Really, there’s three — a flat swing action, an in-to-out path and a very late release. It’s easy to confuse hosel plane with sweet spot plane. A perfect shot is less than an inch from the hosel. Tough game…

WRX: What’s the biggest word of advice you can give the average golfer?

DC:  Start young. To quote Jack Nicklaus:

“There is no such thing as a natural golfer. Don’t be too proud to take a lesson; I’m not!

 

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

Click here for more discussion in the “Instruction & Academy” forum. 

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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. .

9 Comments

9 Comments

  1. Nate

    Dec 29, 2012 at 2:39 pm

    Wondering what would cause me to put high revs on my driver. Pretty open question, I know. I have a high ball fight and I’ve lost about fifty yards off the tee!

  2. Dale Houle

    Dec 21, 2012 at 11:36 am

    When talking about hitting greens, are you talking about hitting greens in regulation or simply the 150yrd and in shot. I’m a 9.9 index and really struggle on any course longer than say 6200yrds. I’m fairly consistent off the tee but at 180-230 from the green on my second shot feel I have little chance. 140yrd and in I’m fairly consistent at putting in on the dance floor, my 2 putt avg helps a ton. Avg drive’s are maybe 225.

    GIR is one thing but just making the 150 and in shot is another. Both have a huge impact on score. I think I’ll go practice swinging faster for more distance and the 150 and in shot for better control.

  3. Dave S

    Dec 17, 2012 at 11:43 pm

    Long iron play is the one stat that separates good players from great. It’s trendy to say short game is the most important, but if you can hit GIRs from 150-200 yds out, you’re going to be much better.

    There was a GolfWRX article on this so I’m not just making it up. The one stat all of the greatest golfers shared was being top 10 in long iron play.

    • Dennis Clark

      Dec 26, 2012 at 6:34 pm

      I agree dave but 99% of the golf world will never be able to hit long irons, (that’s why they built hybrids) so for them the short game becomes even more vital. Thx for comment

  4. Saaam

    Dec 2, 2012 at 3:44 am

    Isn’t the shank mainly caused by arms crashing into the body hence sequencing is all over the place and the body doesn’t get out of the way of the club? Other than that I agree with every word good article.

    • Dennis Clark

      Dec 26, 2012 at 6:22 pm

      Lot of reason for a shank but hands running into the body would not be one of the main ones. Hand out AWAY from the body maybe…Sequencing is a sequential process, not a vector so I’m not sure what you mean by “all over the place”. Thx, DC

  5. Vincent Dice

    Nov 29, 2012 at 3:45 pm

    Great article. Dennis is a true Rock Star in many golfing circles.

  6. Pingback: GolfWRX.com – Q&A with Instructor Dennis Clark: Why golfer's don't … | Golf Tips

  7. Romer Benitez

    Nov 26, 2012 at 9:15 pm

    I had a privilege of a 3 day lesson with Dennis during my visit at Naples. It was the best golf lesson experience I ever had. He truly wants you to learn and he can make that happen!!! The rest lies on me…Cheers!

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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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Instruction

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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Instruction

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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