Connect with us

Opinion & Analysis

Why golf coaching works

Published

on

When I started in the golf business, I knew that I wanted to teach the game. In order to do it at a high level, I shadowed some of the best instructors in golf. This was tremendously beneficial, as I learned that I needed to develop a philosophy that fit me and that I believed in. What made each instructor great was their ability to communicate with the student, and they did so in a clear and concise manner. Each also communicated a clear philosophy in which they deeply believed in.

However, what was always a bit troubling to me was the fact each and every lesson I witnessed took place on the driving range and not on the golf course where the game is played. Every lesson took place on the range, and most were based on what the student thought they needed to work on to get better. While this produced a lot of great looking golf swings, it did not always translate to lower scores, and we ALL ultimately want to shoot lower scores.

With the understanding that our ultimate goal is to shoot lower scores and enjoy the game more, I knew that I needed to teach on the golf course. This was paramount in order to learn exactly how my students played the game of golf. Getting on the golf course allowed me to take a true assessment of their game and learn their strengths and weaknesses. It allowed me to give the student what they actually need to succeed, instead of simply giving them what they thought they needed.

In 2017, I heard a podcast featuring Will Robins who was talking about the same concept and making the distinction between coaching and instruction. I believed in what he was talking about, and what separated a coach from a traditional instructor. It is exactly what I thought all along. I joined Will’s consulting group in 2017, and started to better implement what it meant to be a coach. With Will’s guidance the results I was able to achieve by fully committing to the Coaching Model speak for themselves. Coaching clearly works at all levels, let me tell you why.

It gives the student what they need, not what they want

Traditional golf instruction became so heavily focused on “customer service” and giving the student what they wanted, that it lost sight of the overall result. In order to achieve those great results, I believe in giving my students what they need. A perfect example of this is a personal trainer. Let’s say you have a wedding to go to in 2 months and you need to lose 10 lbs. That trainer is going to get you up early, make you stick to eating healthy, and make you sore after every workout to achieve the desired result. Then at the wedding, you love your personal trainer because you look and feel great. However, if that same trainer lets you dictate what you will eat, what you’ll work on during workouts, and when you’ll come back next, the trainer will fail miserably. In other words he is paid to give you what you NEED, to get you the result you want.

Assess your game on course in a team environment

In order to give my students what they need I must learn about how they play the game. Are they anxious on the first tee? Do they get mad at things they can’t control? Do they think their driver is awful, but had 44 putts? Instead of relying on guessing, I can create a game plan through the on course assessment. I like to do this in a team environment for a few reasons. It helps me simulate pressure and many times students will learn as much from each other as they do from me. It is a win-win for everyone.

Create an improvement plan and define your goals

Based on the game assessment I set up an improvement plan for each student. This allows us to set measurable goals. An example that Will Robins uses is 10 shots in 10 weeks. The goal could be anything really, most importantly it is specific to that student. I always like to set a goal based on score because that is ultimately what we want. Lower scores to make the game more enjoyable. The improvement plan gives us a common goal, it allows me to hold my players accountable, and also allows me to do whatever it takes to get them there. It also allows my players to hold me accountable to achieving their goal, creating a true partnership

Develop your mindset

As an instructor it is easy to stand on a range and tell someone what they are doing wrong. It is easy to say I know it all, because I’m the Pro. However, it is vital I get on the course and play golf with my students. I want them to see me be vulnerable, because I want them to understand like Bob Rotella said, “Golf Is Not a Game of Perfect.” We need to stop searching for the perfect golf swing. News Flash: Nobody Has It!! In other words we need to re-train our mindset, and learn that it is often what we do after a poor shot to recover that really helps us score better.

Map your plan, apply to your game and track performance

So often I see golfers trying to be perfect but they don’t know the REAL stats. All of my students know that PGA Tour players make 99 percent of putts from 3 feet, but they fail to understand that those same PGA Tour players only make 55 percent  from 6 feet. Go back to 10 feet and it drops to 35 percent. Yet time and again I see my students extremely upset after missing a 20 foot putt. The reality is most golfers are more likely to three putt from 20 feet than to make the putt. So I teach my students to simplify the game. I show them how to never make double bogey again by keeping the ball in play, and developing a great short game. When my students start to realize that the real game of golf means getting the ball holed in less shots, it changes their mindset. We use a specific scorecard to track stats that REALLY matter on the golf course and to track performance over time.

Tailor your plan through purposeful practice

When is the last time your instructor showed you exactly how to practice? Coaching is a mix of on course playing sessions and off course purposeful practice sessions. This allows me as coach the time to work on exactly what is wrong my students game. It could be anything, but most importantly it will be exactly what they need based on the playing session. Even more importantly we do both drills and tests to track progress on our practice scorecard. This allows the student to become less dependent on the instructor, and more independent, because they know what they need to do to improve each week.

Golf coaching works because it is focused on all aspects of the game, not simply technique. It teaches the golfer how to score, and how to do so under pressure in a team environment. It is results based rather than creating a “perfect golf swing.”  The concept is simple in nature, but is harder to execute and stay accountable to. For these reasons, I’d challenge you to seek out a golf coach rather than a traditional instructor for your next series of lessons.

Your Reaction?
  • 129
  • LEGIT20
  • WOW7
  • LOL1
  • IDHT1
  • FLOP4
  • OB3
  • SHANK10

When Matthew began teaching in 2008 at Oakland Hills Country Club, most of his students were asking for him to fix their swing. After fixing golf swings for nearly a decade, he noticed that scores didn’t necessarily improve with the improved golf swing. He knew what his clients really wanted was to shoot lower scores! As most pros know, the key to scoring well isn’t hitting the ball further. It’s learning the REAL game of golf with one simple idea… get the ball in the hole in fewer tries than the other players. Matt started his new philosophy by taking a group of players on the golf course, observing each player’s game and developing a specific improvement plan for them while teaching them how to practice. The results were phenomenal! His players always drop shots off their game, and Matthew guarantees the results! Currently, Matthew owns & operates “Matt Lindberg Golf” with locations at The Practice Station & Broadlands Golf Club each outside of Milwaukee, WI.

26 Comments

26 Comments

  1. John

    Jan 3, 2019 at 2:02 pm

    Matt is a young professional who loves to teach and his method is not only very effective but very reasonably priced. Although even excellent golfers could
    benefit, he helped me shed beau-coup strokes, and I’m old enough to collect my pension. Yes, I had to put work in, but it was a blast and Matt was a riot to work with.

  2. Patricknorm

    Jan 1, 2019 at 8:20 am

    My coach starts each session for a few minutes on the range watching me go through my bag. We then hit the course to play usually 3 or 4 holes , with the emphasis on strategy and then refining certain aspects. I cannot stress the importance of coaching. You can be foolish and spend wasteful dollars on the shiniest new toy, or you can spend time perfecting your swing flaws. You should be properly fit for the correct equipment, but if you’re a serious golfer, coaching is the best bang for your buck.

  3. stan

    Dec 31, 2018 at 3:19 pm

    Very few golfers will benefit from this kind of teaching because very few are willing to make a commitment to training and practice. Most ‘golfers’ are immature non-athletic c r u d ….. and too stupid to learn and play well. I think this truth is obvious on this gearhead geek forum where ‘love’ is the equipment buzzword.

    • Bill Simpson

      Dec 31, 2018 at 4:18 pm

      So true and the proof is annual equipment model changes to exploit the desperation of incompetent golfers and childish golf club Lovers.

  4. Ed LeBeau

    Dec 31, 2018 at 2:07 pm

    This article is titled, “Why golf coaching works”. It implies that golf coaching is something better than golf instruction. If we define golf instruction as limited to swing technique then I agree. However, there are two factors underlying this matter. First, the player may want and in fact only need to improve their technique and second few instructors are presented with players who demonstrate their technique is adequate but their scoring is deficient.

  5. Paul Mattie

    Dec 31, 2018 at 12:02 pm

    This is the way my coach operates. Unless you do the home work you didn’t progress to the next step. He also had me on course not only where he taught but he also came to my place and spent 3 hours going over my troubles spots . This led to specific changes in club selection and course management.

    • Bill Simpson

      Dec 31, 2018 at 4:23 pm

      And how long did this teaching take, 6 months and several thousand $$$$$ ?
      You could have bought a new set of golf clubs annually and feel good.

  6. Scott Saunders

    Dec 31, 2018 at 11:51 am

    Big takeaway is cost effectiveness. Most golfers considering lessons will balk at on-course fees and opt for range lessons. You’re correct that course controls are the key to lowering scoring. The answer to this would be figuring out how to evaluate each student for their on-course weaknesses so that you can coach these issues on-range or indoors.

    • Bill Simpson

      Dec 31, 2018 at 4:20 pm

      Tangible new golf clubs versus intangible golf lessons…. and the winner is…. 😛

    • Clark Williams

      Jan 2, 2019 at 5:26 pm

      One reason why Matt’s “team approach” works is that he walks with 4 players for 3-9 holes, not every week but every second or third week in a 10 week program. This reduces the individuals cost yet allows Matt to provide individual attention and learn about each player and how they actually play the game. I found it stimulating, educational, cost effective and fun. Especially good for new comers and intermediate players who want to improve and are willing to put in some time.

  7. DS

    Dec 31, 2018 at 11:40 am

    My first ‘Shank’ rating. Not that what you wrote isn’t logical and the way much improvement should happen, but it’s totally unrealistic for the average golfer to afford. When instructors are charging $275+ for a 4 – 9 hole playing lesson, PLUS greens fees, your article is nothing more than a pipe dream.

    Since I called out your pipe dream, here’s mine:
    1) For these lesson factories (I’m looking at you, GolfTec), have a ‘pay for improvement’ arrangement. I’d pay $1k to lower my handicap by 5 strokes. And with GolfTec, they can actually monitor my effort so it’s not like I’m asking to spend 90 minutes in a bay and magically improve by 5 strokes. I’ll put in the work, they put in the expertise, and the results should happen. If they don’t, then they don’t get paid or at least they take a material cut from their fees. I got an email from GolfTec and responded with this idea. I’m sure there’s no surprise that pay for results isn’t anything they’re interested in.

    2) Same hourly rates on the course as at the range. Why is Joe Pro charging $65/hr at the range but essentially $125/hr on the course? Did he suddenly get much smarter when real balls are used? I don’t think so, and this ridiculous price gouging needs to stop. Do you care about growing the game and having students get better, or is this just a way to make a fast couple of hundred bucks on your sucker student’s back?

    3) Stop being so contradictory with each other. Had a great experience in NC for a 3-day school, but they started with ‘so tired of people telling me they need to keep their head down, or they want to stop swinging over the top’. I called them out on it because so many amateurs struggle with both, including me. Their response was to bring up Annika and Stenson and say with a wry smile ‘I think we’d all agree their pretty good’. To which I said – name me another one who swings like that? Crickets. Then I said Furyk is pretty good, as was (is?) Jim Thorpe – are they going to teach those swings? It’s this kind of contradictory BS that leaves amateurs confused.

    No skin in the game, cost, and inconsistent approaches are big issues with how the game is taught today. If you pros don’t change your ways, don’t complain as we watch the game get less and less popular.

    • Matt

      Jan 2, 2019 at 2:32 pm

      DS,
      I would love to learn more about your thoughts on how to improve golfers, adding a ‘skin in the game’ component. Hit me up with a DM in the forums. Strolf or email me [email protected]

    • Clark Williams

      Jan 2, 2019 at 5:18 pm

      Not true, I personally worked with Matt last summer, ten weeks (actually more due to rain outs) significantly less than $500(the cost of a driver). I had a severe back issue that flared up so was unable to practice effectively yet learned a lot about my game. Many at our course who worked with Matt saw significant improvement and more importantly had a better understanding of the game and therefore enjoyed their experience more.

    • A. Commoner

      Jan 3, 2019 at 12:27 pm

      absolutely love your post

  8. Moxley

    Dec 31, 2018 at 4:19 am

    Interesting article.

    I’ve no doubt that there is a place for your style of coaching, but I think it is better suited towards younger, elite golfers. I’m not so sure this is suited to the regular mid/high capper at the golf club who just wants to fix his slice or hit it a few yards further.

    Your assertions about what golfers need starts with the assumption that success is defined as scoring better, but I think for more recreational golfers, success is simply having fun when playing with their mates. What they want is a few quick wins, something that is going to make them a little bit better without taking the fun away (i.e. clubbing down), and something to have fun working on – all of this needs to come at an affordable price, because for most, golf is just a hobby.

    Serious golfers will always need serious golfers, but the objectives won’t always be the same with the average golfer.

  9. wilbur

    Dec 31, 2018 at 12:48 am

    Great article but does the instructor/teacher/mentor help you pick out the best golf clubs for your game. Unless you have the best driver to best putter it’s all futile because the equipment is what counts in the final analysis.

    • Bill Simpson

      Dec 31, 2018 at 4:24 pm

      Bingo!!! The ‘best’ golf clubs will transform your swing and game overnight.

  10. Ryan

    Dec 30, 2018 at 9:34 pm

    Great idea and approach, but I’m sure this type of service is not cheap.

    • Bill Simpson

      Dec 31, 2018 at 4:26 pm

      Yes, not cheap….. and neither are the ‘best’ golf clubs.

  11. Obee

    Dec 30, 2018 at 8:56 pm

    Love this approach.

  12. Tom L

    Dec 30, 2018 at 6:31 pm

    Sounds great but potentially pricey

  13. Michael Deiters

    Dec 30, 2018 at 2:29 pm

    Good stuff. All “instruction” should look like this.

  14. 2putttom

    Dec 30, 2018 at 1:32 pm

    instructors I use teach on the course (when applicable) it has been beneficial and rewarding.

  15. dj

    Dec 30, 2018 at 12:26 pm

    I like your idea of a metric that is measurable.

Leave a Reply

Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

19th Hole

Vincenzi’s 2024 Zurich Classic of New Orleans betting preview

Published

on

The PGA TOUR heads to New Orleans to play the 2023 Zurich Classic of New Orleans. In a welcome change from the usual stroke play, the Zurich Classic is a team event. On Thursday and Saturday, the teams play best ball, and on Friday and Sunday the teams play alternate shot.

TPC Louisiana is a par 72 that measures 7,425 yards. The course features some short par 4s and plenty of water and bunkers, which makes for a lot of exciting risk/reward scenarios for competitors. Pete Dye designed the course in 2004 specifically for the Zurich Classic, although the event didn’t make its debut until 2007 because of Hurricane Katrina.

Coming off of the Masters and a signature event in consecutive weeks, the field this week is a step down, and understandably so. Many of the world’s top players will be using this time to rest after a busy stretch.

However, there are some interesting teams this season with some stars making surprise appearances in the team event. Some notable teams include Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele, Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry, Collin Morikawa and Kurt Kitayama, Will Zalatoris and Sahith Theegala as well as a few Canadian teams, Nick Taylor and Adam Hadwin and Taylor Pendrith and Corey Conners.

Past Winners at TPC Louisiana

  • 2023: Riley/Hardy (-30)
  • 2022: Cantlay/Schauffele (-29)
  • 2021: Leishman/Smith (-20)
  • 2019: Palmer/Rahm (-26)
  • 2018: Horschel/Piercy (-22)
  • 2017: Blixt/Smith (-27)

2024 Zurich Classic of New Orleans Picks

Tom Hoge/Maverick McNealy +2500 (DraftKings)

Tom Hoge is coming off of a solid T18 finish at the RBC Heritage and finished T13 at last year’s Zurich Classic alongside Harris English.

This season, Hoge is having one of his best years on Tour in terms of Strokes Gained: Approach. In his last 24 rounds, the only player to top him on the category is Scottie Scheffler. Hoge has been solid on Pete Dye designs, ranking 28th in the field over his past 36 rounds.

McNealy is also having a solid season. He’s finished T6 at the Waste Management Phoenix Open and T9 at the PLAYERS Championship. He recently started working with world renowned swing coach, Butch Harmon, and its seemingly paid dividends in 2024.

Keith Mitchell/Joel Dahmen +4000 (DraftKings)

Keith Mitchell is having a fantastic season, finishing in the top-20 of five of his past seven starts on Tour. Most recently, Mitchell finished T14 at the Valero Texas Open and gained a whopping 6.0 strokes off the tee. He finished 6th at last year’s Zurich Classic.

Joel Dahmen is having a resurgent year and has been dialed in with his irons. He also has a T11 finish at the PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass which is another Pete Dye track. With Mitchell’s length and Dahmen’s ability to put it close with his short irons, the Mitchell/Dahmen combination will be dangerous this week.

Taylor Moore/Matt NeSmith +6500 (DraftKings)

Taylor Moore has quickly developed into one of the more consistent players on Tour. He’s finished in the top-20 in three of his past four starts, including a very impressive showing at The Masters, finishing T20. He’s also finished T4 at this event in consecutive seasons alongside Matt NeSmith.

NeSmith isn’t having a great 2024, but has seemed to elevate his game in this format. He finished T26 at Pete Dye’s TPC Sawgrass, which gives the 30-year-old something to build off of. NeSmith is also a great putter on Bermudagrass, which could help elevate Moore’s ball striking prowess.

Your Reaction?
  • 7
  • LEGIT3
  • WOW1
  • LOL1
  • IDHT0
  • FLOP3
  • OB1
  • SHANK1

Continue Reading

19th Hole

Vincenzi’s 2024 LIV Adelaide betting preview: Cam Smith ready for big week down under

Published

on

After having four of the top twelve players on the leaderboard at The Masters, LIV Golf is set for their fifth event of the season: LIV Adelaide. 

For both LIV fans and golf fans in Australia, LIV Adelaide is one of the most anticipated events of the year. With 35,000 people expected to attend each day of the tournament, the Grange Golf Club will be crawling with fans who are passionate about the sport of golf. The 12th hole, better known as “the watering hole”, is sure to have the rowdiest of the fans cheering after a long day of drinking some Leishman Lager.  

The Grange Golf Club is a par-72 that measures 6,946 yards. The course features minimal resistance, as golfers went extremely low last season. In 2023, Talor Gooch shot consecutive rounds of 62 on Thursday and Friday, giving himself a gigantic cushion heading into championship Sunday. Things got tight for a while, but in the end, the Oklahoma State product was able to hold off The Crushers’ Anirban Lahiri for a three-shot victory. 

The Four Aces won the team competition with the Range Goats finishing second. 

*All Images Courtesy of LIV Golf*

Past Winners at LIV Adelaide

  • 2023: Talor Gooch (-19)

Stat Leaders Through LIV Miami

Green in Regulation

  1. Richard Bland
  2. Jon Rahm
  3. Paul Casey

Fairways Hit

  1. Abraham Ancer
  2. Graeme McDowell
  3. Henrik Stenson

Driving Distance

  1. Bryson DeChambeau
  2. Joaquin Niemann
  3. Dean Burmester

Putting

  1. Cameron Smith
  2. Louis Oosthuizen
  3. Matt Jones

2024 LIV Adelaide Picks

Cameron Smith +1400 (DraftKings)

When I pulled up the odds for LIV Adelaide, I was more than a little surprised to see multiple golfers listed ahead of Cameron Smith on the betting board. A few starts ago, Cam finished runner-up at LIV Hong Kong, which is a golf course that absolutely suits his eye. Augusta National in another course that Smith could roll out of bed and finish in the top-ten at, and he did so two weeks ago at The Masters, finishing T6.

At Augusta, he gained strokes on the field on approach, off the tee (slightly), and of course, around the green and putting. Smith able to get in the mix at a major championship despite coming into the week feeling under the weather tells me that his game is once again rounding into form.

The Grange Golf Club is another course that undoubtedly suits the Australian. Smith is obviously incredibly comfortable playing in front of the Aussie faithful and has won three Australian PGA Championship’s. The course is very short and will allow Smith to play conservative off the tee, mitigating his most glaring weakness. With birdies available all over the golf course, there’s a chance the event turns into a putting contest, and there’s no one on the planet I’d rather have in one of those than Cam Smith.

Louis Oosthuizen +2200 (DraftKings)

Louis Oosthuizen has simply been one of the best players on LIV in the 2024 seas0n. The South African has finished in the top-10 on the LIV leaderboard in three of his five starts, with his best coming in Jeddah, where he finished T2. Perhaps more impressively, Oosthuizen finished T7 at LIV Miami, which took place at Doral’s “Blue Monster”, an absolutely massive golf course. Given that Louis is on the shorter side in terms of distance off the tee, his ability to play well in Miami shows how dialed he is with the irons this season.

In addition to the LIV finishes, Oosthuizen won back-to-back starts on the DP World Tour in December at the Alfred Dunhill Championship and the Mauritus Open. He also finished runner-up at the end of February in the International Series Oman. The 41-year-old has been one of the most consistent performers of 2024, regardless of tour.

For the season, Louis ranks 4th on LIV in birdies made, T9 in fairways hit and first in putting. He ranks 32nd in driving distance, but that won’t be an issue at this short course. Last season, he finished T11 at the event, but was in decent position going into the final round but fell back after shooting 70 while the rest of the field went low. This season, Oosthuizen comes into the event in peak form, and the course should be a perfect fit for his smooth swing and hot putter this week.

Your Reaction?
  • 12
  • LEGIT3
  • WOW0
  • LOL1
  • IDHT0
  • FLOP1
  • OB1
  • SHANK1

Continue Reading

Opinion & Analysis

The Wedge Guy: What really makes a wedge work? Part 1

Published

on

Of all the clubs in our bags, wedges are almost always the simplest in construction and, therefore, the easiest to analyze what might make one work differently from another if you know what to look for.

Wedges are a lot less mysterious than drivers, of course, as the major brands are working with a lot of “pixie dust” inside these modern marvels. That’s carrying over more to irons now, with so many new models featuring internal multi-material technologies, and almost all of them having a “badge” or insert in the back to allow more complex graphics while hiding the actual distribution of mass.

But when it comes to wedges, most on the market today are still single pieces of molded steel, either cast or forged into that shape. So, if you look closely at where the mass is distributed, it’s pretty clear how that wedge is going to perform.

To start, because of their wider soles, the majority of the mass of almost any wedge is along the bottom third of the clubhead. So, the best wedge shots are always those hit between the 2nd and 5th grooves so that more mass is directly behind that impact. Elite tour professionals practice incessantly to learn to do that consistently, wearing out a spot about the size of a penny right there. If impact moves higher than that, the face is dramatically thinner, so smash factor is compromised significantly, which reduces the overall distance the ball will fly.

Every one of us, tour players included, knows that maddening shot that we feel a bit high on the face and it doesn’t go anywhere, it’s not your fault.

If your wedges show a wear pattern the size of a silver dollar, and centered above the 3rd or 4th groove, you are not getting anywhere near the same performance from shot to shot. Robot testing proves impact even two to three grooves higher in the face can cause distance loss of up to 35 to 55 feet with modern ‘tour design’ wedges.

In addition, as impact moves above the center of mass, the golf club principle of gear effect causes the ball to fly higher with less spin. Think of modern drivers for a minute. The “holy grail” of driving is high launch and low spin, and the driver engineers are pulling out all stops to get the mass as low in the clubhead as possible to optimize this combination.

Where is all the mass in your wedges? Low. So, disregarding the higher lofts, wedges “want” to launch the ball high with low spin – exactly the opposite of what good wedge play requires penetrating ball flight with high spin.

While almost all major brand wedges have begun putting a tiny bit more thickness in the top portion of the clubhead, conventional and modern ‘tour design’ wedges perform pretty much like they always have. Elite players learn to hit those crisp, spinny penetrating wedge shots by spending lots of practice time learning to consistently make contact low in the face.

So, what about grooves and face texture?

Grooves on any club can only do so much, and no one has any material advantage here. The USGA tightly defines what we manufacturers can do with grooves and face texture, and modern manufacturing techniques allow all of us to push those limits ever closer. And we all do. End of story.

Then there’s the topic of bounce and grinds, the most complex and confusing part of the wedge formula. Many top brands offer a complex array of sole configurations, all of them admittedly specialized to a particular kind of lie or turf conditions, and/or a particular divot pattern.

But if you don’t play the same turf all the time, and make the same size divot on every swing, how would you ever figure this out?

The only way is to take any wedge you are considering and play it a few rounds, hitting all the shots you face and observing the results. There’s simply no other way.

So, hopefully this will inspire a lively conversation in our comments section, and I’ll chime in to answer any questions you might have.

And next week, I’ll dive into the rest of the wedge formula. Yes, shafts, grips and specifications are essential, too.

Your Reaction?
  • 32
  • LEGIT7
  • WOW1
  • LOL1
  • IDHT2
  • FLOP3
  • OB1
  • SHANK3

Continue Reading

WITB

Facebook

Trending