Editorial

7 Aug 2019 admin

Something I Rarely Hear From Golf Instructors

By Mike Stevens, USGTF Contributing Writer

Watch any YouTube or golf magazine instructor and you’ll hear or see things about shaft lean, spine angle, hip rotation, etc., etc. What I rarely hear is any talk about tension and the ability to relax while swinging the club. Golf is a game that requires you to relax to play well. You don’t play golf to relax. Some of the golfers I learned from were very cognizant of tension. Bill Mehlhorn, Ernest Jones and even Walter Hagen discussed the importance of grip pressure and the ability to have a relaxed golf swing. It seems like today’s instructors are all about power. That’s fine for tour pros or professional athletes, but I find it disastrous for average golfers, especially seniors. I can’t tell you how many older people come to me with back issues because they tried to implement some of what modern instructors propose. When I watch them swing it as if they are chopping down a tree. They are holding on to the club so tight their veins are popping out of their temples.

When I have them lighten up their grip pressure and tell them to swing at about 50 percent of the effort that they have been putting into it, the ball jumps off their club and goes farther than the 10 previous grounders, skulls, or liners. “Wow, that felt like I hardly swung at it,” is the usual response. So, jokingly I say, “Hit 10,000 more just like that and you’ll be ready to go.” Yet, it’s the truth. Golf for the average players is not about hitting home runs. It is about keeping it in play, and a relaxed and balance swing produces the best results. I just wish more instructors paid more attention to it.

3 Jul 2019 admin

Four Techniques To Keep Kids Interested When Teaching Golf Basics

By Jordan Fuller, USGTF Contributing Writer

Introducing a child to golf through coaching is a tremendous responsibility. In those formative years, a child could either embrace or walk away from golf, potentially, for the rest of their lives.

Understanding the power that a coach has for a young golfer is the first step in creating a program that will allow junior golfers to continue their growth in this great game.

Here are four fantastic ways to introduce golf to a child that will have them eager to come back to the course again and again.

Clean Instruction

When we talk about “clean instruction” with a child, it is wise to keep your direction to kids achievable and straightforward. You can’t expect them to understand correct grip, balance, and weight shifting on the downswing anytime soon.

Instead, for example, don’t spend more than a few minutes teaching a young student how to do the tedious things, like gripping the golf club. Once they have a grip on the club that can guide a full swing, then they’re ready to hit the golf ball.

The time for correction and proper fundamentals will come in due time. Now is the time to give them a taste of what makes golf such a great game. You are an ambassador of the game to these children; don’t overthink it. Once they get the bare essentials of golf’s important fundamentals, move on and allow them to swing.

Always Have a Blast

Recently, I read something very observant by famous author James Patterson. He said that children turn away from reading as adults because, at an early age, they were forced to read about subjects that didn’t interest them. Instead, Patterson encourages teachers to allow children to read primarily about their favorite things in life, in an effort to grow a love of reading.

Coaching golf to children is no different.

If a child shows genuine interest in playing golf, then their early days with the game should place a total emphasis on having the time of their young lives. Whether that comes from creating fun games on the range and putting green to challenging them with some lighthearted competitions with other junior golfers, the most important thing is that they are smiling with the golf club in their hands.

Let it Fly

I don’t care if you are five or 95 years old, everyone loves to see their golf ball fly down the fairway. One of the real joys in sports is the feeling a golfer gets when their ball hits the sweet spot and launches into the air.

Yes, for the children, that ball flight won’t be long, but that initial sensation as the ball leaves the clubface is one that keeps all of us coming back for more on the course. Chasing that incredible sensation at impact is why it is essential to allow the child to let it fly once they are comfortable with their swing.

The feeling they will get when they hear your encouragement after a great strike will delight the junior golfer, allowing them to relax and focus on making pure contact with each future swing.

Be the Wingman

Finally, if the child is spending the majority of their time on the golf course listening to you lecture while dictating their activities, then you are setting a precedent with the junior golfer that equates the experience to learning in a stuffy classroom.

Golf should always be enjoyable in these early stages and therefore, you, as the coach, should take a step back and work as a wingman during drills and games. Yes, you will need to establish fundamentals and show the child how the game works, but too often, coaches of young golfers get in the way and impede true joy.

We’ve all heard the stories about how Bubba Watson taught himself the game of golf, but his education came from a desire to go out every day and find new and creative ways to hit the golf ball. He would find nearby trees to hit over, under, and around or play in the sand with a wedge learning new ways to shape shots and spin the ball. These young golfers won’t be able to do those things yet, but they will have a voice, like Bubba’s, that can lead their time on the range and putting green.

Let the child choose their path of learning on the course and they will forever be students of the game.

1 Jul 2019 admin

Sun Protection – It’s Not Too Late To Start

By Mark Harman

When I was a young teaching pro in 1991, a lady who was a dermatologist was in my golf class.  She observed I wore a visor one day, and no visor the next.  She inquired about this, and I said on the days I didn’t wear a visor I wore sunscreen, but on days I wore a visor, I didn’t think sunscreen was necessary.  She informed me that what I was doing was inadequate and that I needed to be wearing a wide-brimmed hat and sunscreen, and to do this every day that I was outside.

She made such an impression on me that I went out the very next day and bought a straw hat.  Twenty-eight years later, here in 2019, I still wear a wide-brimmed hat and lather on sunscreen before each and every foray into the sun, whether I’m teaching, playing golf, or just spending some time outdoors.

You would think, in this day and age and with all the information we have about skin cancer that this would be the norm, but sadly, I’m an exception.  Virtually every male tour player wears only a baseball cap, and it’s all too common to see teaching pros on the lesson tee doing the same thing.  As for regular golfers, baseball caps are definitely the predominant headwear.

I’m fortunate to be at lesser risk for skin cancer due to my mom being from southern Italy and I inherited her darker hair and eyes, but I’d like to think I’ve staved off some real damage by taking that advice I received in 1991.  The back and sides of my neck are still relatively smooth for someone my age, unlike the leather-beaten skin of some of my baseball-cap-wearing peers.  And perhaps I would have had skin cancer by now.

I realize that old habits die hard and that I might convince only one or two people to adapt a new sun regimen, but I won’t quit trying.  Please, for your health and the health of your skin, start doing more to cover up.

28 May 2019 admin

Do I Need A Website As A Certified Golf Teaching Professional®?

By Kenneth Weaver, USGTF Contributing Writer

Do you need a website? For most golf teaching professionals that operate independently, the answer is typically a resounding yes, although there are a few exceptions that I will address shortly. On the other side of the coin are the golf teaching professionals who are employees of a golf club or golf school who may or may not have the responsibility of bringing students into the business. As we move forward, I will address the variables of these scenarios.

If you are responsible for sourcing your students/customers, you must keep in mind that in this day and age, if a person is looking for goods and/or services, the first place they turn to is the internet. The most common place for them to start their search is to “Google” their query. If you don’t stand out in the search results, you won’t be found, and they will contact the business/person that has a website that answers their basic questions and validates the sought-after qualifications. Others might do their search on social media platforms, looking for golf teachers, golf Instructors or golf schools etc. For most, your website is the face of your business, and often your one moment to convince a potential new customer/student to take an action with your business. It doesn’t matter if you are an individual giving private lessons, a golf school/teaching facility, or a driving range; this is often your one opportunity to show off who you are, what you do and to present your qualifications. Having a professionally designed website that provides potential customers/students with the answers that they seek can give you a competitive advantage in your market niche.

Scenarios

I am an employee at a golf club working as a golf teaching professional

• If your employer does the marketing and provides the students, then the simple answer here is no (website not needed). The only reason you would want to establish a website is if you are wanting to augment your employer’s marketing efforts and to build your own personal reputation/following as a golf teaching professional.
• If you are an employee but have the responsibility of recruiting students, then the answer could be yes, but only if your employer doesn’t have a website for the business. If they have a website and you need to help with recruiting, they could add a “landing page” to their existing website that you can use for recruitment relative to your services. You could drive traffic to that landing page through social media (see my previous article, “Which Social Platform should I use?)

I am and independent golf teaching professional that provides private and/or group lessons

With this scenario the answer is most likely yes, with a couple of exceptions.
• I already have a large following and my teaching schedule is always fully booked! (Website not needed.)
• I have a Facebook business page with a substantial following where I have a reasonable level of success with recruiting new students, but my teaching calendar still has openings! In this scenario, you could set up a targeted Facebook ads campaign to recruit students from your geographical area, which is a well-proven and cost-effective marketing strategy. You could direct respondents from your Facebook ads to call you, although the ideal strategy would be to direct them to a website where they can learn more about you and your services. (Website recommended but not absolutely necessary.)
• I am just getting started and need to build a solid student/clientele base! (Website is needed.)

I have a physical business location that I own/operate (driving range with teaching services, indoor teaching facility with or without a pro-shop, golf school, etc.)

With this particular scenario, the answer is a resounding yes. It would be a great challenge to build a successful business of this nature without a solid online presence. I also highly recommend developing a solid social media strategy (see my previous article, “Which Social Platform should I use?”)

Summary

For each of the scenarios above, I recommend that you give serious consideration in regard to your social media presence. Regardless of the scenario where a website is either necessary or recommended (and you choose to do so), you should have a solid social media marketing plan that helps drive traffic to your website. This is a major part of developing your “brand” and your reputation as a business professional. Internet marketing through your website and social media is by far the most cost-effective and affective method to promote yourself and your business.

This information is provided as a guideline to assist you with the thought process in regard to marketing yourself and/or your business. There are numerous variables that can come into play, and I suggest that you consult with a marketing professional before you make any final decisions as to the marketing plan for your business.

Note: This is the third in a series of social media/website marketing articles. Be sure and click on one or more of the social media icons at the top right of the page to follow the USGTF on your favorite social platform. I monitor all USGTF social platforms and will be posting additional articles through those channels. If you have any questions or need assistance in regard to social media marketing or website development, feel free to contact me through either USGTF social channels or directly via email: Kenneth@weaverentp.com.

If you would like a free consultation session with me, you can follow link to schedule: CLICK HERE to schedule.

In my next article, I will address “Website content and how do I acquire Traffic.”

10 May 2019 admin

There Is No One Exact Method For Teaching Golf

By Mike Stevens, USGTF Contributing Writer

I don’t use Facebook nearly as much as some people do. I especially don’t get on to see political opinions. If and when I post, it is light stuff about things I find interesting, places I visit, or to see what friends or family are up to. Despite that, general topics seem to find their way into my stream whenever I do pull up the site. Mostly I ignore them, but one popped up the other day that caught my attention. It was titled the “Reverse Slice Sequence.” Apparently, one can cure their slice in 15 shots, according to the author. They claim a 99% success rate. It may be entirely true and is probably one of many ways to help fix a slice.

What bothered me, though, is that within their promotion they spent much of the time disparaging golf instructors and how they have been teaching incorrectly for years. Told golfers to stop wasting their time with incompetents and get on board with their right-brain method. I helped a lot of people correct a slice over the years, and the reason for the slice was not always the same in each case. People are different and their swings are often different for many reasons. Sometimes your approach must be based on what the person can or can’t do.

Most of the golf teachers I know are pretty good at what they do and not all teach the same, but they get results. If a person wants to teach a certain way and it works, great, but don’t denigrate others that do it differently and have success.

28 Mar 2019 admin

What’s Your GPA?…And The Myth Of Modern Technology

By Thomas T Wartelle, WGTF Master Golf Teaching Professional and Examiner 

Some of today’s golf instructors have gone over the top with the use of technology, terminology, and their claim to science.  To be clear, I am a science guy.  I have a degree in science.  I have always loved mechanics, engineering and science.  However, when you hear or read some of the propaganda that is being promoted by some of the “Top Teachers,” it is almost laughable. The invented terminology about the golf swing would make almost any true scientist or engineer cringe.  This phenomenon continues to perpetuate.  Many of these instructors seem to enjoy listening to themselves expound on their knowledge and their level of scientific expertise.

I have witnessed instructors rattling off launch monitor numbers to golfers (including many Tour players) who couldn’t care less about spin rates, angle of approach, and the D-plane.  As someone who was secretly working with the so-called D-plane over 30 years ago, I certainly am a fan of the science.   I have been involved in several projects on the very subject and was an early proponent (so was Ben Hogan over 70 years ago).  But, in most cases, such information should be kept in reserve and should not be relayed to students or clients.

Brooks Koepka, one of the top PGA Tour players today, recently said that he bought a launch monitor and used it only once. Koepka is an athlete and is known for some serious workout routines. For his golf practice routine, he said that he basically takes his mobile phone and videos a few swings.  Then, he monitors and works on grip, posture and alignment.  That is all he basically works on for mechanics.  If you go to any PGA Tour event, most of the players are monitoring these three things during practice sessions.

Golf is a reaction sport, the same as shooting a basketball, throwing a ball, hitting a baseball, or playing tennis.  If a player tries to think about too many moves or positions, speed and quality of contact diminishes.  With my students, we spend a lot of time on the process of proper grip, posture, and alignment (GPA).  We work on methods to make this repetitive.  All of this happens before the clubhead begins to swing.

Launch monitors are great and I love the data.  But if you ask most golfers, including Tour players, they just want to perform to some expectation.  They do not need terminology or data or the P-6 position.  They really do not care.  They just want a process to get the ball somewhere down the fairway, on the green, and in the hole.

Remember, as golf instructors we must always embrace technology and science.  That being said, temper the science and use it for your own knowledge.  The golf swing is not static.  Work on the swing being more reactionary.  Does everyone have the same grip, posture, and alignment?  Of course not!  Our job as golf instructors is to maximize each individual student’s physical parameters to achieve the best and most consistent results.

By the way, how is your GPA?

21 Feb 2019 admin

As a Certified Golf Teaching Professional® Which Social Platform should I use?

By: Kenneth Weaver

When you consider the vast array of Social Media Platforms it can be a daunting task trying to decide exactly where your Social Media presence would be best suited.

First you need to take a close look at your reasons for having a social media presence. Here are a few of the primary reasons why you need a social presence.

Establish credibility with new clients/prospects

Networking with consumers & Industry leaders

Increase business leads/sales

Boost SEO for your business website

Competitive advantage

SMM Drives targeted traffic to your website

Helps you build relationships with your audience

Which Social Platform/s should I use?

That can vary depending on the focus of your business as well as the time and energy you have available to maintain your social presence.

If your time and resources are limited you should have at the least have a Professional Facebook “Business Page” regardless of your business focus.

For Golf teaching and coaching professionals:

Facebook: Your home base for social media marketing. This is also the best platform for paid/targeted marketing in your geographical region through Facebook ad campaigns. Note: 68% of Americans are on Facebook!

Linkedin: Your personal professional page to help establish your credibility and network. Linkedin also offers professional business pages that can be very effective, especially if you already have a professional following.

Instagram: Popular platform to share images/videos such as golf tips, feature students, feature teams…) all posts can be easily shared on your Facebook business page. Creating posts for Instagram (IG) is quite easy and time efficient with the added benefit that when you post on IG your post can also roll over to your FB page (one post covers two sites). Your IG posts can also be easily shared on Twitter!

If you have the time/resources to take things a step further:

Twitter: The top social platform to reach out and interact with others of similar interest. You choose who you follow and engage. The more active you are the higher level of engagement and exposure you will receive. You can easily share images/articles from your website to Twitter with “call to action” links back to your desired landing page/s.

If you have products or merchandise that you are selling/promoting:

Pinterest: This is by far the best social platform to promote products/merchandise for sale. The “pins” are easy to create can direct traffic back to your website or specifically your online marketplace. With Pinterest you set up “boards” covering various topics related to your business or niche. The boards attract followers and in turn the followers see and can click on your pins that display your products/merchandise.

The only reason I placed Facebook ahead of Linkedin is that Facebook provides more options for business in regard to targeted marketing and is a more effective platform for building and directing a large audience (68% of Americans are on FB) to your website. That being said having a Linkedin profile and business page is easy to maintain once it is set up. Facebook requires more input to build your following and engagement but is more effective overall.

Summary

Regardless which Social platform/s you choose it is vital that you set up profiles that are “Professional” in appearance and a bio that is well written with a clear message stating what you have to offer perspective clients/customers. Another vital element is “engagement” with your following. Unless you are a major celebrity most people won’t engage with you unless you interact back with them. Show them that you care and are interested in what they are posting. Be responsive and reply to comments that followers leave on your timeline. Take a few minutes three or four times a week and cruise your “home feed” and like/comment on your followers content. This more often than not brings them back to your content! As the title implies these are “Social” platforms and social implies that there is two way communication.

In Social Media marketing (SMM) it is important to remember that your followers (prospects) don’t want to be constantly pitched to – they want honest informative/entertaining engagement. You have to provide them something of value. This can be by the way of entertaining images/videos, education (golf tips) a bit of humor goes a long way!

If you want people to follow you, it is vital to present them a unique path filled with value that’s interesting to them!

Note: This is the second in a series of social Media marketing articles. Be sure and click on one or more of the Social Media Icons at the top right of the page to follow us on your favorite social platform. I monitor all USGTF social platforms and will be posting additional articles through those channels. If you have any questions or need assistance in regard to social media marketing, SEO or graphic design feel free to contact me either through USGTF social channels or directly through email: Kenneth@weaverentp.com or on my Facebook business page: https://www.facebook.com/NetWebWeaver/ .

If you would like a free consultation session with me you can follow link to schedule: CLICK HERE

My next article is “Do I need a Website for my golf teaching/coaching business”?

If you’ve found this information to be helpful please take a moment and click on one of the Social Share buttons below.

13 Feb 2019 admin

Is Golf Too Hard?

By Mike Stevens, USGTF contributing writer

In the movie A league of Their Own, Gina Davis, the star player, tells Tom Hanks, the manager, she is quitting because the game is too hard. He replies, “It’s supposed to be hard; if it was easy, everyone would do it. It’s the hard that makes it great.” The difficulty is often cited as a reason golf’s population has declined in recent years or why people don’t take up the game as readily as some might like. I think it’s nonsense. Like anything that is a challenge, few will embrace the challenge, but most won’t. But in a country of 350 million, a few is still a lot. They say 24 million people play golf. Plenty for a thriving industry.

Is it too hard? Balderdash! Yes, it is hard, but it was never meant to be easy. The game is supposed to test you. In playing it, you learn as much about yourself as anything else you experience in life. Simply put, golf takes effort, and effort takes commitment. It also requires a desire to be good at it because it doesn’t come quickly. To those few that have the mettle, the game is very rewarding despite the hard. As Kipling wrote, “If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster, then you’ll be a man, my son.” Or woman, my daughter – don’t want to be politically incorrect.

8 Feb 2019 admin

The Spring Practice Plan    

By David Vaught, USGTF Master Teacher and Hall of Fame Member

With spring comes the excitement of a new golf season. Helping your students prepare for a fun and great ball striking season is a tremendous opportunity to build loyalty and get referrals.

One of my core beliefs about the game and the struggle to improve is how poorly and unstructured the average golfer’s practice is. As an instructor, you can make a difference in how your students prepare for success. Let’s lay out some simple solutions and a sample plan to get the wheels turning in your mind about how this can be a success for you and your student.

Most all of us know the difference between block practice and varied practice, but we should do a quick review. Block is the same task with the same club; varied is changing the task and the club and/or shot selection. We also know that golfers hit too many balls, too fast, and then wonder why they get poor results on the course. To remedy that, we need to be specific and direct about what how to practice.

First, be adamant about stretching and make a very specific recommendations on stretches. If you are not comfortable with this, there is a bountiful amount of information out there. Pete Egoscue and Roger Fredericks are two I recommend reading. The stretches should be specific to their swing issues and restrictions. It should also be short. Time is critical to a good practice plan.

Second, block putting to begin. Most golfers start with the driver. Big mistake. This should focus on a specific issue, using an aid. An example would be path or face using some sort of variation of golf tee setup or a putting mirror. Again, short blocks of time. The golfer then should practice from different distances, varying with each ball. Short, long, mid distances. They should play the putt out each time.This is the varied practice.

Repeat this for chipping. Again, varied practice to finish with two different clubs. If possible, do the same with pitching. Block practice to work on the mechanics and then varied trajectory, never hitting the same shot twice in a row.

Moving to the full swing, the judgment of the instructor is crucial here. Block practice should be very specific and focused on the golfer’s main challenge: low point, face, path or spin loft. The most effective block practice is with an aid or drill that can be used to create a ball strike. This simulates the condition of ball striking as opposed to swinging at air. There is some use to swings with no ball but they are not as effective. Be specific. For example, 20 balls with drill A and 20 balls with drill B. Once the blocked practice is complete, it is time to practice playing conditions. Tee off with the driver, then pull out an iron for the simulated approach shot. Next would be executing a pitch shot. Teach them to go through the pre-shot routine for each shot. Repeat the previous routine three or four times.

This sample practice should take 60 to 90 minutes. My suggestion is to write down a basic template and then personalize it for each student.

A golf instructor is not only a teacher but also a coach, mentor, great golf resource and a motivator. Good luck and have a successful year improving your students and growing the game we love.

6 Feb 2019 admin

Impact! Understand These Simple Principles

By Thomas T Wartelle, WGTF Master Professional

There are five human performance factors that affect distance and direction:

Direction
1) Position of clubface at impact to the Intended Target Line: The initial path, the curve of the ball during its flight, and where the ball will finish are all greatly influenced by the clubhead position at impact. 2) Path of the clubhead at impact to the Intended Target Line: The initial direction of the ball is slightly influenced by the clubhead path at impact. Path and clubface position at impact influence the amount of tilt of the spin axis imparted on the golf ball.

Direction/Distance
3) Angle of approach: The angle of approach of the clubface at impact influences ball flight, the initial launch angle, spin rate, and true loft of the clubface. 4) Centeredness of contact: Shots not struck on the center of the clubface will result in reduced distance. An off-center hit also imparts curvature (tilt of the spin axis) to the ball via the gear-effect.

Distance
5) Clubhead speed:
There are five human factors that influence clubhead speed at impact:
a. physical strength
b. body flexibility
c. swing technique
d. leverage
e. neuro-muscular coordination

A ball struck on the sweet spot will always leave the clubface very near to the direction the clubface was facing at impact. The ball will curve relative to the differential between the clubface and path of the clubhead at impact.

Remember my expression – “The clubface sends it, and the differential bends it.”

In summary, there is only one position in the golf swing that has influence on the ball. This is the moment in time when the clubface strikes the ball. The clubface position at impact is the primary concern. The differential between the clubface and the path of the clubhead at impact create the curvature: left curvature, right curvature, or no curvature.

The ball will never cross the path of the clubhead (unless it is moved by an outside force, i.e., the wind). The ball has no bias and will react only to the forces applied to it at the moment of truth – IMPACT!