My teaching approach is to first form a relationship with the student in order to learn about their game and what they want and need in order to play better golf. Together we will develop a set of realistic goals, objectives and expectations and consider the following areas of focus:
Short Game
Most golfers want to save strokes. Considering the short game makes up the majority of the total score, this is the best place to start.
Pre-Swing Fundamentals
Confirm or establish the basic fundamentals of posture, grip and alignment. These are all static properties of the swing and can be incorporated into the pre-swing routine.
Target Focus and Visualization
Getting the ball to go where you want is the most basic idea in golf. Can it be achieved just by thinking about it? Considering that the mind is stronger than the body, leads us to believe that it’s worth a try.
Swing Movement
Golfers have a natural swing movement, but it oftentimes gets corrupted by “how to” lists and quickly becomes uncomfortable and un-natural. The natural swing movement is subconsciously directed by the mind when one is intently focused on a specific target. Removing the “how to” mentality and focusing on the target will create freedom in movement.
Course Management
My motto here is to “play smarter—not harder”. Learning how to manage one’s game around the golf course is a test of awareness and patience. It will ultimately lead to lower scores.
Positive Thought Process
None of the above can be successful without maintaining a positive thought process. Paradigm Shift—Be open to the POSSIBILITIES instead of dwelling on the interference.
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