Teaching Beginning Teaching Beginning GolfGolf

Dr. Scott ColcloughDr. Scott Colclough

Middle Tennessee State Middle Tennessee State UniversityUniversity

Dr. Mike HallDr. Mike Hall

University of North Alabama University of North Alabama

Stuart Currie, ABDStuart Currie, ABD

Middle Tennessee State Middle Tennessee State University University

IntroductionIntroduction

Teaching CuesTeaching Cues Sources of equipmentSources of equipment Resources & referencesResources & references

SafetySafety

EquipmentEquipment Clubs should be in satisfactory Clubs should be in satisfactory

working order. working order. Check: club head, shafts, grips.Check: club head, shafts, grips. Proper attire: clothing and Proper attire: clothing and

footwear.footwear. Weather: 1Weather: 1stst sign of thunder and sign of thunder and

lightning remove players from lightning remove players from course. Seek sheltercourse. Seek shelter

Range VisitsRange Visits

Try and limit numbersTry and limit numbers Space: Side and behindSpace: Side and behind Make sure players are level or Make sure players are level or

slightly behind one another slightly behind one another Everybody hits in the same Everybody hits in the same

directiondirection Retrieve balls only under Coach’s Retrieve balls only under Coach’s

instruction.instruction.

Golf TermsGolf Terms ParPar

DefinedDefined: The number of strokes it : The number of strokes it should take to complete the hole.should take to complete the hole.

How do you come up with par: 2 putts How do you come up with par: 2 putts on every green, yardage, and hazardson every green, yardage, and hazards

Average par for 18 holes:72 (36 putts Average par for 18 holes:72 (36 putts 18x2)18x2)

Golf TermsGolf Terms

ScoringScoring AceAce: Hole in one: Hole in one EagleEagle: 2 strokes under par : 2 strokes under par BirdieBirdie: 1 stroke under par: 1 stroke under par ParPar: Score a very good player would : Score a very good player would

expect to make on a holeexpect to make on a hole BogeyBogey: 1 stroke over par (good for the : 1 stroke over par (good for the

average golfer)average golfer) Double BogeyDouble Bogey: 2 strokes over par: 2 strokes over par

Putting (½ the game)Putting (½ the game)

Dave Pelz: Dave Pelz: 80% of the strokes golfers lose to 80% of the strokes golfers lose to

par are determined by their play par are determined by their play within 100 yards of the green.within 100 yards of the green.

PuttingPutting GripGrip: Palms on opposing sides, thumbs : Palms on opposing sides, thumbs

down shaft,(r-handers)slide right hand down shaft,(r-handers)slide right hand down & place left index finger over right down & place left index finger over right pinkie or extend your left finger index pinkie or extend your left finger index finger over the fingers of your right hand.finger over the fingers of your right hand.

StanceStance: Feet shoulder width apart, eyes : Feet shoulder width apart, eyes over ball, blade of club square to putt lineover ball, blade of club square to putt line

Wrist Wrist : Take the wrists out of play: Take the wrists out of play Rhythm & TempoRhythm & Tempo: Tic-Toc, same speed for : Tic-Toc, same speed for

all putts, everyone is different find your all putts, everyone is different find your tempotempo

PacePace: Get it close, think of the hole as : Get it close, think of the hole as being 3-foot in diameter rather than 4.25 being 3-foot in diameter rather than 4.25 inches!inches!

Coaching at the RangeCoaching at the RangeWhere do I start??Where do I start?? OrganizationOrganization SafetySafety What is the ball doing? fading/slicing, What is the ball doing? fading/slicing,

drawing/hooking, topping/fattingdrawing/hooking, topping/fatting What is the club doing? Shut/openWhat is the club doing? Shut/open What is the body doing? Reverse What is the body doing? Reverse

pivoting, swaying, under/over pivoting, swaying, under/over rotation.rotation.

How to correct and How to correct and What to Check??What to Check?? Observation: Side and behindObservation: Side and behind Demonstration: You showDemonstration: You show Instruction: Minimal, key pointsInstruction: Minimal, key points Check: Grip, stance, posture, Check: Grip, stance, posture,

alignment, backswing, impact, alignment, backswing, impact, follow through, finish.follow through, finish.

How to Grip the club How to Grip the club (irons & woods)(irons & woods) GripsGrips Target Hand -Top ViewTarget Hand -Top View ““V” point to the rear earV” point to the rear ear Two knuckles visible (top hand)Two knuckles visible (top hand) No gap between thumb & index fingerNo gap between thumb & index finger Rear Hand – Top ViewRear Hand – Top View ““V” point to the rear earV” point to the rear ear One knuckle visible (bottom hand)One knuckle visible (bottom hand) No gap between thumb & index fingerNo gap between thumb & index finger

How to grip the clubHow to grip the club (irons & woods)(irons & woods)

Grips Grips ( pressure should never be ( pressure should never be tight)tight)

Vardon grip: right pinkie overlaps the Vardon grip: right pinkie overlaps the left index fingerleft index finger

Ten-finger/ baseball grip: place all ten Ten-finger/ baseball grip: place all ten fingers on the clubfingers on the club

Interlocking: interlock the right pinkie Interlocking: interlock the right pinkie and left index fingerand left index finger

AddressAddress

POSTUREPOSTURE Athletic positionAthletic position Knees slightly bentKnees slightly bent Bend from the waistBend from the waist Arms hang down naturallyArms hang down naturally

Address Address STANCESTANCE Feet shoulder width apartFeet shoulder width apart Toes pointing slightly outToes pointing slightly out Weight distributed 40-60Weight distributed 40-60 Weight distributed on the balls of each Weight distributed on the balls of each

foot.foot. 1.1. Square stance- aiming towards Square stance- aiming towards

targettarget 2.2. Closed stance- aiming right of target Closed stance- aiming right of target 3.3. Open stance- aiming left of targetOpen stance- aiming left of target

AddressAddress ALIGNMENTALIGNMENT Feet should be parallel to the target Feet should be parallel to the target

(square stance).(square stance). Align club to ball using intermediate Align club to ball using intermediate

target (T), club face square, align target (T), club face square, align bodybody

Toe line should be parallel to target Toe line should be parallel to target lineline

Address DrillsAddress Drills Hand shake drill: Three people Hand shake drill: Three people

needed, the person in the middle needed, the person in the middle turns and shakes hands with the turns and shakes hands with the two people facing him two people facing him

Heavy box drill: same as above, Heavy box drill: same as above, pretend you are pretend you are handinghanding each each person a very heavy boxperson a very heavy box

Address DrillsAddress Drills Place two golf clubs down on the ground Place two golf clubs down on the ground

pointing towards the intended target. pointing towards the intended target. One golf club should represent the ball One golf club should represent the ball to target line and should be pointing to target line and should be pointing directly towards the target. The second directly towards the target. The second club should represent your feet to target club should represent your feet to target line and should run parallel with the first line and should run parallel with the first club. Imagine a railway track running club. Imagine a railway track running towards your intended target. towards your intended target.

The golf club should be square to the The golf club should be square to the target and positioned just inside the target and positioned just inside the leading foot.leading foot.

Address - Address - Setup & Pre-swing Setup & Pre-swing RoutineRoutine

Setup & Pre-swing RoutineSetup & Pre-swing Routine Select clubSelect club Intermediate target (12-18 inches Intermediate target (12-18 inches

in front and behind ball)in front and behind ball) Align club to ball using Align club to ball using

intermediate target (T), club face intermediate target (T), club face square, align bodysquare, align body

Toe line should be parallel to target Toe line should be parallel to target lineline

The golf swing can be broken The golf swing can be broken down into six stages with cues:down into six stages with cues: * Keys of success have been developed * Keys of success have been developed

with the right handed golfer in mind. with the right handed golfer in mind. Left handed golfers should follow the Left handed golfers should follow the instruction but reverse the instruction instruction but reverse the instruction hints.hints.

(You can substitute “front” and “rear” (You can substitute “front” and “rear” verses “left” and “right”).verses “left” and “right”).

1. Backswing1. Backswing 2. Top of Backswing2. Top of Backswing 3. Transition 3. Transition 4. Impact4. Impact 5. Follow through5. Follow through 6. Finish6. Finish

Swing Check Points:Swing Check Points:1. BACKSWING: CUES 1. BACKSWING: CUES

pass the heavy box, hand shakepass the heavy box, hand shake Halfway position:Halfway position: Shoulders turn on a flat plane to 45 degreesShoulders turn on a flat plane to 45 degrees Shoulders rotate as the arms turn to hip Shoulders rotate as the arms turn to hip

heightheight Left arm is extended but relaxedLeft arm is extended but relaxed Right arm is bent and the right elbow is Right arm is bent and the right elbow is

pointing down to the groundpointing down to the ground Target hand is facing away from the bodyTarget hand is facing away from the body Toe of the club is pointing up towards the Toe of the club is pointing up towards the

skysky Stay within the posture positionStay within the posture position

Swing Check Points:Swing Check Points:2. TOP BACKSWING: CUES – club parallel2. TOP BACKSWING: CUES – club parallel Shoulders have turned through 90 Shoulders have turned through 90

degrees. Left shoulder has turned degrees. Left shoulder has turned under chinunder chin

Wrists have broken and arms are Wrists have broken and arms are extended away from the bodyextended away from the body

Right elbow is pointing down to the Right elbow is pointing down to the groundground

Hips have turned through 45 degreesHips have turned through 45 degrees Weight has transferred onto the right Weight has transferred onto the right

foot (40-60)foot (40-60) Remain within the posture positionRemain within the posture position Right knee remains flexedRight knee remains flexed

Swing Check Points:Swing Check Points:3.TRANSITION: CUES –heel3.TRANSITION: CUES –heel presspress Transfer of weight from the back foot Transfer of weight from the back foot

occurs with the leading knee occurs with the leading knee separating away from the back kneeseparating away from the back knee

Leading shoulder moves away and Leading shoulder moves away and outout

Club drops down and the right elbow Club drops down and the right elbow moves in front of the right hipmoves in front of the right hip

Weight continues to transfer over Weight continues to transfer over onto the left sideonto the left side

Swing Check Points:Swing Check Points:4. IMPACT: CUES –p4. IMPACT: CUES –pop the towelop the towel

Is a mirror image of the address Is a mirror image of the address position except the hips have position except the hips have cleared and the weight has cleared and the weight has transferred onto the left foottransferred onto the left foot

Spine angle should mirror the Spine angle should mirror the spine angle at addressspine angle at address

Staggered startStaggered start

Swing Check Points:Swing Check Points:5. FOLLOW THROUGH: CUES – kiss the 5. FOLLOW THROUGH: CUES – kiss the kneesknees The momentum of the previous movements The momentum of the previous movements

will continue to turn the body through the will continue to turn the body through the golf ball.golf ball.

Half way check point: Half way check point: The follow through should mirror the back The follow through should mirror the back

swing checkpointswing checkpoint Toe of the golf club should be pointing in the Toe of the golf club should be pointing in the

airair Arms extended away from the bodyArms extended away from the body Right shoulder should be moving under the Right shoulder should be moving under the

chinchin Weight distributed 60-40 onto the left sideWeight distributed 60-40 onto the left side

Swing Check Points:Swing Check Points:6. FINISH: CUES –g6. FINISH: CUES –golf trophyolf trophy

Weight has moved onto the left sideWeight has moved onto the left side Body has turned through the ball, so Body has turned through the ball, so

that the belly button is parallel to that the belly button is parallel to the target linethe target line

Toe of the right foot should be Toe of the right foot should be pointing into the ground with the pointing into the ground with the heel raised offheel raised off

Arms are high and relaxed by the Arms are high and relaxed by the left earleft ear

Which club should you Which club should you use?use? Average Distance Men WomenAverage Distance Men Women Driver 230 200Driver 230 200 3-wood 210 1803-wood 210 180 5-iron 160 1405-iron 160 140 9-iron 120 100 9-iron 120 100 PW 110 90 PW 110 90

Golf Swing Training Golf Swing Training AidsAids BroomBroom Medicus: club feathering a hinge which Medicus: club feathering a hinge which

is engineered to bend whenever a flaw is engineered to bend whenever a flaw occursoccurs

Assist: training grip, precision bent Assist: training grip, precision bent shaft, weighted club headshaft, weighted club head

Shotsavers, Inc. – Shotsavers, Inc. – Training Aids & Training Aids & DevicesDevices

Catalog – Catalog – Golf around the WorldGolf around the World

ResourcesResources Videos/DVDsVideos/DVDs:: Jim McLean – Jim McLean – The 8-Step Swing *The 8-Step Swing * Nancy Lopez – Nancy Lopez – Golf Made EasyGolf Made Easy Butch Harmon – Butch Harmon – Conquering GolfConquering Golf Harvey Penick - Harvey Penick - Little Red VideoLittle Red Video David Pelz - David Pelz - Developing Great TouchDeveloping Great Touch Wally Armstrong – Wally Armstrong – The Clinic: The The Clinic: The

Full SwingFull Swing

WebsitesWebsites

USGA.comUSGA.com PGA.comPGA.com LPGA.comLPGA.com websites2004.com/golfwebsites2004.com/golf shotsavers.com/shotsaver/teachingshotsavers.com/shotsaver/teaching

Sports EquipmentSports Equipment SportimeSportime GopherGopher

Elementary Rubric: Elementary Rubric: PuttingPutting

GoodGood OkayOkay Not YetNot Yet

GripGrip

StanceStance

AlignmenAlignmentt

Tic-TocTic-Toc

SecondarySecondary Rubric: SwingRubric: SwingExcellentExcellent OkayOkay Not YetNot Yet

GripGrip

StanceStance

AlignmenAlignmentt

SwingSwing

-Back-Back

-Top-Top

--TransitioTransitionn

-Impact-Impact

-Foll Thru-Foll Thru

-Finish-Finish

AGES GOLFAGES GOLF

www.agesgolf.comwww.agesgolf.com Scott SharronScott Sharron PO Box 930458PO Box 930458 Verona, WI 53593Verona, WI 53593

Equipment provided for use and Equipment provided for use and demonstration by Mr. Scott demonstration by Mr. Scott Sharron & Mr. Mike HellerSharron & Mr. Mike Heller