Sometimes, no matter how much you practice, perfecting your swing or even correcting small problems in your swing seems impossible. In this case, you might require golf swing instruction from a pro?even if you have been playing for some time. Golf swing instruction will probably help you even more than you realize.
Golf pros are different from ordinary golfers. They have perfected their own game, and then they learned to study other people's games to help them perfect their games. A golf pro knows that all golfers are different, and each one will have different needs to correct small problems. Pros are trained to help you correct those problems ? in ways designed just for you.
Finding golf pros is easy ? finding golf pros that are good is a little harder. Finding a golf pro that suits your particular needs can seem absolutely overwhelming? but it doesn't have to be. There are certain steps to take to find a good golf pro. Don't just settle for the guy that works in your local pro shop.
First, ask your friends for recommendations. Find out where the pros are located, and if possible, watch them with their other students from a distance. How do they interact? Are they patient? Do they seem to know what they are doing, and what they are talking about? Visit your local pro shop, and ask about the pros that are available in the area. Don't worry about insulting the pro running the shop ? he probably no longer offers instruction anyway.
Most clubs have golf pros on staff. Follow the same protocol, and watch them from a distance, after the practice session that you watch, try to catch up with the golf student, and ask questions about the golf pros instructional skills, and ask specifically if they would recommend him. Ask them if there has been any improvement in their game since they started the lessons.
Ask for references ? and check them. If you haven't had the opportunity to watch the pro in action on the course, ask to join a training session for observation purposes. Don't be alarmed if the pro says no to this ? it may simply be to protect the privacy of his or her clients. You might even offer to pay half of the hourly rate for the opportunity to watch them in action with another student.
Once you've started instruction with a golf pro, give it a few sessions to determine whether or not this is the right golf pro for you. Sometimes, people simply don't get along well. It may be that this particular golf pro cannot convey the concept to you in a way that you understand. If it isn't working out, don't be afraid to stop working with that particular pro, and start your search for another one. The current pro may be able to make a recommendation if you just explain the situation to them in a nice way.
Don't make the mistake of thinking that you can perfect your golf swing in just one or two sessions with a golf pro ? or even three or four, and maybe not even in ten sessions! Everyone learns at their own pace, and golf techniques take time to learn, and even more time to perfect. Also, really listen to what your golf pro is telling you. If you aren't willing to listen, you are wasting your time, your money, and the pros time as well. Stay completely focused during your training sessions, and make sure that you put in the additional practice time that is recommended by your pro.
If you feel that you have been given quality golf swing instruction by your pro, don't be afraid to tip them, or offer them a bonus. This is a common practice, and many pros depend on tips a great deal. Treat your pro with respect ? they are not underlings. Failure to give proper respect to your pro may result in him or her walking off the job! Golf pros have a true love for the game ? and if you demonstrate that same feeling for the game, you may find that you receive superior instruction!
Hank has a specific golf swing theory that he is confident will allow the golfer to hit the nine main golf shots with consistency, at will. This includes the straight shot, with low, medium or high trajectory, a draw with these three trajectories, and a fade with these three trajectories. If a golfer can swing the golf club efficiently, he or she should feel comfortable hitting any one of these shots when the situation calls for it.
Hank's theory is that the club shaft should maintain the same angle throughout the golf swing as its starting position at address. This is not the so-called one-plane golf swing. Hank dismisses that idea. However, his theory is that the club shaft should swing on the same plane "angle" on different planes, throughout the golf swing.
Now, although I always felt I had a pretty good shoulder turn, my lesson with Hank indicated that I was not getting the full shoulder turn I need to maintain this one plane angle with a full golf swing. Instead, my left shoulder would drop slightly, and my head would also drop, during the back swing. As a result, I was not making the full shoulder turn that would allow me to swing the club on the consistent shaft angle that Hank indicates will lead to more consistent ball striking. Instead, the angle of my club shaft would at times be too flat or too steep, and ultimately I would need to have exceptional timing to hit the ball straighter.
I've stated in a previous article that flexibility is more important than strength for initially trying to add distance to your golf game. In trying to make the fuller shoulder turn that Hank was making me do during my lesson, I realized that I probably need to work on stretching my upper body some more. I will note that I also have a bit of a neck issue related to a skiing wreck when I was a teenager. As such, this may limit how much of a turn I can ultimately make. The swing can still be effective if I must make only a three-quarter swing, and I can still generate power in other ways, but I will make a go out of trying to generate a full swing by increasing my flexibility.
Flexibility is such a key to improving the golf swing, that even Charles Barkley, while working with Hank Haney to solve his full swing yip, has focused his attention on stretching. At the same time, he has lost 30 pounds as well. It is no secret now that fitness is one of the big keys to improving your golf game!
With that in mind, in the coming weeks, I will continue to focus my attention on stretching the upper body. Below are descriptions of the primary stretching exercises I will utilize in improving my flexibility. If you want to improve your golf game, I suggest you work on these simple exercises as well!
Back Stretch - Twist
Lay flat on your back, arms out to sides and palms down, with your knees bent and feet flat to the floor. Shift onto your left hip, keeping your back flat to the floor. Lower your knees to the left side, so that the left knee and thigh lay on the floor. Place your left hand on your right knee, and pull the right knee down to floor...at the same time your head should be turned to the right, facing your right hand. Hold for 30 seconds, then slowly switch positions to the other side.
Lying Down Shoulder Stretch
While sitting on the floor, legs stretched out front, and back straight, interlock your hands on the floor behind your back. Slide your feet forward as far as they will go, feeling the stretch in the front of the shoulders. Hold that position for 30 seconds.
Trunk Rotations
Hold a staff or a broomstick behind your neck, with your arms outstretched along the staff. At the golf course, you can do a version of this with your driver, with on hand on the grip, and the other down near the clubhead.
Standing with your feet shoulder width apart, slowly turn your body as far to the left as possible, hold for a second, then slowly twist to the right, as far as possible. Repeat 10 times to each side, and each time try to turn a little further.
Elbow Pull Shoulder Stretch
Standing with your feet shoulder width apart, or sitting in an upright position with your back straight, extend your left arm forward, reach under and slightly behind your left elbow with your right hand, then draw the left arm in toward your body and across to the right. You should feel this stretch in the back and side of your left deltoid muscle of the shoulder. Hold this stretch for 30 seconds, then perform this same stretch with the right shoulder.
Both Trevor Mulholland & Scott Cole are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Trevor Mulholland has sinced written about articles on various topics from Arts, Acne Treatment and Low Carb Diet. - Golf-game-tip.com provides you with information on the best golf tips available, instructions on how to get your st. Trevor Mulholland's top article generates over 368000 views. to your Favourites.
Scott Cole has sinced written about articles on various topics from Sell Home, Forex Guide and Bull Stock Market. Scott Cole is a golf teaching professional in Pennsylvania. He achieved the rank of 1st Degree Blackbelt in Pai Lum Kung Fu in 2007. He is the owner of the website