Basic Knowledge When It Comes To Clubs

By Mark Harman, USGTF Contributing Writer

I teach at a golf retail store when I’m not executing my duties with the USGTF, and one of my side jobs is doing club fitting.  I’m not exaggerating when I say I’ve learned more than I ever really wanted to know about clubs these past three years!  Here’s a little bit of what I’ve learned:

Irons – Generally, there are muscleback irons, good-players irons with slight forgiveness, good-players irons with technology, and game-improvement irons.  Clubs geared towards good players tend to have less offset and smaller heads, while game-improvement irons have more offset and bigger heads.  Good players who hit the ball relatively short for their skill level should seek out irons that have some distance technology.  Examples include Ping i500, Titleist T200, TaylorMade 790, and Callaway Mavrik.  If distance isn’t a problem but some forgiveness is warranted, options would be Ping i200, Titleist T100, and Srixon Z 585.  I would recommend muscleback irons only for good players who don’t need added distance and who strike the ball fairly pure – in other words, a very small audience.

Drivers – There are five general categories for drivers:  1) Drivers designed for accuracy with little workability; 2) Drivers designed for workability at the possible cost of accuracy; 3) Low-spin drivers; 4) Lightweight drivers; 5) Draw-biased drivers. There can be some overlap in these categories, but usually they are clearly defined in one of these categories.

Wedges – It wasn’t long ago that buying a wedge was as simple as picking one out with the loft you wanted.  Now there are bounce angles and sole grinds to consider.  Titleist Vokey wedges, for example, feature six different grinds!

How do we, as teachers, keep up with all these developments?  As someone in the business, it’s not easy for me!  Not to mention all the different shaft and ball options.  I would advise going to the companies’ websites for information.  While the descriptive text is designed for sales, it also provides some good info on each club.  More importantly, just knowing the categories that exist can be helpful in steering our students towards the correct equipment for their game.
Teaching In Today's Environment

Teaching In Today’s Environment

By Mark Harman, USGTF Contributing Writer

Years ago, the only way lessons were given was for a student to show up on the driving range and an instructor would dispense advice after seeing a few balls hit.  This was usually accomplished by fixing, or attempting to fix, the student’s most glaring visual flaw.  Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn’t.

As the video recorder age came about in the 1980s, it allowed teachers to break down the swing frame by frame.  The emphasis became fixing not only the most glaring visual fault, but trying to correct as many as possible during the allotted time.  While instructors knew about the ball flight laws, their knowledge was incorrect, as it was taught that the clubhead path through impact determined the ball’s starting direction.  We know now that this is wrong, that the clubface angle mainly determines the starting direction.  But with incorrect knowledge and methodology in full force, some players improved, but many didn’t.

Today in 2020, any student who wants to go see a teacher who has a launch monitor can usually find one within a reasonable drive of their home.  Teachers who use launch monitors focus less on what the swing looks like and more on what the numbers say.  We’ve seen this manifest itself on the pro tours, where Matthew Wolfe’s homemade swing makes Jim Furyk’s look downright conventional.  But Wolfe’s teacher, George Gankas, was astute enough to know he had a talent on his hands who could repeat his swing  time and time again. And since Wolfe could repeat the numbers, no changes were necessary.

While it’s not mandatory to have a launch monitor to teach, it’s becoming almost crucial.  The days of a teacher going to the range to help someone without any technology are fast coming to a close.  While most every teacher has access to a video system through their smartphone, it also wouldn’t hurt to invest in launch monitor technology.  Any teacher who plans on teaching making a full-time career of it must have it to be competitive.  Part-time teachers who can’t recoup a large investment should at least look into lower-cost options, such as FlightScope’s mevo, which is around $500.

The golf teaching industry has always evolved and will continue to do so.  Teachers who stay current have the best chance of succeeding.
1-2-3 Putter Setup Golf Lesson Teaches Putting Speed Control

1-2-3 Putter Setup Golf Lesson Teaches Putting Speed Control

By Arlen Bento Jr. USGTF Contributing Writer

One of my best golf putting lessons for new players or players that are struggling with distance control in putting is my 1-2-3 putter setup golf lesson. This concept is very simple yet very powerful for players that have a difficult time controlling speed on putts.

What you want to do is to get your students to set up with a narrow putting stance on short putts, I call this the #1 setup; I only want enough space between the feet to allow 4-6 inches, or the length of one putter head. I like to actually place a putter between my feet to demonstrate the spacing. Once the spacing is in place, I instruct the player to only take the putter back to the toe of the trail foot.

I like to use a forward ball position in my putting instruction. My idea is that I really like to have my students be aware of rolling the golf ball on putts. To achieve a better roll, I like a player to feel like the putter is striking the upper half of the golf ball at impact, so I need a forward ball position.

In the setup, I instruct the player to let the weight of the putter control the strike, no extra hit, or pop in the motion. I like them to feel a pendulum motion, letting the weight of the putter control movement and the strike of the golf ball. I encourage each player to use a symmetrical movement in the exercise: Let the putter move back to the trail foot toe (right toe for right-handed player), and then let the putter head move forward in a pendulum motion past the front toe the same distance. In most cases, we are talking about a putting stroke that moves back away from the ball 6-8 inches and through the ball 6-8 inches in the #1 setup. This consistent motion will create a consistent putt that travels the same distance every time. The goal is to use five balls in practice to no target, I call this “putt to nowhere” and try to get all five balls to travel the same distance, creating a small cluster using this exercise. All the player has to do is to remember what distance they create based on #1 setup and match that distance to their setup when they play.

Short putt, #1 setup. I get a lot of 5- to 7-foot putts in the #1 setup with my students.

Once the player has created the #1 setup and motion, all they have to do is simply widen their stance to 10-12 inches for the #2 setup. I like to explain the idea of being able to space two putter heads in length between my feet. Using the same ball position, let the putter head move back to the toe of the trail foot, and with a pendulum motion, strike the golf ball with a symmetrical follow through. Because of the larger setup, the putter head will move with a longer stroke, creating a longer follow through and a longer putt. Just like in the #1 setup, each player will have to learn how far the putt rolls with the #2 stroke vs. the #1 stroke, depending on green speeds.

In the #2 setup, I get a lot of 15- to 21-foot putts with my students.

Finally, the #3 stance is 15-18 inches apart, spacing three putter heads between the feet; longer putting stroke, longer putt. As I teach this concept, I am instructing the student to feel the putting stroke, not hit the ball.

In the #3 set up, I get a lot of 30- to 40-foot putts with my students.

Over time, each player will develop a confidence in controlling speed, thus improving distance control and improving putting.

Arlen Bento Jr. is an award-winning golf coach and “Top 100” world-recognized golf instructor. He is the former head golf professional of the PGA Country Club in PGA Village and director of golf/general manager of Eagle Marsh Golf Club in Jensen Beach, Florida. He operates his indoor golf center in Stuart, Florida, and outdoor golf academy in Port St. Lucie, Florida, where he specializes in player development, and offers his highly successful “Bento Golf Method” to players that want to learn how to get better. For more information, you can contact him via his websites www.arlenbentojrgolflessons.com or www.bentogolfmethod.com.

Learning Golf Should Mirror Skiing

By Mike Stevens A sane person would never tackle a black slope on their first venture on a snow-packed mountain when skiing, although I have seen several broken appendages proving me otherwise. Remember, I said a sane person. Generally, one starts on the bunny hill to get a feel for the stance and posture and how to turn and stop without crashing. Then, maybe something a little more exciting, but it might be months before attempting a black. Ski slopes are set up to allow a progression, and the industry promotes learning in that manner. Instructors would never take an inexperienced person to an advanced run right off the bat. I wish golf took the same approach. It would be so easy to have a short course within a course and designate a plan for new golfers to progress to so-called championship lengths. I have seen a couple of courses do this, but it is not something pushed at the industry level. Instead of all the new golf initiatives formulated each year to grow the game, we should concentrate on helping the individual progress in smaller steps. Tee it forward was a good idea, but meant for experienced golfers. If I were running a course, I would have 18 tee boxes within the course with a maximum distance 175 yards. Then, I would have new golfers play from there with a target score to achieve before they could move back to a farther length. I believe newbies would enjoy it more and feel a sense of accomplishment once they graduated to a regulation length course.

The New Major Championship Schedule

By Mike Stevens

Justin Rose and Rory McIlroy recently complained that there was not enough time between the major championships to adequately prepare. They were also critical that the season that used to carry into August was now over in July. I guess they forgot about the $15 million that players were chasing in the playoffs that concluded on August 25th. Rory could not understand how football could cause such a dramatic change in scheduling. Quite understandable, since Europeans have no idea how passionate we colonists are about the most popular sport in America. The NFL and NCAA take no back seat once the training camps and practice sessions begin.

Is the time between major championships really an issue? I think that depends on whether you consider the Players a major tournament. Many do, but yes or no, it is one of five huge tournaments each year. The only difference in 2018 versus 2019 was when the Players was conducted. In 2018 it was 31 days after the Masters. In 2019 it was 30 days before the Masters. In reality, the length of time between the “Big 5” this year was more consistent than in 2018, about 29 days. In the previous year, the PGA was held only 17 days after the Open Championship. So, in my opinion, the new schedule is just right. Golfers will adjust; they always do.
Juniors on the golf driving range, taking golf clinic.

Daily Junior Golf Clinics: Discover These New All-The-Rage Tactics To Teach Golf To Kids

Juniors on the golf driving range, taking golf clinic.By Jordan Fuller, USGTF Contributing Writer

It’s important to the growth and continued success of golf to introduce children to the game in a way that allows them to enjoy it and succeed quickly. Golf can be a very difficult game to learn at any age, but kids are actually uniquely suited to understand and develop good swing habits. So, it’s incredibly important to make sure they’re having fun while learning the building blocks that will translate into a lifetime of fun and success on the golf course.

Here are a few tactics to make sure your junior clinics keep everyone entertained while teaching them important golf lessons!

Putting contests

The classic putting contest is still one of the best ways to foster friendly competition and teach kids the importance of getting the ball close to the hole on their first putts. However, a traditional method of simply pitting children head-to-head is best reserved for the last day of a clinic. Prior to that, the contests should be more individually focused, so kids can set a baseline of performance and improve on it through the week.

I like to use large rings to create a 2-3 foot circle around the hole, and set up “tees” for them to start from. You can also use strings on tees to guide them around the putting green on a specific “course.”

They’ll receive a point for getting the first putt inside the big circle, then three more points for making their second putt. If they actually hole the first putt, they get ten points. If they take three putts, they’ll get a single additional point. This scoring system where they accumulate points is easier to explain than trying to have them make a “par” of two or three on each hole. It also gives them a high number to shoot for the next time, and drives them to try the course again and again to achieve more points.

It’s also important to reward each child for their performance. While you can have a cool prize for the single highest point total, you can also give a reward (maybe a sleeve of balls or a towel) for improving their score, or making the most one-putts.

While “everyone gets a trophy” is often ridiculed, golf is a game that most of us play for fun. Sure, some of the kids may grow up to be tournament winners, but for most of them you’re trying to develop a lifelong love affair with the game. It’s important to reward improvement as much as achievement.

Individual instruction

When demonstrating a basic skill, such as a bump-and-run chip, it’s tempting to simply explain it and demonstrate it a few times before letting the kids loose to try it themselves. But while they’re out there working on it, take a few minutes with each child individually to lightly direct and heavily praise the job they’re doing.

With very young kids, too much technical input will just muddy the issue; it’s best to give them minimal direction (just enough to make sure they’re making half-decent contact) and praise their good instincts. For older kids (8 and up), you can start drilling down on fundamentals (such as how to hit the ball properly) to make sure they’re not developing any bad habits that will take years to undo.

This extra level of individual instruction and praise is what the kids will tell their parents about: “Coach Jones helped me with my chipping grip, and I won this sleeve of balls when I chipped one into the hole!” is much better feedback than “Billy and I got to play a lot of Fortnite.” One-on-one time is key to keeping kids engaged and letting their parents know that you’re really interested in developing their kids’ skills.

Once kids have been to a few clinics and are ready to hit the links, the PGA Junior League has great programs for innovative competitions and tournaments that appeal to particular ages and skill levels. Rather than sticking to traditional 18-hole stroke play formats, PGA Junior League tournaments have different scoring systems and are played on fewer holes. Kids learn about golf, but also teamwork and self-reliance. It’s a great program to move them from beginner clinics to championship golf.
usgtf certified golf teacher golf instructor teach golf

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.

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.
Mark Harman Sun protection

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.

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.”