* Editorial *

12 Jul 2016 Corina Pelloni

WHO JUDGES THE GUARDIANS?

To say I am disappointed in the USGA would be an understatement. The Dustin Johnson decision is just the culmination of several abuses of power I feel have originated from the body in recent years. Sometimes, when organizations get so wrapped up in their so-called authority, they can easily lose perspective. I saw this happen often when I worked in the corporate world. A company or facility would become so enthralled with being recognized as experts in the field that they just brushed aside any new ideas as not worthy of recognition. They just felt they knew best, and if you didn’t like it, too bad. When it comes to golf, rules are important, but they should be cut-and-dried. Play the ball as it lies…out of bounds…stoke and distance. It is also recognized that players are responsible for adhering to the rules and calling penalties on themselves. Johnson called the official over as soon as he saw that the ball changed position. That shows that he was being responsible to the game. When asked if he felt it moved as a result of his action, he did not believe it to be the case. His playing partner agreed. The official took his word, and that should have been the end of it. The higher-ups at the USGA wouldn’t let it go. They felt that since Dustin did not know what actually caused the ball to move, it must have been him. Even watching it in slow motion, there was no clear evidence that Johnson caused the ball to move. But like the IRS, guilty, because we say so. Did you ever go to the driving range and place a ball down on a nice area of grass, only to have it move at the top of your backswing? Happens frequently. Sometimes, things happen for no reason other than mere chance. I’m sure that if Johnson thought he had caused the ball to move, he would have said so and accepted the penalty. It should never have gone any further than that. The USGA motto is for the “good of the game.” In my opinion, I don’t see much of that lately with these folks.

16 Jun 2016 Corina Pelloni

MATCH PLAY

Last week I was watching the NCAA Men’s Championship on TV.  The tournament format is match play:  first team to three wins is the champion.  This style of play is always entertaining because of the ups and downs of the match.  One player is leading by a few holes, and then the other player makes a comeback.  It’s real-life golf drama. I noticed that I was becoming more and more engaged in the matches, cheering on the great shots and the players’ recovery shots.  There were a number of times a player seemed to be out of the hole; one player had an advantage by hitting a good shot to set up a birdie effort, and the other player, who seemed to be out of position, would either make a long putt or even chip-in from off the green.  This now forces the player in good position to make his putt to just tie the hole. Most golfers don’t play a lot of match play.  We often grind trying to shoot the lowest score possible.  When teaching our students, especially the younger ones, it is important we talk about these “must-make” opportunities.  Lead them in drills or games that get them in the right frame of mind to be aggressive on making the shot.  You can see that some players thrive in these environments while others don’t. Playing match play will teach your students the importance of never giving up, as well as providing the opportunity to experience a “flair” for the dramatic.  Your students will be more successful, and you will be, too.

14 Jun 2016 Corina Pelloni

VISIONS OF A GREAT TEACHER

Golf is not a game alone, but a means of developing people, pleasant people with good attitude and strong character.  Coaches and partners are committed to shifting the culture of golf from tips, formulas and answers, to one of exploration, discovery and freedom. As a teacher and coach, it is important in recognizing what is his/her ability, and re-defining what is possible for him/her in learning this game.  We must also teach how to learn and how to integrate on the course.  Learn how to access concentration and how to practice productivity, and also discover how to self-coach in areas of specific interest. As teachers of the game, our commitment is to empower our student to step into the heart and soul of the game, and to use it to access new possibilities such as the real joy and adventure of learning, inspiring high-performance golfers.  Golfers should have a coaching influence and a support team that is focused on facilitating skills development and personal growth.

9 Jun 2016 Corina Pelloni

THE POWER OF OBSERVATION

Technology abounds. Every golfer wants it and many teachers love using it. Be it video, 3-D motion capture, launch monitors, foot-pressure pads, rangefinders, or the latest and greatest golf club technology, the world of golf has become obsessed with technology and its perceived ability to improve one’s game. There is no doubt there are some great tools out there to assist us in our teaching, along with giving us the reputation amongst our clients as being at the cutting edge of the instruction industry. We should all remember they are present to assist and not replace the human factor of observation. As instructors, we must first and foremost begin with observation and prioritize what we see. How often are we doing this in every lesson? I can personally go on about stories of students who have received lessons where the teaching professional never looked up from his computer, but I regress. So, where do we start? Students of different levels have different needs. A novice must learn basic components of setup, pivot, arm and club motion before a golf ball enters the picture, which may take some time…many lessons, in some cases. Our ability to observe without fail rather than going through the motions at this stage of a golfer’s evolution cannot be overstated. The lower hand on the club, as one example, can and more likely will lead to an incorrect clubface position and wrist hinge, causing further compensations throughout the motion. The reason the novice is in our hands is so such a problem doesn’t occur; otherwise, he or she may just as well take lessons from their over-qualified 27-handicap best friend. For the experienced player, ball flight comes first. Always! Ball flight is everything, because it offers the player feedback. Again, our job is to relate ball flight to motion tendencies. In other words, what is the club doing to create a particular ball flight? What is our body doing to make the club move in one fashion or another? This is our responsibility, and the observation facet relies on ball flight and our knowledge of what is occurring with the club and body as pertaining to every ball flight possibility. There aren’t many:

• Initial Direction – Clubface direction at impact (85% responsible)
• Curvature – Path as it relates to clubface
• Trajectory – Angle of attack (steepness of pitch) and  vertical centeredness of strike
• Distance – Speed of clubhead, centeredness of strike

As golf instructors, the aforementioned ball flight laws are our commandments, our constitutional amendments, or any term of our desire, but without fail they take priority over everything, including technology.

8 Jun 2016 Corina Pelloni

GOLF – THE GAME OF LOST FAVORITES

I used to know the golf tour stops. There was Riviera, the Crosby and Hope, Doral, Harbour Town and Greater Greensboro. Now there is the Frys.com, Valspar, Quicken Loans and the Dean & Deluca, not to mention all the other corporate-sponsored events that seem to change every couple of years. I have been involved with the tournament in Tampa for some time. It started as the JC Penny Classic. Since then it has been named the Buick, Chrysler, Pods, Transitions, EverBank and Valspar. A game steeped in tradition has abandoned the moniker for cash. I guess it was inevitable; it takes a lot of green to conduct a tournament, what with million-dollar payouts and infrastructure to attract fans and sponsors. Still, to name Hogan’s alley at Colonial the Dean & Deluca Championship sickens me. At least we still have the Arnold Palmer Invitational and the Memorial at Jack’s place in Ohio. But don’t you think that when these two pass on to that beautiful fairway in the sky that several companies won’t be beating down the door to get their name on the events. It’s a shame. Growing up, I knew all the great players of yesteryear. Their names were on golf clubs or attached to tournaments in remembrance of their heroics. I started off in golf with a Sam Snead 7-iron. My dad gave me three Gene Littler woods. I even had a Gene Sarazen 3-iron with a wooden shaft. Sometimes when I am teaching, I’ll mention a famous golfer from the past, and my young students will look at me with a blank stare. Sign of the times, I guess. I understand it, but I don’t have to like it.

3 Jun 2016 Corina Pelloni

TOO MANY THOUGHTS?

While I was recently watching The Players, one of the analysts on Golf Channel was speaking about Jordan Spieth and showed him videoing his putting stroke before the round started.  The debate was that if you think about mechanical thoughts, then you are unable to putt freely.  Jordan was for; the analyst against.  I can see both sides. Some players don’t like advice about or to think mechanical thoughts while playing a tournament round – the ol’ “take to the course the shots you have on the range” type of motto.  These players are more focused on feel than trying to fix whatever might be wrong with their game at the moment. Other players are very technical and want all the tips and advice they can get.  Maybe Jordan is this type of player.  Maybe he feels like there is something wrong mechanically in his putting stroke and wants to change it.  It could be something very small, yet produce great results. The key is to know your students.  Know what kind of information they can mentally handle prior to a competitive round and what they can’t.  As golf teaching professionals, we need to adapt to our students’ way of processing information.

1 Jun 2016 Corina Pelloni

GOLF FITNESS

In the past few years, nagging lower back issues have hampered my golf swing and everyday lifestyle. I have hit over 5 million golf balls over the last 30-plus years, and it has taken its toll. The interesting thing is that when I am warmed up, the pain often subsides. I enjoy many different sports besides golf: cross-training, cycling, swimming, running, triathlons, tennis, etc. I have noted often that I am capable of lifting or moving large amounts of weights during the exercises, but sitting at a desk for three hours can sometimes be excruciating. The same scenario has also happened to my should and upper back. Different doctors, therapists and chiropractors have told me different theories and treatments, some which have aided, but none in a great way. However, recently I have found something that seems to offer a solution that seems to be a long-term treatment and solution: yoga and yoga-like stretching! For the first time in years, my lower back and hips have ached dramatically less. I have seen an advancement in my hip mobility and ability to maintain my spine angle throughout the golf swing. Maintaining your spine angle in the golf swing is one of the key components of good ball striking and a trademark of all the great players. It is impossible to achieve with tight hip flexors and small-muscles imbalances. The body is holistic, with the muscles and tendons very much dependent and interconnected to one another. For years I trained in the typical weight-room manner. Now, I rarely do the traditional weight training like you see most people in the gym focusing on, i.e. bench presses and static weightlifting. I am much more focused on dynamic motion and body-weight-type movements. Combined with this, I do dynamic stretching and yoga. These changes have contributed greatly to maintaining and improving my swing. Swinging a golf club for years causes imbalances in muscles, which in turn creates compensations and overuse of certain muscle groups. This leads to injuries and swing flaws. Next time when working with a student, take into consideration that some of the swing flaws noted could be a direct result of injuries and/or lack of mobility. Maintaining the spine angle, for example, is more than a function of “keep your head down.” The flaw could be a result of the lack of the ability to physically do the proper movement because of body compensations. Remember to look at the golf swing in a “holistic way” which will contribute to the longer improvement and longevity that students are looking for. As a golf instructor, educate yourself and use as many resources in the physical fitness field to further enhance your students’ enjoyment of the game of golf.

25 May 2016 Corina Pelloni

THE PERFECT TIME TO FIND YOUR JOY IN TEACHING

Spring is the most exciting time of year for golfers. That is obvious to anyone that plays the game. For teachers of the game, summer brings the opportunity to find the true joy of teaching. As I moved through my career and began teaching better and more serious golfers, I found myself gradually developing a very dour attitude towards lessons. I didn’t notice the change as it was happening, but now looking back, I should have been more introspective. While on the subject, being introspective is a very important trait for a golf instructor. At one point, I began to realize the joy I had been addicted to early in my teaching career wasn’t there. So, the opportunity presented itself – almost out of fate, it seems, as I reflect back on it now: Our assistant professional had decided to move on to another facility. She had taught the junior clinic the last few summers. Before she arrived at the course, the young girls in the pro shop would pitch in and teach the kids. The director of golf was adamant that the summer junior clinics would be taught one way or another every summer. Our weather in the summer was spectacular. Cool in the early morning, sun around 10, then at 10:45 am every day a slight breeze from the Pacific Ocean would contrast the summer sun. Seventy-eight degrees and sunny every day. So how could we not do a lot of teaching? One day while having a conversation in the shop with the boss, I somehow volunteered to teach the junior clinic. Immediately after I announced my intention, I had a sense of panic come over me. How was I going to do this? I had not taught kids for several years. All of these life-and-death golfers I had been instructing; how was I going to handle children? After those first few moments of panic, I started planning the clinics in my mind. The more I planned, the more excited I got. I have often read about the “grandparent” effect that can come over older adults. The pleasure one gets from seeing the innocent, pure joy kids display at a young age. That is my reasonable explanation. The kids were from age 7 to 10 or 11. We did three hours a day for four days. I bought candy and juice boxes, and thought of as many games as I could. We had relay races, putting contests, and the kids genuinely had a great time. As much fun as it was for them, it couldn’t match the joy I received from teaching them. Watching the kids discover the true essence of the game was exhilarating. I felt like I should have paid the parents instead of the other way around. I loved watching them jump up and down when they holed a putt or their team won whatever game we were playing. The girls giggled, the boys gave high fives. As a byproduct, hopefully some of them kept playing after that week. To say it was an awesome experience for me would be an understatement. That week I rediscovered the joy of teaching golf. Because of my current position, I haven’t had the opportunity to duplicate that junior clinic. I would love to have the time and facilities to do it again. Today there is better equipment for children. If you look, you can find special tools for kids learning, and all sorts of various games and unique ideas for teaching our youth the game of golf. Personally, I love the velcro outfits and the giant clubs. It is easy to get caught up in the financial gain of your teaching business. The seriousness of your students trying to improve at a very difficult game can affect you over time. We all want to help golfers. Most of us have to also make a living at it somehow. Finding opportunities to teach the fringes of the golfing public can give you a new perspective. It could even be teaching disabled adults. Golf at its core is supposed to be fun.

19 May 2016 Corina Pelloni

NO RESPECT FOR EVERYDAY GOLF TEACHERS

Just saw an ad recently that finished with this: “Go directly to the place that will improve your game with all the equipment and apparel you need.” What a country – you can buy improvement. And people continue to buy into this nonsense. If it was just the equipment, then how come some top tour pros struggle when they change brands? I have a friend who buys every new driver that TaylorMade puts out. His scores are still the same, but he swears he is just killing the ball. I guess whatever makes you happy. Another fellow came to me for some lessons and said he could not hit his new irons. So I watched him hit a few shots. Top, top, fat, top and slice. I asked him how he hit his old irons. Not much different, was his reply. After I worked with his swing for a few weeks, I caught up with him on the range to see how he was doing. “Man, these irons are the best thing I ever invested in,” was his reply. I felt like Rodney Dangerfield. If you’re one of those big-name instructors on TV, everyone listens to what they have to say and often when you are working with a person, you’ll hear that so-and-so said to do this. Sometimes you just want to respond like Hogan would and say, “Well, then go take a lesson from him, then.” A lot of this stems from the manufacturers who have basically driven the game. We, the teacher, get very little credit from them. Just look at the ads. They all tout their brand as being the one that will make one longer and more accurate. Yet, I have never seen a person from scratch with a brand new $2,000 set of clubs step up to the tee box and stripe one. I have seen several people who work diligently with one of us run-of-the-mill everyday teachers become decent players. Maybe there is a lesson in there somewhere.

17 May 2016 Corina Pelloni

The Technology Contrarian

Today’s equipment, or the advances in technology over the last 10 years or so, have (apparently) helped today’s average golfer, but hindered the career of perhaps the greatest talent who has ever played the game in Tiger Woods. As you can probably tell, you know where I’m going with this. I’ll admit at times I’m a contrarian, but not without doing research. Let’s take, for example, Trackman and the data it provides us from the touring professionals. Contrary to popular belief, the “average” PGA Tour player does not hit up on the ball (positive angle of attack or “AoA”). The average AoA amongst the men is -1.3 degrees, whereas amongst the women professionals it’s +3 degrees. As well, there is an astronomical difference in average clubhead speed, where the women swing on average at 94 mph versus the men at 113 mph. In talking to many coaches who use TrackMan daily and are specialized in understanding the data and ideal numbers, there is a consensus that with the driver the AoA number should remain within the -2 to +2 range. We’ve heard Justin Thomas has a +5 AoA with his driver; however, this is simply not the truth. His average is +1.4 degrees. He perhaps can attain this number and perhaps bombs it when he does, but it is not ideal. This leads to the point of this article. The majority of golfers today who struggle with the game can in essence blame technology (again contrarian), but the question is, why? The club manufacturing industry has led the golfing public to believe longer and forgiving is better. Get your launch angle to 17 degrees, adjust the driver to lower the spin and increase launch, get the ball airborne easily with our secret outer-space alloy strategically placed in a progressive heel-to-toe pattern helping to adjust the COG even while you swing. Let’s call a spade a spade. Modern equipment has helped people tremendously in getting the ball in the air, but has it made them better ball strikers? Of course not. For those who grew up only knowing what a blade iron and wood head were, you get it. The goal of the golf swing is to hit with accuracy and to strike the ball purely in the middle of the face with an iron, making a relatively shallow divot commencing after the ball. Game improvement irons with wide, bouncy soles, low COGs and perimeter weighting have taken this sensation, and I would go as far as saying taking the opportunity away. “The opportunity to do what?” one may ask. It is the opportunity to know what it takes to strike a blade properly – the fine-tuning of one’s swing so it becomes possible. All the competitive players (some quite young) I coach work with a blade. They play with game-improvement irons except for a few; however, they all practice with a blade as a means to develop a better club-ball contact and effective AoA, which will hold them in good stead with every club in the bag. The average female player on the tour, in my opinion, would be well served to perform a similar exercise. With an average +3 AoA with the driver, the path must shift more toward an inside approach to the ball. Although this may help some with lower clubhead speed attain distance, it compromises their ability to hit pure shots again and again from the turf with short and mid-length clubs. The clubhead speed these women attain is quite similar to many male average golfers. I hope this offers some food for thought.