Teaching Beginning Golf Dr. Scott Colclough Middle Tennessee State University Dr. Mike Hall University of North Alabama Stuart Currie, ABD Middle Tennessee State University

Introduction Teaching Cues Teaching Cues Sources of equipment Sources of equipment Resources & references Resources & references

Safety Equipment Equipment Clubs should be in satisfactory working order. Clubs should be in satisfactory working order. Check: club head, shafts, grips. Check: club head, shafts, grips. Proper attire: clothing and footwear. Proper attire: clothing and footwear. Weather: 1 st sign of thunder and lightning remove players from course. Seek shelter Weather: 1 st sign of thunder and lightning remove players from course. Seek shelter

Range Visits Try and limit numbers Try and limit numbers Space: Side and behind Space: Side and behind Make sure players are level or slightly behind one another Make sure players are level or slightly behind one another Everybody hits in the same direction Everybody hits in the same direction Retrieve balls only under Coach’s instruction. Retrieve balls only under Coach’s instruction.

Golf Terms Par Par Defined: The number of strokes it should take to complete the hole. Defined: The number of strokes it should take to complete the hole. How do you come up with par: 2 putts on every green, yardage, and hazards How do you come up with par: 2 putts on every green, yardage, and hazards Average par for 18 holes:72 (36 putts 18x2) Average par for 18 holes:72 (36 putts 18x2)

Golf Terms Scoring Scoring Ace: Hole in one Ace: Hole in one Eagle: 2 strokes under par Eagle: 2 strokes under par Birdie: 1 stroke under par Birdie: 1 stroke under par Par: Score a very good player would expect to make on a hole Par: Score a very good player would expect to make on a hole Bogey: 1 stroke over par (good for the average golfer) Bogey: 1 stroke over par (good for the average golfer) Double Bogey: 2 strokes over par Double Bogey: 2 strokes over par

Putting (½ the game) Dave Pelz: Dave Pelz: 80% of the strokes golfers lose to par are determined by their play within 100 yards of the green. 80% of the strokes golfers lose to par are determined by their play within 100 yards of the green.

Putting Grip: Palms on opposing sides, thumbs down shaft,(r-handers)slide right hand down & place left index finger over right pinkie or extend your left finger index finger over the fingers of your right hand. Grip: Palms on opposing sides, thumbs down shaft,(r-handers)slide right hand down & place left index finger over right pinkie or extend your left finger index finger over the fingers of your right hand. Stance: Feet shoulder width apart, eyes over ball, blade of club square to putt line Stance: Feet shoulder width apart, eyes over ball, blade of club square to putt line Wrist : Take the wrists out of play Wrist : Take the wrists out of play Rhythm & Tempo: Tic-Toc, same speed for all putts, everyone is different find your tempo Rhythm & Tempo: Tic-Toc, same speed for all putts, everyone is different find your tempo Pace: Get it close, think of the hole as being 3- foot in diameter rather than 4.25 inches! Pace: Get it close, think of the hole as being 3- foot in diameter rather than 4.25 inches!

Coaching at the Range Where do I start?? Organization Organization Safety Safety What is the ball doing? fading/slicing, drawing/hooking, topping/fatting What is the ball doing? fading/slicing, drawing/hooking, topping/fatting What is the club doing? Shut/open What is the club doing? Shut/open What is the body doing? Reverse pivoting, swaying, under/over rotation. What is the body doing? Reverse pivoting, swaying, under/over rotation.

How to correct and What to Check?? Observation: Side and behind Observation: Side and behind Demonstration: You show Demonstration: You show Instruction: Minimal, key points Instruction: Minimal, key points Check: Grip, stance, posture, alignment, backswing, impact, follow through, finish. Check: Grip, stance, posture, alignment, backswing, impact, follow through, finish.

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

How to grip the club (irons & woods) Grips ( pressure should never be tight) Grips ( pressure should never be tight) Vardon grip: right pinkie overlaps the left index finger Vardon grip: right pinkie overlaps the left index finger Ten-finger/ baseball grip: place all ten fingers on the club Ten-finger/ baseball grip: place all ten fingers on the club Interlocking: interlock the right pinkie and left index finger Interlocking: interlock the right pinkie and left index finger

Address POSTURE POSTURE Athletic position Athletic position Knees slightly bent Knees slightly bent Bend from the waist Bend from the waist Arms hang down naturally Arms hang down naturally

Address STANCE STANCE Feet shoulder width apart Feet shoulder width apart Toes pointing slightly out Toes pointing slightly out Weight distributed Weight distributed Weight distributed on the balls of each foot. Weight distributed on the balls of each foot. 1.Square stance- aiming towards target 1.Square stance- aiming towards target 2.Closed stance- aiming right of target 2.Closed stance- aiming right of target 3.Open stance- aiming left of target 3.Open stance- aiming left of target

Address ALIGNMENT ALIGNMENT Feet should be parallel to the target (square stance). Feet should be parallel to the target (square stance). Align club to ball using intermediate target (T), club face square, align body Align club to ball using intermediate target (T), club face square, align body Toe line should be parallel to target line Toe line should be parallel to target line

Address Drills Hand shake drill: Three people needed, the person in the middle turns and shakes hands with the two people facing him Hand shake drill: Three people needed, the person in the middle turns and shakes hands with the two people facing him Heavy box drill: same as above, pretend you are handing each person a very heavy box Heavy box drill: same as above, pretend you are handing each person a very heavy box

Address Drills Place two golf clubs down on the ground pointing towards the intended target. One golf club should represent the ball to target line and should be pointing directly towards the target. The second club should represent your feet to target line and should run parallel with the first club. Imagine a railway track running towards your intended target. Place two golf clubs down on the ground pointing towards the intended target. One golf club should represent the ball to target line and should be pointing directly towards the target. The second club should represent your feet to target line and should run parallel with the first club. Imagine a railway track running towards your intended target. The golf club should be square to the target and positioned just inside the leading foot. The golf club should be square to the target and positioned just inside the leading foot.

Address - Setup & Pre-swing Routine Setup & Pre-swing Routine Setup & Pre-swing Routine Select club Select club Intermediate target (12-18 inches in front and behind ball) Intermediate target (12-18 inches in front and behind ball) Align club to ball using intermediate target (T), club face square, align body Align club to ball using intermediate target (T), club face square, align body Toe line should be parallel to target line Toe line should be parallel to target line

The golf swing can be broken down into six stages with cues: * Keys of success have been developed with the right handed golfer in mind. Left handed golfers should follow the instruction but reverse the instruction hints. * Keys of success have been developed with the right handed golfer in mind. Left handed golfers should follow the instruction but reverse the instruction hints. (You can substitute “front” and “rear” verses “left” and “right”). (You can substitute “front” and “rear” verses “left” and “right”). 1. Backswing 1. Backswing 2. Top of Backswing 2. Top of Backswing 3. Transition 3. Transition 4. Impact 4. Impact 5. Follow through 5. Follow through 6. Finish 6. Finish

Swing Check Points: 1. BACKSWING: CUES pass the heavy box, hand shake Halfway position: Halfway position: Shoulders turn on a flat plane to 45 degrees Shoulders turn on a flat plane to 45 degrees Shoulders rotate as the arms turn to hip height Shoulders rotate as the arms turn to hip height Left arm is extended but relaxed Left arm is extended but relaxed Right arm is bent and the right elbow is pointing down to the ground Right arm is bent and the right elbow is pointing down to the ground Target hand is facing away from the body Target hand is facing away from the body Toe of the club is pointing up towards the sky Toe of the club is pointing up towards the sky Stay within the posture position Stay within the posture position

Swing Check Points: 2. TOP BACKSWING: CUES – club parallel Shoulders have turned through 90 degrees. Left shoulder has turned under chin Shoulders have turned through 90 degrees. Left shoulder has turned under chin Wrists have broken and arms are extended away from the body Wrists have broken and arms are extended away from the body Right elbow is pointing down to the ground Right elbow is pointing down to the ground Hips have turned through 45 degrees Hips have turned through 45 degrees Weight has transferred onto the right foot (40-60) Weight has transferred onto the right foot (40-60) Remain within the posture position Remain within the posture position Right knee remains flexed Right knee remains flexed

Swing Check Points: 3.TRANSITION: CUES –heel press Transfer of weight from the back foot occurs with the leading knee separating away from the back knee Transfer of weight from the back foot occurs with the leading knee separating away from the back knee Leading shoulder moves away and out Leading shoulder moves away and out Club drops down and the right elbow moves in front of the right hip Club drops down and the right elbow moves in front of the right hip Weight continues to transfer over onto the left side Weight continues to transfer over onto the left side

Swing Check Points: 4. IMPACT: CUES –pop the towel Is a mirror image of the address position except the hips have cleared and the weight has transferred onto the left foot Is a mirror image of the address position except the hips have cleared and the weight has transferred onto the left foot Spine angle should mirror the spine angle at address Spine angle should mirror the spine angle at address Staggered start Staggered start

Swing Check Points: 5. FOLLOW THROUGH: CUES – kiss the knees The momentum of the previous movements will continue to turn the body through the golf ball. The momentum of the previous movements will continue to turn the body through the golf ball. Half way check point: Half way check point: The follow through should mirror the back swing checkpoint The follow through should mirror the back swing checkpoint Toe of the golf club should be pointing in the air Toe of the golf club should be pointing in the air Arms extended away from the body Arms extended away from the body Right shoulder should be moving under the chin Right shoulder should be moving under the chin Weight distributed onto the left side Weight distributed onto the left side

Swing Check Points: 6. FINISH: CUES –golf trophy Weight has moved onto the left side Weight has moved onto the left side Body has turned through the ball, so that the belly button is parallel to the target line Body has turned through the ball, so that the belly button is parallel to the target line Toe of the right foot should be pointing into the ground with the heel raised off Toe of the right foot should be pointing into the ground with the heel raised off Arms are high and relaxed by the left ear Arms are high and relaxed by the left ear

Which club should you use? Average Distance Men Women Average Distance Men Women Driver Driver wood wood iron iron iron iron PW PW

Golf Swing Training Aids Broom Broom Medicus: club feathering a hinge which is engineered to bend whenever a flaw occurs Medicus: club feathering a hinge which is engineered to bend whenever a flaw occurs Assist: training grip, precision bent shaft, weighted club head Assist: training grip, precision bent shaft, weighted club head Shotsavers, Inc. – Training Aids & Devices Shotsavers, Inc. – Training Aids & Devices Catalog – Golf around the World Catalog – Golf around the World

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

Websites  USGA.comPGA.com LPGA.comwebsites2004.com/golf LPGA.comwebsites2004.com/golf shotsavers.com/shotsaver/teaching shotsavers.com/shotsaver/teaching Sports Equipment  Sportime  Gopher

Elementary Rubric: Putting GoodOkay Not Yet Grip Stance Alignment Tic-Toc

Secondary Rubric: Swing ExcellentOkay Not Yet Grip Stance Alignment Swing -Back -Top -Transition -Impact -Foll Thru -Finish

AGES GOLF Scott Sharron Scott Sharron PO Box PO Box Verona, WI Verona, WI Equipment provided for use and demonstration by Mr. Scott Sharron & Mr. Mike Heller Equipment provided for use and demonstration by Mr. Scott Sharron & Mr. Mike Heller