An Instant Golf Lesson

There is a principal reason why this instant golf lesson can be hailed as the perfect lesson. It is at least nine times (3x3) more effective because trainer and student use three senses instead of one ...

There is no easy way to explain what it entails, so I will relay to you how I carry this out with Leela and all of my students.

I always insist that at the start of a practice session (whether it's a lesson or not) a golfer should first check that he/she is swinging with good rhythm and timing.

My students always forget this crucial and simple bit of advice so I'll say it again ...

And it's as easy as counting to five. Please note that everyone has their own particular in-built rhythm or melody and they quickly find this with the following exercise.

So get out to the practice ground and give it a go:

"One-two-threeeeeeee-foouurr-five."

• "One-two-three" = backswing.
• "ee" = transition period (end of backswing, start of downswing).
• "eeee" = downswing.
• "foouurr" = sweeping the ball away.
• "five" = end of the followthrough.

The words: "One-two-threeeeeeee-foouurr-five." are for hearing and feeling the rhythm. The most important word for timing is four.

• When and how did you say the word: "foouurr?"
• Did you have any problem saying "five?"
• Was "foouurr" said with strain or in a relatively smooth sweeping voice?
• When was "One-two-three" completed on the backswing (early, on time or late?)
• Did "eeeeee" flow or did it sound strained?

There are many more questions that can be asked and if you work on this for a few swings you will find them for yourself.

This session is much more effective if you have a partner who can listen to how you are saying or singing these words. His feedback can be invaluable.

For example, you say "I felt that I said "foouurr" much smoother that time." And your partner would say something like "Yes, I agree."

It is however quite common for the two sets of feedback to vary considerably.

My students normally find their optimum rhythm and timing within a few swings and they can then move onto something else like enjoying the results of this.

So why does this method have a huge advantage over any other lesson?

As a coach I am able to use three senses during this feedback: I'm seeing, hearing and feeling what is happening when my student swings.

Most coaches only watch what their students are doing and therefore have activated only their sense of observation. And their students have only partially, at best, activated their senses of sight and feel.

That's why most coaches say things like, "That looked a little fast" or "You are overswinging" or "Your downswing looks a little uncomfortable."

And the students can only say things like "That felt wrong" or "My swing feels out of sorts" or my personal favourite when they say "What did I do wrong?" after making a swing where they haven't got a clue what they felt.

So, come on, fully activate at least three senses when you are swinging/practicing and enable your partner or coach to do the same.

I hear these words inside my head just as clearly when I don't say them out loud for a partner, so there is no excuse for not doing this.

To finish let me mention one of the sweetest and smoothest skills most of us would ever want to master. Dancing. And dancers learn their art by counting and then later only need a melody to perform their heavenly moves.

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