• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Mindful Golfer

understanding golf, understanding life

  • Home
  • About
  • What is a Mindful Golfer?
  • Equipment Reviews
    • Teton HxD Hybrid Driver
    • Cleveland XL Lite Launcher Driver
    • PXG 0211 Irons
    • Acu-Strike Golf Impact Training Mats
    • Lag Shot training club
    • MyRoll Two-Color Golf Ball Putting Aid
    • Swingyde wrist training device
    • Orange Whip Trainer
    • Harry Taylor 405 Dimple Wedge
    • LC-1 Linear Compression Trainer
    • IRT-5 Hybrid
    • MISIG–the most important stretch in golf
  • My Take Golf photography
    • Other Published Books
You are here: Home / Golf / The Essence of a Good Lesson

The Essence of a Good Lesson

May 19, 2021 by Stephen Altschuler 2 Comments

As with any instruction, there are lessons which are effective and lessons which are not. I might be a concert pianist today if I stuck with lessons when I was six, but just didn’t connect with the teacher and his methods. On the other hand, my first golf instructor, though far from a top 100, spent a lot of time with me, even after my initial 10 in the package (for a total of 20 bucks!). I was 14 and am still with the game at 75.

Lately, due to a series of serious and persistent physical maladies, I am struggling mightily with my swing. I’ve covered some of the gory details in previous posts but let’s just say I am lining up the club correctly at address but hitting the ball near the hosel at impact, and have no idea why. I have seriously thought about giving up the actual playing of the game. Not knowing when that half shank is coming is kind of like Russian Roulette!

So I tracked down one of the reputed best teachers in the Pacific Northwest: Jack Young at Vanco Range in Vancouver WA. He’s got all the video equipment but more importantly he has an eye for diagnosing what’s going on with a swing almost instantly. Like me, he really didn’t know why my medical conditions would make me stretch my arms out some at impact, other than their resulting weakness from all my treatments and the less rotation of my hips for the same reason, made my arms compensate by screwing up the swing’s proper sequencing. Something along those lines.

So with the wisdom of Solomon, he says, “Move your feet farther from the ball at address and keep your weight almost entirely on your left side (for an iron) throughout the swing;” which I did and proceeded to hit several more shanks. “No, farther;” which I did and proceeded again to shank the ball.  “Even farther and keep that weight on the forward foot,” Jack urged. By now, I was so far from the ball, that my feet were almost off the mat, and my arms were straighter than Mo Norman’s at address. “This feels pretty strange, Jack,” I protested. “Right, ” he replied, hardly hearing me.

Pointing out and showing me on video that my swing was basically OK, he then said, “Now slow your swing coming down.” He explained that the goal was to hit the ball squarely in the middle of the clubface. Sure enough, the next shot felt solid and sailed out straight, high, and true.

“Good hit,” said Jack. “Try another.” And sure enough, to my delight, the same lovely result.

“Now you’re getting it,” he said.

Two more like that and essentially the lesson was over. Without applying any cookie cutter swing fundamentals, Jack Young had deciphered what I, as an individual, needed to correct my faults.

And that, dear readers, is the essence of a good lesson. Jack did not try to fit me into a preconceived notion of what he thought a good golf swing should be. His solution to my problem was much more creative and fluid than that–a solution that he thought another pro would probably try to change if he had the chance.

So, was I cured? Not sure yet. I need more trials, and probably errors, to see if it holds up. And maybe more sessions with Jack Young to have that trained and experienced and creative eye get me back on track. But what I know has been restored is hope–hope that I can once again consistently experience that sound, feel, and sight of a well struck golf shot. That always has been what drew me to this game in the first place…and still does.

***

With a grand prize of an authentic Philly Italian Water Ice on the line, my brother takes Jordan Spieth and I,  Cam Smith, for the PGA. Who you got?

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)

Filed Under: backswing, Balance, Confidence in golf, Downswing, Famous Golfers, Fundamentals, Golf, golf and the mind, Golf Improvement, Golf professional, golf values, inspiration in golf, mental game, Owning your swing, pace, Slowing down, Suggestions for golf, Swing tips, The Downswing, The Majors, The PGA Tagged With: golf lessons, Jack Young, Vanco

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jim Stewart says

    May 19, 2021 at 9:27 pm

    My perpetual swing bugaboo is swinging too hard. When I’m easy and loose, my results are much better. Actually birdied the ninth today. Not swinging too hard has been a very difficult problem for me to solve. All too often, my body has a hard time paying attention.

    I would love it if Jordan wins this week. But I have a feeling Rory will prevail. Bryson also has a shot, with the length he brings to the elongated layout. Number 13 just may prove who’s the winner. Who knows? It’s a very enigmatic major.

    Reply
    • Stephen Altschuler says

      May 20, 2021 at 9:19 am

      As this teacher pointed out to me, Jim, the main challenge of any golfer is to find that swing speed that allows you to strike the clubface squarely in the middle every time. The sweet spot, as we affectionately know it by. Bobby Jones used to replace the insert on his driver four times a year because he was so accurate at hitting that spot. So there’s the barometer: the solidity of strike.
      As for the PGA–yes, a very enigmatic major from winners Rors to Shawn Micheel. I’d say any of 20 or so guys could win this thing. Should be fun.
      Thanks for commenting, and good luck in finding and keeping that elusive speed and pace.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

This Blog is written by the author of the books The Mindful Golfer, and Into the Woods…and Beyond.

Never miss a Golf Post

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Most Popular Posts!

  • The Art of Holding Off at Impact
  • The Key Downswing Move
  • The Key Move
  • The Key Backswing Move
  • My Left Wrist: A key to consistent and powerful golf
  • Boxing for Better Golf

Make a Donation

A donation, either one-time or monthly, would be greatly appreciated to help keep this blog going. To date, I've accepted no advertising. Thanks so much for your consideration and generosity.

Search this Blog

Recent Posts

  • Another Piece of the Distance Puzzle March 8, 2023
  • And with Motion Hopefully Comes Proper Rhythm and Pace March 1, 2023
  • No Thought Golf February 4, 2023
  • Adding Distance, Consistency, and Confidence January 23, 2023
  • The Practice of No Practice January 8, 2023
  • Achieving Consistent Impact December 11, 2022

Archives on this Golf Blog

Recommended Links

  • Bonkers Fore Golf
  • ECCO shoes
  • Flashsport.com
  • Golf Clubs.com
  • Golf in the Kingdom / The Movie
  • Golf Online
  • Golf State of Mind
  • Golf WRX
  • Golf-Newz
  • Great B&B in St Andrews, Scotland
  • Live
  • Live Golf Scores
  • Peerless Golf Experience
  • Positive Mental Imagery
  • Putting Lines
  • Shivas Irons Society
  • Talking Golf Online
  • The Mindful Hiker
  • Travel Golf Blogs
  • World Golf Blogs

Footer

Copyright © 2023 · Genesis Sample on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in