In 1992 I teamed up with Jeff Johnson, and my teaching team at Golf Park Golf Improvement Centre in Melbourne, Australia and set out to build a series of action definitions of the basics of golf from putt to full swing and then to organise these fundamentals in a step by step program that both students and teachers could build the golf swing from the ground up.

What I would like to do here is take you on a journey of discovery and ask you to share your ideas at each step so that we can all gain a greater perspective on what it takes to become a competent golfer.

My first question to all is;” When you start out to learn to play this game as a beginner, or decide to upgrade your current swing and game, what would the first step be that your instructor would need to introduce you to?”

Please let us see what evolves from this open discussion over the coming weeks.

The grip.

The instructor should tell his or her ‘Magic of the Game’. A personal story about how they learned, why they play, and what the game means to them. It instills the passion of the instructor which will set the stage for a journey of a lifetime. If done right, they will never forget the day they began.

Then putter grip…

First “step”..............I agree…............GRIP

The instructor should tell his or her ‘Magic of the Game’. A personal story about how they learned, why they play, and what the game means to them. It instills the passion of the instructor which will set the stage for a journey of a lifetime. If done right, they will never forget the day they began.

Then putter grip…

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Golf Industry Central

i gree with HP
and dont include the time you spend on the conversation to his 1 hour lesson
i am sure he will appreciate that.

The Law of the Flail.

To that I would add a discussion of the player’s abilities, history, and desires. The original question is three-fold—beginner or swing/game upgrade.

I once had a player ask what I could do for him as a 12 handicap when he only allocated 30 minutes of warm up prior to 1 round per week. It was an interesting dilemma, and through the interview process we found a way to proceed. In 3 months he went to a 7.5.

Everyone is different, with different experiences and different abilities. It’s important to work through the process. While many pros and top players have spent hours upon hours hitting balls and committing to the game, it is the commitment level of the player that needs to be addressed and a program maximized.

Over 200 views,surely there must be more opinions from all here at ISG….........needs to be rebooted

Over 200 views,surely there must be more opinions from all here at ISG……......needs to be rebooted

I guess everyone agrees that its the GRIP.

What does Mr. Croker think?
Lets here from the man himself…

yep

Whether or not it is correct quite often I think one of the most important things in the first lesson is to get the student hitting it better. That way the student trusts that the teacher knows how to make them better and will come back for more lessons.

I think this has to be the case as with so many teaching options available to students the teachers really have to prove in the students mind that they are right for the job. If you changed someones grip in the first lesson (unless they already have a great swing) they will hit the ball terribly and the change most likely wont stick and they wont go back to the pro again…

Whether or not it is correct quite often I think one of the most important things in the first lesson is to get the student hitting it better. That way the student trusts that the teacher knows how to make them better and will come back for more lessons.

I think this has to be the case as with so many teaching options available to students the teachers really have to prove in the students mind that they are right for the job. If you changed someones grip in the first lesson (unless they already have a great swing) they will hit the ball terribly and the change most likely wont stick and they wont go back to the pro again…

peter
if the coach cant get you hitting it better in your first lesson get another coach thats MHO
i am not a believer of you have two take two steps back befor you take one step forward thats a load of rot

The first step would be teaching ball control around a green with a putter and a PW & 8-iron.

Being self taught (so far, with lots of help from this site) i think it’s how to address the ball properly. One of my biggest problems was where the ball should be in my stance and I see it with friends all the time (not that I tell them cause then how would I win?)

Ok well I’m in the Swing/upgrade zone….

My current instructor at the local Driving range knows me quite well from going there and has given me the odd free tip.

But when I set up a series of instructions with him he sent me out to warm up, watched me from front & side then video taped me playing 6i full shots and then we viewed it together.

First he told me what he liked and then showed me what we needed to improve, why it needs to be improved and then we proceed back out to the range, corrected my grip and 1 other part of my swing and gave me some drills to practice it.

So I suppose the grip was his first change he made with my swing upgrade.

Ok well I’m in the Swing/upgrade zone….

My current instructor at the local Driving range knows me quite well from going there and has given me the odd free tip.

But when I set up a series of instructions with him he sent me out to warm up, watched me from front & side then video taped me playing 6i full shots and then we viewed it together.

First he told me what he liked and then showed me what we needed to improve, why it needs to be improved and then we proceed back out to the range, corrected my grip and 1 other part of my swing and gave me some drills to practice it.

So I suppose the grip was his first change he made with my swing upgrade.

2010 22-24-20 H,cap, 2011 20-21-22-21-20-19-18 (16.8 new PB 22/7/11) (Next Goal 15 h,cap & Break 80)
http://www.golflink.com.au/...

Good to hear you are having a crack at improving your swing Node. I am in the same boat. Just out of curiosity did you buy a package of a few lessons?

I watched a TGM guy giving a lesson to a chopper that had a grip stronger than Superman once. He spent the time trying to stop the OTT and didn’t worry about the grip which I thought was a bit weird.

Dear HeadPro,

I think the thread is getting some great viewpoints without my interjection as yet.

I will add to the thread when we have a few more postings.

I am sure others have something to add that will benefit us all.

Sharing successful experiences as to “How to best get started in this journey of a lifetime” is of great value to all students of the game.

Kind regards,

Peter C

OK Peter – I will ad this then, assuming its a new golfer, we often assume our students know more than they do and we dont take the time to give them a tour of the facility, show them how to get range balls, and explain any important club rules. We tend to rush things a bit by going straight into the golf swing. This time spent in building a relationship and making them feel comfortable is time well spent as a new golfer will spend nearly 10 times what an exsisting golfer spend in their first year, this included lessons.

Does anyone in the forum think that the Grip is not the first thing we should teach our students?

Thats like going to the doctor and hearing about his bad back, the lessonee just wants to improve.

How many different ways are there to hold a club?

Which way do you go?

I reckon if there was some way you could instill in a beginner that in golf you don’t hit the ball up, but hit down, that’s the way to go, who cares how they hold it.

In 95% of players I see, including me, the battle is still not trying to hit the ball up. That should be learnt from day 1, putting, chipping, hit down. Keep it conceptual before technical, which grip is technical.

Their grip will probably adjust to hit down on the ball anyhow,,,,,

Just a thought.

FLW chips shots with base ball grip and forward lean shaft that teaches 3 things
lag
impact
aiming point
so first thing would be
POSTURE (hopefully not the stick figure straight back bum out one)

Fos, HP put a video up showing that to perfection.

what? video