Page 28 - Summer2020GTP
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GENERAL SECTION HEADER
TEACHNG ATHLETIC MOTION
continued from page 24
Granted, there can be some limitations, but mostly
these innate abilities need to be activated or
woken up. There are many thoughts and drills that
one can use to achieve better swing sequencing.
As an instructor, I try to use more active drills and
feelings to achieve swing goals.
For example and thinking out of the box, there
is my son, who is an up-and-coming junior golfer.
He was not quite getting his swing sequencing
where he wanted to be. I simply brought out
a baseball and glove. As we began to throw, I
encouraged him to throw harder and harder. The
next time he hit balls, he instantly felt all of the
swing sequencing described earlier. This positive
result happened without rattling off metrics and
going into a long biophysical explanation to the
student. After all, golf is a results-oriented endeavor,
and most students are looking for results.
As an instructor, I encourage the use of
technology. But more importantly, learn how to
apply the technology to help you convey the
message through active teaching. Technology is
great, but not always really needed. A truly trained
eye and analysis of the ball strike can discern most
impact flaws. Technology only quantifies exact
and metrics, they fail to convey the proper numbers. Students are generally not interested
message to the student. Remember, the golf in the numbers and biomechanics. They are
swing happens in a mere second from the move interested in hitting solid shots and playing better.
away until impact. Think about it: As a kid, did you Learn active drills and exercises that can
analyze where your torso and pelvis centers were help each student of yours reach their maximum
located when you tried to hit a baseball? Did you potential. Keep informed and keep learning new
think about your weight distribution when you threw techniques. However, pay homage to the past,
a ball? Did you think about your center of gravity as nothing is really new in athletic motion. We just
when you started to jump? learn different ways to convey the message. I
Some people have more athletic awareness recently learned a new thing too: I need a better
than others; however, most people have an innate catcher’s mitt and protection from my son’s left-
ability to achieve some level of a golf swing goal. handed fastball!
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Golf Teaching Pro SUMMER 2020
