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EDITORIAL MARK HARMAN
OF A GOLF TEACHER
By Mark Harman
USGTF Course Director, Ridgeland, South Carolina
to have any success. the clubhead would be. I have them make a
The third is getting the student to swing on whoosh sound, and a lot of students make the
plane, or at least closer to it. It’s ironic, because whoosh before impact. I tell them I want to
Dr. Mann doesn’t believe in swing planes, but hear it at or past impact, and to make it as loud
I’ve found that the closer a student can keep as possible. I will then video them while they
the shaft parallel to the initial shaft plane at are doing this, and visually it’s astounding how
address somewhere in the downswing, the many people make a swing that looks like a
better the ball striking that student will have. low-handicapper’s. I heard this was one of Peter
To help achieve this, I use a U.S. Kids Golf Kostis’ favorite drills, so I’m in good company
measuring stick (just over five feet [152 cm] there. The fourth drill involves having students
long). I hope I can explain this correctly. If the actually throw the club down the target line just
student is right-handed, I will stand to their right after where impact would be. Fred Shoemaker,
so I am along the extension of the target line. a top teacher, is famous for this, and it really
I hold the stick parallel with their stance and drives home the point that the club should be
make them swing back and forward under swung freely through impact.
the stick, which prevents them from coming in In keeping with what drives David Vaught,
too steep into the ball. On rare occasions, I’ve the question is, do I ever give a bad lesson?
had students who swing too flat or too much Unfortunately, I have to believe that I do. When
around their bodies, so they have to swing over I can’t get a student to make the necessary
the stick. This simple training aid has worked changes, right or wrong, I feel that’s on me.
wonders for many of my students. Other teachers have said they have the
The fourth change involves my using four same problem, and I read where even David
new drills. One involves the U.S. Kids Golf Leadbetter said there are students with whom
measuring stick as described earlier. The he can’t help. But still, it gnaws at me that I
second involves hitting shots one-handed with could have – should have – found a way to
the lead hand (left hand for a right-hander). help them. I’ve also had students who have
It’s interesting how weak most people’s lead made the suggested changes but saw no
sides are, and you see it manifested with improvement, or worse yet, regression, in their
the trail right hand and arm dominating the games.
downswing, producing casting and over-the- So please, keep evolving as a teacher. This
top. I sometimes combine this with a drill where is not to say you have to change your core
they let go of the club with the dominant hand convictions about how or what to teach, but
at impact, a drill I’ve long used. strive to learn something new about teaching
The third new drill is having students hold the every now and then. At the end of your career,
club from the wrong end so the grip is where you’ll be amazed at how far you’ve come. w
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SUMMER 2020 Golf Teaching Pro ®
