First lesson: Laying the foundation
The primary goal is to build rapport and assess the student's goals and abilities.
Initial interview: Begin with a conversation covering the student's golf history, athletic background, physical limitations, and expectations. This establishes trust and helps you understand their learning style.
Fundamental skills: Introduce and master the most basic elements. Expect to spend most of the lesson on these concepts.
Grip: Ensure the student is holding the club correctly and comfortably. This is the starting point for all other movements.
Posture and stance: Teach the proper athletic posture and stance to provide a stable base for the swing.
Alignment: Introduce the concept of aiming the clubface and body parallel to the target line.
Introduction to putting: For many students, the best way to start is with the smallest, most manageable swing motion.
Cover basic putting technique, including grip, posture, and aim.
Use drills to develop a consistent stroke for short putts.
Key takeaways: Reinforce 1-2 core concepts and provide a simple practice plan. Emphasize that progress takes time and consistent effort.
Stack and Tilt backswing:
The lower body remains largely in place with a slight forward weight bias.
The backswing is a centered turn, with the hips rotating on a tilted plane and the left shoulder moving down and around.
The head stays in position, and the chest extends and points horizontally to the ground during the turn.
Arm and swing path drills:
Drills focus on keeping the trail arm (right arm) from moving across the body, ensuring the club works in a better arc.
Placing an alignment stick can help ensure the swing path and club face are working together correctly.
Improving strike and direction:
A drill focuses on creating a wide takeaway and maintaining that width throughout the swing.
The goal is to feel the chest move over the ball during the downswing to promote a more leftward swing path.
Effortless acceleration:
A two-finger grip drill can help the golfer focus on moving the grip end in a curved path, which naturally accelerates the club head.
Understanding power (The 3 Ps):
Focus on pressure, pivot, and pull to create effortless speed.
A pressure shift to the back foot is matched with body rotation (pivot) to create a pull on the club handle.
Third lesson: Full swing and strategy
The third lesson can introduce the full swing with irons and begin incorporating course management concepts.
Refine the full swing:
Start with the short iron swing from the previous lesson and gradually introduce a mid-iron.
Focus on developing a smooth takeaway and controlled rotation, emphasizing rhythm over aggressive hitting.
Use video analysis to show the student their swing and provide specific feedback on one or two key areas.
Introduce the driver: Once the student shows competence with iron strikes, you can introduce the driver, again stressing rhythm and solid contact over distance.
Course strategy and etiquette: Begin to teach the mental side of the game.
Explain basic rules and etiquette to make them comfortable on the course.
Introduce basic course management, such as aiming for the center of the green instead of the flag.
Preparation for on-course play: This lesson can serve as a bridge to playing a few holes on the course. Encourage the student to play a few holes as part of their practice to apply their new skills in a realistic setting.
Second lesson: Consistency and short game
In the second lesson, review the first lesson and expand on short game skills.
Review and reinforcement:
Begin by asking about the student's practice since the last lesson.
Briefly review the grip, posture, and putting concepts to reinforce the muscle memory.
Focus on chipping and pitching: These are the next progression from putting, using a slightly longer motion.
Chipping: Introduce the smaller, pendulum-like motion used around the green. Focus on clean contact and consistency over distance.
Pitching: Progress to a slightly longer swing for shots into the green. Teach a few key yardages for a consistent approach.
Introduce a shorter club full swing: Use a wedge or short iron to introduce the basic full swing motion, focusing on rhythm and balance rather than power.
Structured practice: Provide clear drills and a structured practice plan that includes a mix of warm-ups, technical work, and simulated on-course situations. This helps the student make meaningful progress between lessons.