Michael Perry PGA Golf Professional
The best way to learn is with the help of individual lessons. These can range from half an hour to
several hours depending on what is required.
Golfers basically fall into three categories:
Beginners
New golfers are something that I see on a daily basis and you have the best opportunity to take the quickest steps in the right direction. Primarily patience and attention to detail are key. Because the golfer is new to the game, their motor skills for golf are not in place, so the grip, posture and body alignment are essential.
Learning how to aim the club, holding the club in the right way and addressing the ball must be taught so that golfer doesn't miss hit the shot. Patience in learning the first move of the swing is crucial. Too many people want to wrap the club around the back of their heads too quickly, resulting in a lack of consistancy and confidence.
Once the opening move is taught, then the golfer quickly starts to progress from the good foundations set, resulting in enjoying what is happening and with very few miss hits. Obviously all areas of the game need to be taught, but the swing must come first to get this established, then putting, chipping, pitching and the lesson is ready for a par 3 or pitch and putt course. Over time we will introduce more work, which could include the explanar, then learning to play is the next goal.
Most beginners are best having half hour lessons to start before extending to an hour.
Fault finding
This is for the golfers who has played for a while, sometimes with no instruction and wants to improve. The vast majority of people I see can range from no handicap to low single figure players. There really is no set procedure for on going golfers, in that everyone is different. Some require distance, other accuracy and most seek consistancy. After all, its not the amount of good shots you hit, its keeping down the poor shots that's important.
One of the things I like to do when getting rid of faults is to advise a drill. The advantage of this method is to stop the golfer over analysising and to pay attention to a single movement and solve the problem. Hence within weeks, a swing will work how it should.
The other option is to use the explanar golf system. This really is great, the device helps by letting me replace some of my words of instruction, with the sensation of how the swing is meant to feel to you. Also, explanar is precise, so you are learning exactly how to swing, not something close to it. This device can make the swing stronger by working the very muscles needed to swing correctly. Explanar can, with further work help hit the ball not only straight, but with fade, draw and low piercing shots that go through the wind.
Although lessons are usually half an hour, some may find 1 hour lessons more benefical.
Learning to play
This depends on the skill level of the person and how long they have worked in the fault finding section. The lesson could be taking place on the range or the course, or it could be stratagy on the course with the use of mental skills to excel. Maybe learning to play like myself and my fellow pro's and bending the ball to order to find differcult pin position or advanced dogleg play. The options are only a question of time on the game.
A playing lesson lasts 2 hours, although longer can be arranged if required.