CEgolf.com
Casey Eberting Golf Schools and Golf Instruction
In Texas Hill Country between San Antonio and Austin, Texas
(40 minutes north of San Antonio International Airport)
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CE Golf Schools—Casey Eberting's San Antonio CE Golf Schools and Private San Antonio CE Golf Schools
Q & A - Page 2
Q & A Page 2 Table of Contents
You want me to fix your swing problem?
What are the most important parts of the swing?
So you want to be a golf instructor?
Q.
Hogan's fundamentals was my first instructional book in 1965.I didn't get it then and still haven't.Your comment about getting the mental image is right for me.I have enjoyed success at several sports, always having the mental image first, then getting the feel.
Let me know about your next golf vacation!I'd like to join in.Tom.
A. Tom,
Thanks for visiting my site and thanks for your interest in my Golf Vacation Seminar.
As for being baffled by Ben Hogan's book, you're not alone. Many golfers don't get what Hogan was trying to teach. The truth is, what Hogan had to say was very clear and concise, and I would be willing to bet that you did understand what he was saying. The problem is, Hogan talks of the golf swing from his point of view—he doesn't warn anyone of the potential errors that they need to watch for as they try to learn the fundamentals.
Take the swing plane, for example. Hogan discusses the swing plane, but doesn't tell how to get the club into plane. Many golfers working on their backswing plane will often, and unknowingly, practice the movement with just their arms—after all, it is the arms that are responsible for putting the club into plane. The problem is, an arm swing has no power. When the golfer tries to hit a ball his or her normal distance, they unconsciously add shoulder turn to the backswing motion. The combination of trying to put the club in plane and the shoulder turn, which they had not accounted for, tends to take the club way inside of the correct plane—a position that is very difficult to hit from. While the club is going back way too far inside, the golfer mistakenly thinks he or she is learning how to swing in a correct plane.
Knowing the potential problems that exist, why do I recommend Hogan's book so highly? The truth is, what I highly recommend is that every golfer find a good instructor who can help them with Hogan's fundamentals and to use the Hogan book as a supplement to the instruction. As a distant second choice, I recommend the Hogan book to golfers who can't, or won't, find a good instructor.
I'll put you on my mailing list for future Golf Vacation Seminars—as soon I schedule the next few, I'll let you know.
Again, thanks for stopping by.
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Q.
Thank you for your website; I found myself agreeing with your philosophy.Interestingly, your approach to learning applies to most anything - any sport, musical instrument, and even mastery of academic subjects.
My question to you:What are the best steps for a total beginner to take in order to learn golf properly?I have practically no knowledge of the game of golf, various swings/shots, and no bad habits to unlearn.I am committed to learning the fundamentals, but would also like to get out on a real golf course without embarrassment, and without bothering others.Do you recommend instruction once a month, or perhaps one of the golf schools by way of instruction.If I can only practice at a range on weekends, how long will it be until I have the fundamentals started to allow me to get out on a course?
Thank you,
Gayle
A. Gayle,
I know it's asking a lot, but I suggest you read the pages of my web site until you have a basic understanding of each page (some pages will require several visits). Once you have a basic understanding, you can then begin to formulate a strategy for learning the game. The main thing you want to do as a beginner is avoid learning improper swing fundamentals, or bad habits! What most people don't realize is that many bad habits come from improper golf instruction, so be careful.
Learning the golf swing
As a beginner, you probably won't be able to tell the difference between a good instructor and a bad instructor, so I would recommend that you buy the paperback version of Ben Hogan's "Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals Of Golf" and use the book as your teacher. Use a mirror or a large window to check your positions with that of pictures in the book. Most of your learning should be done at home, or the office if you have privacy. Practice whatever it is your trying to learn for at least 10 minutes (the longer the better) as often as you can, preferably every day, until you can do it without thinking about it (this may be three weeks, or it may be three months). When you get to the end of the book, start again from the beginning. Repeat this process forever—you can always do it better.
Practicing at the range
When you're comfortable with a proper grip and stance, go to the driving range as soon and as often as you can. for the majority of your shots, don't think about your golf swing—you're learning that while swinging at home and at the office. What you are doing at the driving range is developing coordination and a feel for the golf swing. At first, your goal will be to make consistent contact with the ball (you may miss the ball more often than you hit it, don't worry, that is not unusual). When you can get the ball in the air consistently, you then want to concentrate on hitting each shot to a very specific target.
Playing Golf
When you can hit the ball with consistency on the range, start playing golf on executive or short (par 3) courses with friends who can show you proper golf etiquette. DO NOT LET THEM TEACH YOU ANYTHING ABOUT THE GOLF SWING—THEY WILL TRY TO HELP BUT THERE IS A VERY GOOD CHANCE THAT THEY MAY DO SOME SERIOUS DAMAGE TO YOUR SWING IF YOU LET THEM! When playing golf, never think about your swing. It should always be Target, Target, Target!
If you follow this strategy you should improve quickly, relatively speaking—golf is a very difficult game, so be patient.
Thanks for your question. Good luck with your golf and remember—be patient.
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Q.
I play to a 6-10 handicap but the last 2 years I've been having trouble with "toe shots," especially with the woods—fairway & tee shots.The shot looks like a shank!That bad!I've worked on strengthening my grip.Doesn't seem to help.I do feel I'm hitting from the top but can't get out of that bad habit. I also don't feel I'm coming into the ball powerfully—my hands don't release correctly.In short, I push terribly or pull (over-the-top) badly.Any help would be appreciated.
Secondly, even with good iron shots—straight and powerful—my divot points left. It's like I have two swings, one for woods and the other for irons.
Admittedly, I'm an upper-body swinger.Never have had good leg action.In my 40's now and have played for over 20 years.Had best results with Jack N. old swing—high hands and upright.Seem to have best results with "dipping" my left shoulder down upon take-away but tends to make me hit with glancing blows.I feel all tangled-up.
In short, I need help with toed shots, weak shots, and pulls.
Would appreciate any help you could give me.Thanks.
A.
Sorry I couldn't reply sooner. As for your question about your golf swing, let me begin by saying that it is just about impossible to diagnose swing faults without being able to see the swing. If you really examine what you are asking, you'll see that you want me to give you some band-aid cure to your swing. If you've read all of the pages on my site you should know that I don't believe in band-aid golf instruction (you usually end up trading one bad habit for another).
You may be wondering how I came up with the idea that you are asking for band-aid advice. Simple. You want me to tell you to fix something in your swing so that you don't toe and pull shots, as if there is one thing, and one thing only, that is wrong.
The golf swing is a sequence of interdependent events that begin with the address position and end with the follow through. If you change one thing in your swing, it will have an effect on other parts of your swing as well—you can't change just one thing and assume that everything else will remain the same. A corollary to this is that if one of your swing fundamentals is bad, there will be others that are bad as well.
In other words, if I were to rate several individual points from your swing sequence, it would definitely not be like this: good, good, good, good, bad, good, good, good. In reality, the single event that I rated as bad would have an influence over the good events that preceed and follow it. They in turn, would have an influence over the events that precede and follow them, etc. For the previous example to be more realistic, it might go something like this: good, OK, slightly worse, worse, bad, bad, slightly better, OK.
It is for this reason that I stress fundamentals. Work on your entire golf swing, not just one swing flaw. If you can't find a good instructor, get Hogan's book Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals Of Golf and pay particular attention to the swing plane. You can swing on a more upright plane than Hogan recommends if you feel that it is necessary, but make sure your club stays in (or below) the plane you have chosen.
I wish I could give you just one single thought that would pop you out of your troubles, but I can't. Good Luck.
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Q. DEAR GOLF INSTRUCTOR
I AM INTERESTED IN GOLF SCHOOLS. HAVING READ THE COMMENTS OF YOU AND YOUR READERS I AM CONFUSED. DO YOU RECOMMEND ANY GOLF SCHOOLS? I PLAN TO ATTEND A 3 DAY SEMINER IN FEB PREFERABLY IN FL. ANY SUGGESTIONS?
STEVE
A. Steve,
If you are going to attend any golf schools, find one that has good instructors. I suggest going to one of the golf schools of a famous instructor, i.e., David Leadbetter, Jimmy Ballard, or Jim McClean (these three popped into my head first). Of course, I do highly recommend my San Antonio and San Diego CE Golf Schools [no longer offered] as well, but they aren't in Florida. Ask how involved the main instructor will be with your class—Most big name instructors are so busy you may never see them.
Another thing to consider is that you will be trying to physically, rather than mentally, learn an entire golf swing in three days. It can't be done! Instead, take plenty of notes (even when getting instruction on the practice tee) and put all emphasis on comprehending the material rather than on making it happen in your swing. When you return home, plan to work on what you have learned for at least one year and don't give up no matter how frustrating it gets.
Do I recommend schools? As I said on my web page, they can be a lot of fun but if you aren't prepared to handle the information overload, you'll quickly forget everything you learn. I suggest you thoroughly study what I have to say on my web pages so you will know how to apply what you do learn.
Most people waste their time at golf schools because they aren't prepared and don't know what to expect. Don't let that happen to you. Good Luck.
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Q.
i was wondering if you can tell me the most important steps in a swing. I also wondered if you can tell some helpful tips, because i visited your web site and it didn't say what I waslooking for.
thanks G.
A. G.
I don't write about the mechanics of the golf swing for two reasons. First, it is very difficult to learn how to swing by reading about it. The second reason is that Ben Hogan has already put it in writing in his book Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals Of Golf.
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Q. Hello
I'm interested in golf schools that certify instructors. Are you aware of any or able to refer me to any?
Thank you
Kelly
A. Kelly,
I have seen advertisements for at least one school that claims to certify instructors (I think it was in the classified section of Golf Digest). The problem with this is that there really is no accepted certification process. I assume (I really don't know anything about it) what is happening here is that a few people got together and thought that they could make some money by creating their own certification process.
If you are interested in becoming an instructor you can do as most do—get a job as an apprentice in a golf shop. If you can break 80 you'll probably be teaching in less than 18 months. If you have connections at a practice facility, ask if you can teach there. Neither of these methods require any certification (I wouldn't spend any money to get certified!).
Like I said, if you're like most instructors, you'll follow one of these two paths, but may I suggest another way. If you haven't done so already, pick an instructor whom you believe to be the best in the world and start taking lessons from them. You'll probably have to move and get a job (try to find work in a golf shop so that you will have free access to a course and practice tee). What you will learn from the instructor will be well worth the trouble.
After you have become completely familiar with the swing fundamentals of that instructor, ask if you can join his or her teaching staff. You will almost assuredly be turned down but don't get discouraged—all you're really trying to do at this point is let them know that you are interested in working for them. Keep taking lessons and keep asking. With persistence you will eventually make it—this is when you will begin to learn how to be a true Teaching Professional!
Good luck.
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Contents—descriptions and links to the varied topics at CEgolf.com
CE Golf Schools—Casey Eberting's San Antonio CE Golf Schools and Private San Antonio CE Golf Schools
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