Ben Hogan, PGA Fairfax, Virginia

Lesson Concepts

Ben Hogan once said “Golf is not a game of good shots, its a game of bad shots”. What Mr. Hogan meant by this is simple. The game of golf is best played by minimizing the amount of bad shots hit during a round & minimizing the distance they are hit off target. This principle is the core of my teaching philosophies.

A typical full swing/short game lesson:
*A quick discussion of what the student would like to improve on and their physical limitations.
*An equipment check as the student warms up.
*Watch the student hit balls at given targets as if they were playing on the course.
*Explain their swing type and how to improve what they have.
*Give demonstrations/drills and insure the student fully understands what to work on.
*Observe the student as they practice and reinforce the proper movements.
*Allow the student to give & receive feedback on what they will practice.
*Answer any questions and schedule the following lesson.

For most of my students, improving their bad shots does not include a swing overhaul. The majority of golfers do not have the time it takes to grove a “textbook” swing, but with proper instruction and quality practice, realistic goals can be reached.

A typical putting lesson
*A quick discussion of what the student would like to improve on and their physical limitations.
*Check to see if their putter matches their stroke type.
*Observe the student putt to different length cups and note their natural tendencies.
*Observe their routine and how they read a putt.
*Give any mechanical recommendations/drills to improve their stroke.
*The student will verbally tell me what they are thinking as they putt to given cups.
*Give positive mental drills and eliminate any unnecessary thoughts.
*Allow the student to give & receive feedback on what they will practice.
*Answer any questions and schedule the following lesson.

I’m not big on putting mechanics, I wont change anything that doesn’t need changing. Although I may give mechanical drills to sharpen a student’s stroke, I believe golfers benefit far more by sharpening their mind.

These lesson examples will give you an idea of what to expect, but every player is different in one way or another. I tailor every lesson based on my students goals and their learning styles.

Side notes:

I believe in “practicing what you preach”. If I can’t preform a certain drill or movement, then how can I expect my students to do the same?

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