Hi all
I need to apologize for the lack of posting! I just started a new job in Southampton, NY at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club. Very excited to be out here in a new part of the country. Golf course is beautiful and I am working with a GREAT staff. I will be more active (hopefully) in the future. I have been working on some teaching stuff lately and I am excited to share it with the golf world!
Welcome to Sarah Stone Golf! I am a Class A PGA member and a passionate teacher. I hope to help golfers and teachers alike with their golf. Please enjoy reading my instructional tips!
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Chipping - Tried and True Method
I have found through some research and many years of experience teaching a great way to teach chipping. This method I use mostly for higher handicapped players, 20 and higher but I have had success with this shot for better players. And I use this especially when I am teaching a student new to the game or some difficultly excuting a chip properly. Here's the method:
I have the student set up with a majority of their weight on their left side if they are right handed or
their right side if they are left handed. I also stress that their shoulders should feel level. I say this because some people tend to shift their weight towards their target by bumping their hips towards the target and leaning their spine away from the target, this causes the right shoulder (if they are right handed) to drop and can cause chili dip chips and thin shots. So I ask them to feel level shoulders or feel like their center is over their left foot (if they are right handed) I find this is a big key in being able to excute this shot correctly. The club will travel down and through the ball if their weight is leaning toward their intended target as opposed if they are leaning away from the target the club will be traveling up as it gets to the ball. A club traveling up the ball will cause thin and fat shots and club traveling down to the ball will cause crisp, trapped chip shots. I want their ball position to be in the middle of their narrow stance, hands slightly leaning forward (towards the intended target). I stress to each student that this shot is to spend more time on the ground then in the air. Therefore, there is NO wirst hinge in the shot. I demostrate that I want the clubface at the target the entire time they are swinging. So the hands are leading the club to the ball. I try to show them it's like a putting stroke or a pendulum motion. I tend to start them 10 yards off the green with a nine iron to a target that has a lot of green to work with so that they can see the way the ball rolls along the ground. As they begin to see the roll and they get more comfortable with this set up, I start to back them away from the target and change clubs. I explain that the closer the intended target, the less roll we need, therefore we will only change clubs and not the length of their swing. So when starting a lesson like this I will bring a 9 iron, pitching wedge, sand wedge and a lob wedge. This way they can see how the ball travels in the air and on the ground.
Please let me know if you have success with this method, or have any that have worked well in your teaching!
I have the student set up with a majority of their weight on their left side if they are right handed or
their right side if they are left handed. I also stress that their shoulders should feel level. I say this because some people tend to shift their weight towards their target by bumping their hips towards the target and leaning their spine away from the target, this causes the right shoulder (if they are right handed) to drop and can cause chili dip chips and thin shots. So I ask them to feel level shoulders or feel like their center is over their left foot (if they are right handed) I find this is a big key in being able to excute this shot correctly. The club will travel down and through the ball if their weight is leaning toward their intended target as opposed if they are leaning away from the target the club will be traveling up as it gets to the ball. A club traveling up the ball will cause thin and fat shots and club traveling down to the ball will cause crisp, trapped chip shots. I want their ball position to be in the middle of their narrow stance, hands slightly leaning forward (towards the intended target). I stress to each student that this shot is to spend more time on the ground then in the air. Therefore, there is NO wirst hinge in the shot. I demostrate that I want the clubface at the target the entire time they are swinging. So the hands are leading the club to the ball. I try to show them it's like a putting stroke or a pendulum motion. I tend to start them 10 yards off the green with a nine iron to a target that has a lot of green to work with so that they can see the way the ball rolls along the ground. As they begin to see the roll and they get more comfortable with this set up, I start to back them away from the target and change clubs. I explain that the closer the intended target, the less roll we need, therefore we will only change clubs and not the length of their swing. So when starting a lesson like this I will bring a 9 iron, pitching wedge, sand wedge and a lob wedge. This way they can see how the ball travels in the air and on the ground.
Please let me know if you have success with this method, or have any that have worked well in your teaching!
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Lazy with the blogging!
Alright new year, new posting! I will try to post at least once a week!
Here are some of my favorite golf books I have read that have really influenced my teaching.
On Plane by Jim Hardy
Swing the clubhead by Ernest Jones
Playing Golf by Percy Bloomer
Book of Drills by Jim McLean
Play the Wright Way by Mickie Wright
When I decided 8 years ago that I wanted to become a teaching professional, I asked every teacher I knew to tell me their favorite books about golf. I have read several of these golf books and enjoyed everyone of them. I also spent many hours observing golf lessons. I found this was the most helpful in learning how to become a good instructor. Beside learning from golf professionals, I observed my mom teach music to her young students, and I took private kickboxing lessons. I found taking up a new sport I had never done before would help me to understand frustation my students have on the driving range or golf course. Kickboxing was eyeopening. Not only are you learning how to excute proper kicks and punches, but you have to be aware of your opponent and what they are doing. It took a lot of physical and mental focus. And helped me to be more understanding of my students!
Here are some of my favorite golf books I have read that have really influenced my teaching.
On Plane by Jim Hardy
Swing the clubhead by Ernest Jones
Playing Golf by Percy Bloomer
Book of Drills by Jim McLean
Play the Wright Way by Mickie Wright
When I decided 8 years ago that I wanted to become a teaching professional, I asked every teacher I knew to tell me their favorite books about golf. I have read several of these golf books and enjoyed everyone of them. I also spent many hours observing golf lessons. I found this was the most helpful in learning how to become a good instructor. Beside learning from golf professionals, I observed my mom teach music to her young students, and I took private kickboxing lessons. I found taking up a new sport I had never done before would help me to understand frustation my students have on the driving range or golf course. Kickboxing was eyeopening. Not only are you learning how to excute proper kicks and punches, but you have to be aware of your opponent and what they are doing. It took a lot of physical and mental focus. And helped me to be more understanding of my students!
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