I'm not sure if this is the best place for this, but I wasn't sure where else to put it.
I have been studying and learning the Golfing Machine for the past 2 1/2 years. I have been fortunate to study a great depth under Mr. David Orr, and have spent some time with Martin Hall, Mike Bender, Yoda, and Jeff Hull.
In about 2 weeks I will begin a new job and finally get a chance to teach all the information that I have been learning. I know the knowledge I have is far better than most young teachers in my situation.
However, I still feel a bit nervous about beginning to teach. I'm just wondering if any of you have advice to share.
Where to start with a new student, what to look for first, some areas that you have found have the most improvement in the shortest time????
I'm not sure if this is the best place for this, but I wasn't sure where else to put it.
I have been studying and learning the Golfing Machine for the past 2 1/2 years. I have been fortunate to study a great depth under Mr. David Orr, and have spent some time with Martin Hall, Mike Bender, Yoda, and Jeff Hull.
In about 2 weeks I will begin a new job and finally get a chance to teach all the information that I have been learning. I know the knowledge I have is far better than most young teachers in my situation.
However, I still feel a bit nervous about beginning to teach. I'm just wondering if any of you have advice to share.
Where to start with a new student, what to look for first, some areas that you have found have the most improvement in the shortest time????
Any ideas are welcome, Thanks!
always learning,
-Carl Spackler
Manage the student's expectations - Underpromising what they can achieve and helping them overachieve will lead to many a happy student.
The right concepts will breed the right action - Take time out to explain to students simply the rationale for what you are teaching. Right thoughts - right words - right actions - right habits - right (golfing) destiny.
Always be accessible - My personal service standards is to return every call and text message by 2 hours and every email by 24 hours. If you do not have time for your students - trust me - someone else will.
Expain what they feel and what they actually do is different - This is an illusion in learning that must be recognized early on to prevent time wasting and frustration. Do not overexplain the obvious (what they are doing wrong) and underexplain what they should be doing and how to do it.
Use feedback - As a corollary to the above, you need to use mirrors, training aids, cameras etc to show student where they have gone wrong. Simply telling them what they are doing wrong will not allow it to be REGISTERED in their minds.
If they cannot walk, they most certainly cannot run - If they cannot chip, they will have no chance at pitching and full swings. A 20 yard chip is simply a 20 yard drive. The underlying fundamentals are the same - impact position, on plane ness etc. The only reason they look different is due to shaft length, ball position etc.
The difference between learning and mastery - on the practice tee, they will learn something from Carl Spackler, but whether they can master and make it their own is entirely up to them.
Learning golf is a process, not a miracle - Carl Spackler will teach them what ought to happen in a golf stroke. For what is in the head to manifest in action will take some time. That is where Carl Spackler drills will come in handy.
Keep statistics and teach students how to - Keeping track of stats will allow you and your student to pinpoint what is wrong with their game. Simply saying: "I want to be better" is too vague. Statistics will tell you for example that it is their drives that are putting them where their second shots are too difficult to get on in regulation and not actually their iron game.
The learning / teaching dynamic - The instructor informs and explains, the student absorbs and applies. If the student is not improving from lesson to lesson then it can be one of the below:
1. You are giving the wrong information.
2. You are giving the right information, but the student misinterpreted.
3. The student can't be bothered.
Learning never stops - You must always seek to learn more. Since you call yourself a professional, then you must embody that position by seeking to add more and more to your existing body of knowledge. Read, watch tapes, visit the GREATS etc...don't despise the information that 'unknowns' offer to you. Somewhere down the road, one of your students may need that information.
Be people conscious - You need to distinguish from prospects, suspects and clients. The client is the one who puts the butter on your bread, so always keep that in mind and treat them as such. A "thank you for coming" doesn't cost you anything and will earn you referrals. Spend some time on prospects so that they can go through the Carl Spackler experience. Then word of mouth will happen. Beware of suspects who just want to take up your time for free. You tend to them only when free. Remember - you have to pay the bills too.
Give all you got - I never withold information from students. I want them to leave the nest so to speak. If they can learn all that you have to teach, great. Because it means that if they apply the information correctly, they will be a heck of a good player and they will not be able to help but preach how good an instructor you are. Clients don't care how much you know, they want to know how much you care about helping them improve. Then the money will flow in.
Share with others - The more you share the knowledge that someone else imparted to you, the more knowledge will come back to you.
Manage the student's expectations - Underpromising what they can achieve and helping them overachieve will lead to many a happy student.
The right concepts will breed the right action - Take time out to explain to students simply the rationale for what you are teaching. Right thoughts - right words - right actions - right habits - right (golfing) destiny.
Always be accessible - My personal service standards is to return every call and text message by 2 hours and every email by 24 hours. If you do not have time for your students - trust me - someone else will.
Expain what they feel and what they actually do is different - This is an illusion in learning that must be recognized early on to prevent time wasting and frustration. Do not overexplain the obvious (what they are doing wrong) and underexplain what they should be doing and how to do it.
Use feedback - As a corollary to the above, you need to use mirrors, training aids, cameras etc to show student where they have gone wrong. Simply telling them what they are doing wrong will not allow it to be REGISTERED in their minds.
If they cannot walk, they most certainly cannot run - If they cannot chip, they will have no chance at pitching and full swings. A 20 yard chip is simply a 20 yard drive. The underlying fundamentals are the same - impact position, on plane ness etc. The only reason they look different is due to shaft length, ball position etc.
The difference between learning and mastery - on the practice tee, they will learn something from Carl Spackler, but whether they can master and make it their own is entirely up to them.
Learning golf is a process, not a miracle - Carl Spackler will teach them what ought to happen in a golf stroke. For what is in the head to manifest in action will take some time. That is where Carl Spackler drills will come in handy.
Keep statistics and teach students how to - Keeping track of stats will allow you and your student to pinpoint what is wrong with their game. Simply saying: "I want to be better" is too vague. Statistics will tell you for example that it is their drives that are putting them where their second shots are too difficult to get on in regulation and not actually their iron game.
The learning / teaching dynamic - The instructor informs and explains, the student absorbs and applies. If the student is not improving from lesson to lesson then it can be one of the below:
1. You are giving the wrong information.
2. You are giving the right information, but the student misinterpreted.
3. The student can't be bothered.
Learning never stops - You must always seek to learn more. Since you call yourself a professional, then you must embody that position by seeking to add more and more to your existing body of knowledge. Read, watch tapes, visit the GREATS etc...don't despise the information that 'unknowns' offer to you. Somewhere down the road, one of your students may need that information.
Be people conscious - You need to distinguish from prospects, suspects and clients. The client is the one who puts the butter on your bread, so always keep that in mind and treat them as such. A "thank you for coming" doesn't cost you anything and will earn you referrals. Spend some time on prospects so that they can go through the Carl Spackler experience. Then word of mouth will happen. Beware of suspects who just want to take up your time for free. You tend to them only when free. Remember - you have to pay the bills too.
Give all you got - I never withold information from students. I want them to leave the nest so to speak. If they can learn all that you have to teach, great. Because it means that if they apply the information correctly, they will be a heck of a good player and they will not be able to help but preach how good an instructor you are. Clients don't care how much you know, they want to know how much you care about helping them improve. Then the money will flow in.
Share with others - The more you share the knowledge that someone else imparted to you, the more knowledge will come back to you.
And there you have it, folks!
I really am looking forward to meet you in September, Justin.
__________________
Golf is an impossible game with impossible tools - Winston Churchill
Dude . . . no reason for you to be nervous. Your are a genuine and nice dude. You have the best information in golf and have learned under the best. You just need to get started. You can handle this better than the vast majority of your peer group just on the information you have in your mellon alone.
6b......Unfortunatley as a teacher some times you have to give the student what they want, if it's a quick tip then so be it! You just have to makes sure the student is aware it's a quick fix and may not last.
Guys, Carl Spackler is a very knowledgable student of the swing and game. He is a great addition to the already extensive list of great contributors on Lynn Blake Golf!
Sorting Through the Instructors Textbook.
B-Ray
__________________
I have the best job in the world, I get to teach golf for a living!!!
Catch ya on the lesson tee.
6b......Unfortunatley as a teacher some times you have to give the student what they want, if it's a quick tip then so be it! You just have to makes sure the student is aware it's a quick fix and may not last.
Guys, Carl Spackler is a very knowledgable student of the swing and game. He is a great addition to the already extensive list of great contributors on Lynn Blake Golf!
Sorting Through the Instructors Textbook.
B-Ray
Yes Carl is going to be an outstanding instructor, he knows his stuff- The Right Stuff.
And my point about tips and strokes is exactly as you wrote. You will lose a student that only wants a series of quick tips or fixes with a long term stroke construction-this is a business. And do a disservice to a student willing to build a machine. I think we agree.
comdpa....great post, I will be sure to print that out and save it!!!
Thank you for your kind words bucket, 6-B, and B-ray.....it has been a pleasure getting to know all of you, and I hope to meet up with you again soon!!!
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