Every successful golf instructor brings something different to the table. Take Bob Toski. Bob is a top instructor. He started the first golf school for Golf Digest in 1971. He conducted schools in Canada, Japan, and the United States. And he opened the first Golf Learning Center in the world with his partner Gary Battersby. Toski, who is ranked 15th by his peers in Golf Digest's list of 50 Greatest Golf Teachers, has a unique teaching philosoply and approach to the game.
Unlike other teachers, Toski stresses "discovery golf" to cut strokes from your golf handicap. He believes that confidence and awareness are the keys to great golf. He also believes that you must become your own coach to play your best. Toward that end, he teaches students in his golf lessons how to gain swing awareness and learn to reduce swing interference. His philosoply is best summed up in his colorful sayings, which concisely capture his guiding principles. Below are some of those sayings and the rationale behind them.
* An ounce of touch is worth a ton of brawn.
New golfers don’t understand the concept of learning the game from the green back. They grab the driver, go to the first tee, and start wailing way. If they make contact, they hit the ball all over the place. After a while, they get aggravated. They get a lot of airmail and no zip code, another of Toski’s colorful sayings. Start with learning to putt first. Work on aligning the putterface with the ball and the target line. Look for golf tips that teach you how to do this.
To improve, use two shafts to check alignment and ball position. Starting with straight, four-foot putts, place one shaft on the target line directly behind the hole. Place the second one on the target line directly behind the ball. Use the shafts to line up the putt and square the putter face to the target line. This breeds confidence. Work back to eight- and 12-footers.
* Control distance and direction to achieve perfection.
Balance and rhythm are key elements of a good swing. They’re more important than getting into certain positions on the course. The key to controlling distance and direction are in the hands and feet. The hands are the holders and the feet are the controllers for timing and balance. Train your hands to work properly throughout the swing. Eliminate herky-jerky motions and let your feet support the swing’s timing.
* You need traction for action.
To hit good middle iron shots, move to the ball first. Then, move laterally through it, not the other way around. In addition, play the ball just forward of center and bend from the hips, so you’re hitting from a solid base. On the downswing shift your lower body toward the target, so your hands and arms learn to square the club at impact. In short, lead your middle iron downswing with your lower body while keeping grip pressure light but constant.
* Swing on the line of play and you will find your way.
Long irons are great for tight fairways on short holes. Tee the ball close to the ground, so it’s almost like hitting the ball from a perfect lie. This enables you to use the club the way it was designed and the way it is taught in golf lessons. Be aware of your hands and arms as you control the clubface through impact. Also, swing the club back on slight inside arc. If you can not get enough clubhead speed to get the ball airborne with a long iron, switch to hybrid.
* Feel the force, don’t force the feel
To play with the “big boys,” you need to hit for distance. How do you do that? You must create force with your clubhead. If you’re a smaller person, use the quickness of your body to offset the lack of size and strength. Below is a good drill to teach this principle:
Place two shafts along the target line—one in front of the ball, the other behind it. Place a golf ball just inside each shaft. Then hit some shots, swinging the clubhead over both balls. This drill encourages you to swing the club from inside to inside, with the club rotating and swinging naturally.
Toski’s sayings are colorful and memorable. They’re also great reminders of key golf principles taught in his golf lessons. Keep them in mind next time you’re at the range or on the course. They will help you cut strokes from your scores and your golf handicap.
Jack Moorehouse is the author of the best-selling book "How To Break 80 And Shoot Like The Pros." He is NOT a golf pro, rather a working man that has helped thousands of golfers from all seven continents lower their handicap immediately. He has a free weekly newsletter with the latest golf tips, golf lessons and golf instruction.
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