Golf lesson results

Find the cause, and the numbers move.

EIGHT CASES · TAP TO OPEN

01Single-digit player · one lesson6-iron total 151 → 171 yd, club path −8.6° → −2.8°DetailsClose

Case 01 · Single-digit handicap · One lesson

Twenty more yards with the 6-iron, in one lesson.

Total distance (6-iron): 151.4171.8yd
Club path: −8.6°−2.8°
Swing direction: −13.0°−5.0°
Spin rate: 約3,800約5,000rpm

BEFOREAFTER

Before on the left, after on the right, filmed during the same lesson (6-iron).

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE: The chest opened early in the transition and the club came down from outside, steeply. Club path −8.6°, swing direction −13.0°, attack angle −6.0°. Strike location was scattered, and the 6-iron carried a total of 151 yards.
ACTION: Two things: softer grip pressure in both hands, and turning around the body's center while feeling the axis through the feet.
AFTER: Club path went from −8.6° to −2.8° and strikes gathered near the center of the face. Spin rose from about 3,800 to about 5,000 rpm, and launch height, ball speed and smash factor settled down. With club speed almost unchanged (31.2 → 31.8 m/s), total distance went from 151.4 to 171.8 yards.
VOICE: His verdict after the lesson: “That was a legendary session.”
NOTE: Figures are Trackman readings with a 6-iron during the lesson.

02Amateur · handicap 5Average score 82 → 76, greens in regulation 32% → 69%DetailsClose

Case 02 · Amateur

Scoring average from 82 to 76 in five lessons.

Male, 42 · handicap 5 · five lessons over six weeks

Average score: 8276
Greens in regulation: 32%69%
Fairways hit: 45%55%
Putts per round: 3332

BEFORE

AFTER

Before on the left, after on the right.

BEFORE: A hard pull with the irons. He was missing greens by a long way, even from the middle of the fairway.
ANALYSIS: From the downswing into impact his left side was pulling away, which dragged the left elbow in and over-rotated the face.
ACTION: Rio changed how he used his left glute so the weight stopped escaping toward the left heel. Face rotation settled and the pulls mostly went away. With the ball now drawing gently, one course-management rule was added: pin on the right, aim at the middle of the green.
AFTER: Averages over five rounds before and five after. The pulled chips went away too, and the next month he won his club's monthly.

03Beginner · man, 36Broke 100 six months in, driver 150–160 → 210 ydDetailsClose

Case 03 · Beginner (man, 36)

Broke 100 six months after starting golf.

Driver: 150–160210yd
Putts per round: 40+34
Bunkers: often 2 shots1 shot avg.
Six months in: Broke 100

BEFORE: A 36-year-old who'd just started. Driver 150–160 yards, 40-plus putts a round, often two shots to get out of a bunker.
ANALYSIS: The first measurement in Sportsbox (a 3D swing-analysis app) showed a big pelvis turn in the backswing and a reverse pivot: his weight stayed on the lead foot going back. That capped his swing speed and scattered his contact.
ACTION: We worked on that movement first, and distance and contact started to settle. Alongside it: a range lesson a week and an on-course lesson a month, for six months. He was fitted early, and a driver was built to suit him.

04Men's pro · passed the pro testScoring average 73 → 69.8, greens in regulation 59% → 70.2%, up-and-down ~40% → over 60%DetailsClose

Case 04 · Professional

A men's pro passes the pro test.

Scoring average: 7369.8
Greens in regulation: 59%70.2%
Up-and-down rate: about 40%over 60%
Result: Passed the pro test

BEFORE: Inconsistent irons and approaches. His misses curved a long way and his scores swung with them. Up-and-down rate around 40%.
ANALYSIS: Trackman data on club path and impact.
ACTION: We worked on the swing from both sides, body and club. The short game got the same treatment: movement and impact.
AFTER: Scoring average improved

Smaller curve on misses

Steadier scores, more birdie chances

05Tour proDistance 279 → 302 yd, ACN Tour winDetailsClose

Case 05 · Professional

Tomohiro Umeyama wins on the ACN Tour.

Attack angle: −1.5°+2°
Distance: 279302yd
Result: ACN Tour win

BEFOREAFTER

Before on the left, after on the right.

BEFORE: Strike location was all over the face and impact loft varied with it. Steep attack angle, a lot of slice spin.
ANALYSIS: We looked at strike location, impact loft and swing direction. Swing direction was well into the negative.
ACTION: Beyond the swing shape, we adjusted body position, grip pressure and rhythm. More side bend in the downswing (upper body tilting right) steadied the attack angle.
AFTER: Scoring average improved

More stable, more repeatable shots

06Amateur · CFairways hit 2/7 → 6/7, face angle −3° → +1.5°DetailsClose

Case 06 · Amateur

Client C: fairways hit from 2 of 7 to 6 of 7 after one change to his weight shift.

Fairways hit (front nine → back nine): 2/76/7
Face angle: −3°+1.5°
Attack angle: +5°+2.5°

BEFOREAFTER

Before on the left, after on the right.

BEFORE: The face was closed (face angle −3°) and the attack angle was +5°.
ACTION: Rio changed the timing and direction of his weight shift.
AFTER: That one change took the face from closed to open. Fairways hit went from 2 of 7 on the front nine to 6 of 7 on the back.

07One lessonCarry 207.1 → 227.7 yd, spin ~3,700 → ~2,700 rpmDetailsClose

Case 07 · One lesson

About 20 yards more carry, in one lesson.

Carry: 207.1227.7yd
Total: 222.6244.3yd
Spin: ~3,700~2,700rpm
Club path: −3.7°+0.7°
Attack angle: −3.7°+0.9°

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE: Plenty of club speed, but too much spin and not enough distance. And a slice.
ANALYSIS: His head was too far left at impact. The attack angle was steep and the path strongly out-to-in.
ACTION: Moved the head back to the right side. The path settled down.
AFTER: Second shots got easier and he started hitting more greens.

08Amateur · D8-iron carry 123.2 → 154.9 ydDetailsClose

Case 08 · Amateur (D)

8-iron carry from 123.2 to 154.9 yd.

Carry (8-iron): 123.2154.9yd
Dynamic loft: 40.5°31.8°
Ball speed: 43.050.2m/s
Club speed: 34.637.7m/s
Spin: 7,1746,236rpm
Smash factor: 1.251.33

BEFORE: He was adding loft at impact, so his irons came up well short for his speed.
DATA: Before: dynamic loft 40.5°, spin loft 43.7°, 7,174 rpm. After: dynamic loft 31.8°, spin loft 36.7°, ball speed from 43.0 to 50.2 m/s, and 31.7 yards more carry.
NEXT: With the extra distance, the next job is distance control, through course management and on-course lessons.

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