Best Teacher

[charnockpro]

David Leadbetter- Not much sucess lately, other than Wie, tends to teach a system of early wrist set body dominated downswing

Hank Haney- One plane teacher, swing on clean lines staying on same plane throughout
Jim McLean-Harks back to day's of Hogan etc but great teacher, who builds game around player
T J Tommasi-Groundbreaking teacher with 2 great books,LA.W.S of the golf swing and the 40 second swing.

replies welcome

 

[EDSGolf]

What about Butch Harmon, you got to throw him somewhere in the mix too.

 

[VtDivot]

Rick Smith as well.


Golf digest does a review every year on the top 50 teachers as voted by their peers. Harmon has been no 1 for the past few years, with Haney, Smith and Leadbetter rounding out the top 4.

 

[dave.]

Why lis Leadbetters an early wrist set? Its the natural way to swing a club,all you do after the set is complete your shoulder turn.Very few highly talented golfers,ie Nicklaus and Woods go back further to encourage width.To call it early is to suggest that a later set is 'normal',I disagree,I think Leads has it bang on.And technically,its not a body dominated swing,he just emphasises the use of the bigger muscles to encourage students to complete a full turn.

I can't fathom other teachers actually teaching 2 plane swings,it doesn't make any sense.The swing may end up 2 plane in as much as you come down on a slightly flatter plane,but why teach that? It will happen naturally as a result of a perfect backswing.

Hogans fundamentals is a great book.although I didn't like his position at the top,but I doubt he would have made a good teacher.

 

[Silver]

dave...despite all of your profound love for Leadbetter...I personally can't stand the guy...every time he talks, I want to punch him in the face

sure, he might be a good teacher, but he's still a huge wanker, git, and gomer all at once

I bet he orders gazpacho soup then tells the waiter to go back and heat it up!

 

[GregInOz]

Dude, are you a Red Dwarf fan? If you're not it's quite uncanny that you say that.

 

[seanmathes]

SPEAKING OF LEADBETTER

I recently got his book and I think that it is great. It has been the best aid for me so far out of all the resources that I have looked towards for help. Just the grip section has made a vast improvement so far. I love the way he really breaks everything down into simple easy to understand steps, doesn't over complicate the swing (key), and keeps the swing thoughts out of the swing (my biggest problem previously.

I do have a question for you guys though. Do you agree with how he says to play irons? I have been taking full swings where the shaft goes all the way to parallel but he recommends a three quarter swing. What do you guys think?

 

[Loop]

Shorter backswing, better accuracy.

 

[Silver]

Greg, yeah...although I haven't watched in a long long time, but for some reason, Leadbetter reminds me of Rimmer.

 

[dave.]

Silver,fair enough,he is a tosser But its his swing techniques I think are the easiest and simplest to grasp,imho.

Sean,take 3/4 swing with 7 and below,you get more control

 

[The master]

Rick Smith is my personal favourite, keeps it simple, and his methods are very effective.

 

[charnockpro]

Sorry for my non inclusion of Butch and Rick, two great teachers although Butch's swing theory seems to be wide backswing short of parallel etc.. Rick Smith is good on the Golf Channel i always watch with interest.

Leadbetter is very good i agree i just think he overdoes the drill side of things.

 

[MLGOLFNYC]

I just wanted to share a story about Rick Smith. I did a Informmercial with Rick Smith for his Right Angle Training Aid back around 1996. I also did an event here in New York City at Trump Tower for Golf Digest with Rick after Phil won the Masters.

Rick's a great guy and told us a good story. I'll keep it short. He said that at the Master's on 18 Dimarco hit his shot past Phil's just to give him a good read on the putt. He then walked by Phil and told him if he misses that putt he was going to throw his putter into the trees infront of everybody.

Rick said it was amazing watching them laugh together on 18 with so much pressure on them.

I also won a bet because I told my friend Dimarco hit it past Phil's ball unpurpose. I know Chris and Phil are good friends. I played with Chris many times in Orlando when he was on the Nike Tour.

 

[DaveE]

That's a great story but I bet Ernie wouldn't enjoy it much.

 

[DrBrown]

hehe true enough! I like Dimarco but I never knew why, now I know!

I'd say either Rick Smith would get my vote because hes the most approachable guy. There was a guy that gave me a 10 minute lesson a year ago, first name was Phil but I cant remember his last name right now. He gave my cousin a lesson (who had a 10-12 handicap) and came back shooting 5-6 over par. So yeah I give props to him, he helped me as well!