Finding Your Missing Piece: How Proper Instruction Transforms Your Golf Swing
After 15+ years teaching golfers at every level—from weekend warriors to tour professionals—I’ve noticed something remarkable happens when a player finally understands the “why” behind their swing. They don’t just improve their mechanics. They transform their entire approach to the game.
One of my students recently told me something that stays with me: “You just gave me the missing piece to my golf swing.” That simple statement captures what I believe instruction should do. It’s not about overhauling your entire technique or chasing the latest trend. It’s about identifying exactly what you need to unlock your potential and building from there.
The Power of Emphasis and Understanding
Here’s what I’ve learned works best: golfers don’t improve from vague advice. They improve when concepts stick. And concepts stick when you understand not just what to do, but why it matters.
“The way you emphasize and prove things really helps for the concept to stick with the listener.”
This feedback tells me something important: when you can visualize and understand the mechanics behind a movement, your body learns faster. You’re not just copying a position—you’re building a foundation.
Think about your own experience. Have you ever had an instructor show you something, and it immediately clicked? That’s because your brain understood the principle. Whether it’s understanding how lag works in your downswing, or why your weight shift matters for consistency, clarity changes everything.
One Week to Noticeable Change
I want you to know that improvement doesn’t require months of mysterious practice. When you focus on the right elements with proper instruction, you can see meaningful change quickly.
“In one week of watching the videos in your system, my swing is better than ever!”
This isn’t magic. It’s what happens when you address the specific issues holding you back. Perhaps you’ve been fighting over-the-top moves that slice your drives. Or maybe your short game feels disconnected from your full swing. When proper instruction isolates and explains these issues, your practice becomes laser-focused instead of scattered.
In my teaching experience, I’ve found that golfers who see quick results share one thing: they practice with intention. They’re not just hitting balls. They’re testing principles they understand.
Your Foundation Matters More Than You Think
Let me ask you something: do you know exactly why you’re struggling? Or are you guessing?
This matters because the most confident golfers I teach aren’t the ones hitting the longest drives. They’re the ones who understand their swing’s foundation. They know their grip influences their clubface angle. They understand that their stance width affects their rotation. They grasp how club speed and swing path work together.
“My swing is extremely solid right now.”
When your swing becomes solid, it’s not because you found the perfect position. It’s because you understand the principles that keep positions consistent.
Building Your Improvement Plan
Here’s what I want you to do this week. Don’t try to fix everything at once. Instead, identify one key principle in your swing that, if improved, would impact multiple shots.
Try this diagnostic approach:
First, record a short video of your swing from behind and from the side. Watch it without judgment. Don’t criticize—just observe. Are you maintaining your posture through impact? Is your club path consistent? Does your weight move properly through your downswing?
Next, pick ONE area that jumps out. Not three. Not five. One.
Once you’ve identified it, seek clarity about why it matters. Understand the principle. Then practice with that principle in mind.
A Drill for Building Solid Fundamentals
The Foundation Check: Before each practice session, spend five minutes on this drill. Take your address position without a club. Focus on your stance width—feet shoulder-width apart. Check your posture by letting your arms hang naturally. Your hands should hang at your thighs.
Now add your club. Does anything change? Your posture shouldn’t shift. Your weight should feel balanced. This is your foundation. If your foundation shifts when you add the club, you’ve found something worth understanding and fixing.
The Mirror Drill: Stand sideways to a mirror with a club. Take your address position. Your ear, shoulder, hip, and ankle should form a vertical line (with a slight forward lean at address). Pause here. Memorize this feeling. This visual reference prevents compensation moves later in your swing.
Practice these drills daily for five to ten minutes. You’re not hitting balls. You’re building neural pathways for proper positions. When you then take these foundations to the range, your practice becomes exponentially more effective.
The Real Path Forward
Let me be clear about something: you can improve. Not next year. This week. Not through mysterious secrets or complicated theories, but through understanding the fundamentals that actually matter, then practicing them intentionally.
The golfers who see the most dramatic improvements aren’t necessarily the most talented. They’re the ones who commit to understanding the “why” behind their swing, then practice with that understanding as their guide.
That missing piece you’re looking for? It’s probably simpler than you think. And it’s absolutely within your reach.
