Beginner training plan
Your first lessonWhen working with a beginner, my first lesson focuses on **building confidence and a repeatable foundation** by stripping away the complexity of the game. I approach it in four steps:
1. **The Interview:** I ask about their athletic background, any past injuries, and their personal goals (e.g., playing a round with friends vs. breaking 100) to tailor my communication.
2. **G.A.P. Setup:** We spend the first 15 minutes mastering the non-negotiables: **G**rip, **A**lignment, and **P**osture. If the setup is flawed, the swing will be a series of compensations.
3. **The "Half-Swing" Connection:** Instead of rushing to a full swing, we start with small, waist-high pitches using a mid-iron. This teaches them how to keep their chest and hands connected and how to consistently control the low point of the club to hit the ball first, then the turf.
The main goal is to ensure they leave the range hitting the ball relatively straight, feeling encouraged, and not overwhelmed by technical jargon.
Lesson 2-3Once a beginner has completed the first lesson and established the basics of the setup, the next two sessions are about transitioning from "just making contact" to building a functional, repeatable golf swing.
Here is what a beginner can expect from lessons two and three:
### **Lesson 2: Expanding the Arc and Finding the Turf**
The second lesson is typically where we move away from small pitches and start building a full-turn backswing.
* **The Primary Focus:** **Low-Point Consistency.** Beginners often struggle with hitting the ground before the ball (fat shots) or lifting up and hitting the top of the ball (thin shots). Lesson two focuses heavily on how the body rotates to ensure the club hits the ball first, then the turf.
* **Expanding the Swing:** We introduce the **Wrist Hinge** (often called the "L-to-L" drill). Students learn how to hinge their wrists on the backswing to create a lever for power, and how to unhinge them through impact.
* **Weight Transfer:** This is usually the first time a student learns how to properly shift their weight from their back foot to their front foot, rather than staying on their back foot and "scooping" the ball into the air.
### **Lesson 3: Introduction to Speed and Changing Clubs**
By lesson three, the student usually has a basic, functional swing path. Now, it's time to test that swing with different variables.
* **The Primary Focus:** **The Driver and Club Variation.** Up until now, the student has likely only hit a 7-iron or 8-iron. Lesson three introduces the longer clubs, specifically the driver. Students learn how the setup changes (angling the spine, placing the ball further forward in the stance) to hit *up* on a driver versus hitting *down* on an iron.
* **Speed Mechanics:** We begin introducing body rotation—specifically how to **clear the lead hip** on the downswing—to generate effortless power rather than trying to swing hard with just the arms.
* **Basic Ball Flight Awareness:** The instructor will help the student understand *why* the ball did what it did (e.g., "When it slices to the right, your clubface was open"). This builds independence so the student can practice on their own without getting discouraged.
### **The Overall Shift**
In short, **Lesson 1** is about *posture and contact*. **Lessons 2 and 3** are about *motion, power, and adaptability*. By the end of the third lesson, a beginner should feel confident enough to go to a driving range or a Topgolf by themselves and know exactly what they need to work on.
