In the Spin Zone

by Darrell Klassen

Welcome back. I hope you’re having more fun — that’s right, fun — with your golf than you used to have. By now, you should be, because you can curve the ball left and right on command. Do you realize there’s only one place that’s being done consistently? And that’s on the PGA Tour.

I just finished a three-day school here in the Visalia area of Central California. But the golfers come from Delaware, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, New Mexico, Illinois — plus I even let a couple from California play as well.

All I ever teach is ball spin, so by the end of the first day, every one of them was curving the ball left and right whenever the wanted. You should have seen it — their eyes were as big as saucers. They couldn’t believe golf could be so simple.

One of the players, a 12-handicapper from Delaware, thought he had a pretty good grip on his golf game, so he was only here for a little checkup and some fine tuning. By the end of the first day, he wanted to move to California. I had told him it was the California air that allowed him to almost effortlessly control his golf shots.

Of course, he knew I was lying to him.

The school ran Thursday through Saturday, so he headed home, flying out of Fresno at 7 p.m. on Saturday night. I don’t know what time he got home, but it had to be a long night for him.

The reason I’m telling you this is because he played in a tournament at his home course on Sunday and e-mailed me that night with the good news. His previous low round was a 79. On Sunday, he shot a 76, just 4-over par. He won the tournament.

Now, the usual scenario is to play like a dog for two months after lessons. But not this time. He was beside himself with elation. He said he only hit four shots that were not to his satisfaction, and each time he knew exactly the mistake he had made on his intended shot.

On the first day of the school, I told the group I was going to do all I could do to teach them how to become their own coach. They each told me later that the thought of that had rattled them a bit because they thought there was no way an average amateur could ever do that.

By the middle of the second day, when one of them would hit a stray shot, I would tell them to listen carefully to the correction. Each time the correction was — and they pay a hefty fee to come to my schools — “Don’t do that any more.”

You wouldn’t think golfers could ever be so excited about paying premium fees to attend a school, only to be told, “Don’t hit it there any more.” But they were laughing and having a great time. They were even coaching each other. I charge them to come to my school, and then I make them teach each other! They loved it.

Think of it. Amateurs were correctly instructing other amateurs. This all took place in a span of three days, and it’s all because they didn’t fight me with the concept of merely learning and paying attention to ball spin.

When you can wrap your mind around the things I have shared in the first three columns, you can start to become your own coach. These guys were thrilled, and amazed, that they could understand enough to coach themselves. They were each completely confident that they could go home and continue to improve their golf swings without spending money for golf instructions, ever again.

That made the price of the school quite inexpensive in their eyes.

Most average golfers, prior to attending such a school, would never consider spending what I charge for lessons. However, when you can learn to become your own coach, the price is right.

Most golfers would never understand attending an expensive golf school where the students are sharing some of the teaching responsibilities, while the golf professional is sitting in his golf cart doing nothing but watching.

But what does this have to do with helping you learn how to swing a golf club?
Everything.

When you understand how to curve a golf ball whichever direction you desire, you will automatically develop a wonderful, Tour-quality golf swing. You do not need to be taught a hundred different positions to achieve throughout your swing.

Next issue I’m going to share with you how to take the curving shots you have developed and make the golf ball go where you want it to go. And you’ll become your own coach in nothing flat.

By the way, are you sending your golf swing questions to FG? I want to answer them for you. I write a 10- to 12-page instructional newsletter each month, which is sold through subscription in Australia. It took me seven months to get them to send in questions, but now the entire newsletter is mostly made up of Q+As.

See you next time, and remember, “Golf’s An Easy Game.” FG