DIGEST’S LIST OF THE MOST TALENTED INSTRUCTORS UNDER 40 FOR 2021-2022

CHECK OUT WHO MADE IT—AND THEIR FRESH TIPS FOR YOU ▶

Illustration by Vasava issue 1 . 2021 | golf digest 33 erhaps it’s a reflection 30s who were worthy of national recog- BEST YOUNG TEACHERS of golf’s youth movement nition. Our latest group of award win- ‘KEEP YOUR WEIGHT IN THE HEEL OF THE FRONT FOOT AND IN AMERICA 2021-2022 or a new spike in the game’s ners stands at 177. It’s a diverse group, ROTATE YOUR BODY AROUND IT WHEN YOU CHIP.’ northeast popularity, but whatever the and a creative one, too. We challenged —THOMAS HAWKEYE VALDEZ • aaron asedo / 35 reason, we believe there are our winners to provide an “original” golf Knickerbocker C.C., Tenafly, N.J. more talented golf instructors under the tip, and their response was impressive. $175/hr. tanya dergal P jason barry / 32 age of 40 than ever before. Back in 2008, Hopefully you’ll learn a few things from it up to improve your short game Springdale G.C., when we debuted our biennial list, we them. These are Golf Digest’s Best Young Princeton, N.J. $175/90 min. identified 20 teachers in their 20s and Teachers in America. —the editors To execute a pitch shot off • nick bova / 35 Hamilton Farm G.C., a tight lie, you Gladstone, N.J. can’t get wristy $240/hr. or hit sharply down on the • david bove / 34 ball to lob it high and get it Tashua Knolls G. Cse., to land soft. Trumbull, Conn. Instead, you want to open $175/hr. the clubface skyward at • steven chalmers / 36 address and let the club Saucon Valley C.C., glide along the turf as you Bethlehem, Pa. $150/hr. swing through impact. This scott chisholm / 35 20 drill will help: Tee a ball an Rolling Green G.C., TIPS YOU’VE inch or higher off the ground Springfield, Pa. (below), and make a swing $175/hr. (PROBABLY) trying to clip the tee instead earl cooper / 31 of hitting the ball. To do this, Earl Cooper Golf at Union League G.C. Torresdale, NEVER HEARD you can’t flip your wrists or Philadelphia get too steep. You have to $200/hr. BEFORE use the trailing edge of the • addison craig / 30 club correctly, swinging on The Bridge G.C., a shallow path through the brando tommasi Bridgehampton, N.Y. hit draws and fades hitting area. $200/hr. with your hips • brian creghan / 33 dergal, 36, is the Rolling Green G.C., Rather than director of instruction at Springfield, Pa. $250/hr. focusing on the Brentwood Country Club clubface or swing in Los Angeles. greg ducharme / 29 Trump G. path to curve at Ferry Point, a shot, you can produce a draw or a fade by how much $300/hr. you rotate your pelvis in the • pete egazarian / 38 backswing. Northeast Performance To draw the ball, rotate Institute, Portland, Conn. $150/hr. your hips significantly (far thomas hawkeye valdez left). This will create more • darren falk / 36 lift your toes to chip like a champ Holly Ridge G.C., space to swing the club into Sandwich, Mass. the ball on an in-to-out path It’s true that you target, and keep it there as $120/hr. in relation to your target want most of your you swing. This will help you justin foster / 35 line. For a fade, limit your weight on the pivot your body around your Ridgewood C.C., hip rotation going back front foot when front leg, which is important Danbury, Conn. (near left), which will keep you chip to promote good to executing this shot. As a $120/hr. the club more in front of contact, but where that drill or even a good swing mario guerra / 36 your body. This will allow weight is can determine key, try chipping with the Quaker Ridge G.C., you to swing more left (for success or failure. toes of your front foot off Scarsdale, N.Y. $250/hr. right-handers) in relation to With the ball positioned the ground (above). That will your clubface at impact. no farther back than center keep your weight in the heel, • brian gussis / 36 GolfTec Woodbridge, between your feet, set up so setting up a good result. Metuchen, N.J. tommasi, 37, is the direc- you feel most of your weight $175/hr. tor of instruction at Miami in the heel—not the front— valdez, 38, teaches at

Beach (Fla.) . of teachers courtesy detwiler • photographs t.m. illustrations: of your foot closest to the GolfTec Houston Galleria. •= new this year

34 golf digest | issue 1 . 2021 issue 1 . 2021 | golf digest 35 • ryan hager / 26 • david taraschi / 32 Plainfield C.C., daniel carraher Burlington C.C., ‘FOCUSING ON THE LATERAL MOVEMENT Edison, N.J. close your stance for better bunker play Mount Holly, N.J. OF YOUR KNEES CAN HELP YOU $140/hr. $150/hr. • jennifer hudson / 36 Greenside-bun- your target (for right-hand- mark walder / 37 Sankaty Head G.C., ker instruction ers), you can lower the posi- DiJulia Golf, STAY IN POSTURE BETTER.’ —EARL COOPER Siasconset, Mass. typically has a tion of your hands (below) New Hope, Pa. $200/hr. golfer set up with and keep them low as you $175/hr. • nick iacono / 32 the feet and shoulders open swing. This shallowing michael wheeler / 34 Chester Valley G.C., to the target. I find this action through impact pro- Rossi Golf Center, Exton, Pa. $125/hr. Malvern, Pa. stance makes it harder to hit duces those pro-like bunker $150/hr. high-and-soft sand shots shots where the back of the • michelle winkler / 30 The Stanwich C., adam kolloff / 38 because it promotes a club thumps the sand and Pure Golf, Greenwich, Conn. Woburn, Mass. steeper angle of attack and the ball floats out and stops $150/hr. $175/hr. too much digging. The near the cup. • michael labella / 31 position of your back leg mid-atlantic Nemacolin Resort, also can interfere with your carraher, 35, teaches • andrew brewer / 27 Farmington, Pa. backswing. at the Golf Club at $175/hr. Bayville G.C., If you set up in the oppo- South Hampton in Virginia Beach, Va. sean mcternan / 39 site manner, aligned right of St. Augustine, Fla. $125/hr. Brae Burn C.C., • joanna coe / 31 West Newton, Mass. Baltimore C.C., $165/hr. Lutherville, Md. • cj nafus / 30 $150/hr. Roxiticus G.C., gaylon cude / 32 Mendham, N.J. Golf House Tennessee, $150/hr. Franklin • nick novak / 35 $140/hr. The Golf Performance Center, robbie fritz / 38 Ridgefield, Conn. Greensboro (N.C.) C.C. $250/hr. $125/hr. joe ostrowski / 35 • billy hoffman / 39 Glen Head (N.Y.) C.C. Westwood C.C., $150/hr. jake pleczkowski Vienna, Va. jorge parada / 36 create loft from a $140/hr. Liberty National G.C., ball-back position matt killen / 35 Jersey City, N.J. Troubadour G. & Field Club, $350/hr. There are times College Grove, Tenn. when you can’t • rico riciputi / 33 $2,000/3 hrs. afford to hit it fat Wentworth by the Sea C.C., • cathy kim / 34 around the greens Rye, N.H. 1757 G.C., Dulles, Va. $150/hr. or the ball will go nowhere $150/hr. (pine straw, muddy lies, sit- bill schmedes iii / 35 • mitchell moore / 33 Forsgate C.C., ting up in the rough, etc.). Mitchell Moore Golf Academy, Monroe Township, N.J. In those situations, playing Hopkinsville, Ky. $250/hr. the ball back in your stance $80/hr. jason sedan / 35 helps a great deal. • daniel neben / 32 On Course Golf Academy, TPC Potomac (Md.) New Durham, N.H. But what if you also need to get the ball up? Try this: at Avenel Farm $300/90 mins. $150/hr. Set up with the ball back and • paul selvaggio / 36 your hands back, creating a • gavin parker / 28 Westchester C.C., Salisbury C.C., Rye, N.Y. more vertical position Midlothian, Va. $150/hr. (above). This will expose the earl cooper $125/hr. use your knees to hit it solid stefanie shaw / 33 trailing edge of the club and ben pellicani / 36 Sebonack G.C., replace much of the loft lost Westhaven G.C., Good footwork is on lateral knee movement trail knee move toward the Southampton, N.Y. by the ball position. When Franklin, Tenn. $170/hr. important to play- instead. If you do, there’s far target in the downswing you swing, keep your lower $125/hr. ing good golf. But less risk of losing your pos- (above, right), you’ll produce stephen sieracki / 36 body and head fairly still to • john scott rattan / 39 Woodcrest C.C., for some players, ture and mis-hitting it. the proper weight shift to hit increase your chance of solid Congressional C.C., Cherry Hill, N.J. Bethesda, Md. focusing on the feet leads to If you let your lead knee solid shots. contact—because that’s $200/hr. $200/hr. too much vertical movement, move away from the target what this shot requires. michael sweeney / 34 • brandon ray / 38 making it hard to consistently as you take the club back cooper, 31, operates The Bridge Golf Lowcountry Lessons at connect with the ball in the (above, left), you’ll be able Earl Cooper Golf at the Harlem Learning Center, pleczkowski, 34, teach- Patriots Point Links, sweet spot. Those golfers to create a bigger turn off Union League Golf Club at New York City es at Naples (Fla.) National Mount Pleasant, S.C. might benefit from keying the ball. And if you let your Torresdale in Philadelphia. $285/hr. Golf Club. $180/hr.

36 golf digest | issue 1 . 2021 issue 1 . 2021 | golf digest 37 brian rogish / 36 • matt dejohn / 30 The G.C. at Lansdowne, brandon ray Matt DeJohn Golf Academy, ‘YOUR PUTTING PACE SHOULD BE Leesburg, Va. get up to get down and compress the ball Port St. Lucie, Fla. STEADY AND SMOOTH, LIKE A CAR PULLING UP $160/hr. $125/hr. • ryan smith / 35 Maintain your taller, letting your trail knee into the ground through jordan dempsey / 39 IN FRONT OF A STORE TO PARK.’—PRESTON COMBS Marc Lapointe posture from ad- straighten and your spine your legs and getting PGA Tour Performance Center Golf Academy, dress through lengthen (below, middle). heavier. This creates a ton at TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Beach Fort Mill, S.C. impact? No, Finally, to start the down- of energy, which allows you $100/hr. $250/hr. I want you to change it to swing, bend your knees, to use gravity to hit down on preston combs doug spencer / 39 put more oomph into your lower your head, let your butt the ball and compress it. • katie detlefsen dahl / 32 ease off the gas Northstone C.C., West Bay C., Estero, Fla. for better control Huntersville, N.C. golf shots. move away from the ball and $135/hr. $155/hr. First, stand tall at address rotate your hips toward the ray, 38, teaches at on the greens jessica dickson / 37 • colby wollitz / 34 with less knee bend than target (below, right). Lowcountry Lessons at Shadow C.C., Consistent pace The Golf Academy normal (below, left). Then, It should feel like you’re Patriots Point Links in Bonita Springs, Fla. and length to your at Persimmon Ridge, as you swing to the top, get applying a lot of pressure Mount Pleasant, S.C. $140/hr. Louisville putting stroke is sara dickson / 33 $120/hr. going to boost Wilderness C.C., your distance control. Use tyrus york / 37 Naples, Fla. High Performance $120/hr. this drill: Place four on a Golf Academy, nick duffy / 39 green parallel to your putting Nicholasville, Ky. Nick Duffy Golf at Orange line; the first should be next $135/hr. County National Golf Center, to the ball and the others Winter Garden, Fla. toward the target, about a southeast $150/hr. putterhead’s length between • david angelotti / 31 • alex fernandez / 29 them. Hit putts, stopping Sea Island G.C., Jim McLean Golf School the club next to each of the St. Simons Island, Ga. Biltmore Miami, three tees ahead of the first $235/hr. Coral Gables, Fla. $125/hr. (below). Note how far the ball • christopher travels if you swing at the ardolina / 35 iain highfield / 38 Cove Cay G.C., The Leadbetter Golf Academy, same smooth pace—like how Clearwater, Fla. Acworth, Ga. a car glides into a storefront $100/hr. $200/hr. parking spot. david armitage / 38 • jackson koert / 30 Use these follow-throughs La Gorce C.C., Frederica G.C., for short, medium and long Miami Beach St. Simons Island, Ga. putts. Note: If your $200/hr. $170/hr. recoils a little when you stop • chris biggins / 28 • andrew lanahan / 38 at a tee, the stroke was prob- The C.C. of Birmingham (Ala.) PGA Tour Performance Center $80/hr. ably too fast. at TPC Sawgrass, megan padua buzza / 35 Ponte Vedra Beach Bonita Bay C., jennifer tucker $200/hr. combs, 31, teaches at Bonita Springs, Fla. give your steve lippincott / 36 Twin Lakes in $220/hr. putting grip GolfTec Carrollwood, Goleta, Calif. steve buzza / 33 the squeeze test Tampa, Fla. Bonita Bay C., $125/hr. Bonita Springs, Fla. Take your putting • tyler mcghie / 37 $220/hr. grip, then give it a Orange County National • daniel carraher / 35 hard squeeze. Did Golf Center, Winter Garden, Fla. The G.C. at South Hampton, the face move? If rico riciputi $300/hr. St. Augustine, Fla. it did, your grip might fail you look beyond the ball if you want to crush it $150/hr. in pressure situations when • jon mclean / 34 Jim McLean Golf School There’s a miscon- impact. Then, graduate to cody carter / 31 the tendency is to tighten up. The Club at Savannah Biltmore Miami, ception that you an 8-, looking three feet Quarters, Pooler, Ga. Change the way you hold the Coral Gables, Fla. have to keep your ahead. Finally, grab your $120/hr. club to pass the squeeze test. $195/hr. eyes locked on driver and look five feet out My “clutch” grip (left) moves • stephen clark / 35 matt mclean / 36 the ball until you strike it. It’s (above). Your body will ro- Rick Smith Golf Performance the right index finger onto The Concession G.C., why so many amateurs stop tate past impact naturally, Center, Doral, Fla. the flat top of the handle, so Bradenton, Fla. $200/hr. turning their bodies after helping to produce good $200/hr. the club nestles in the palm. impact, which leads to poor shots as you swing through joe compitello / 35 This reduces wrist action and brett meyer / 35 The Leadbetter Golf Academy ball-striking. the ball. Try it, and you’ll Indian Creek (Fla.) C.C. steadies the face, making it $155/hr. ChampionsGate, Fla. My “1-3-5 eye drill” can never lock your head down. more reliable. $195/hr. fix that. First, hit shots with • steven deboer / 31 • john montgomery / 30 a , letting your head riciputi, 33, teaches at Steven DeBoer tucker, 37, teaches at the Golf Academy, Celebration (Fla.) swivel so you’re looking a Wentworth by the Sea Hanceville, Ala. Desert Mountain Club in Golf Academy foot in front of the ball by Country Club in Rye, N.H. $100/hr. Scottsdale. $95/hr.

38 golf digest | issue 1 . 2021 issue 1 . 2021 | golf digest 39 renee trudeau • tim boegh / 36 o’higgins / 37 ‘THE IDEA IS TO PUT YOURSELF IN A POSITION WHERE YOU GolfTec Madison (Wis.) Quail West G. & C.C., $150/hr. Naples, Fla. molly braid / 33 $150/hr. HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO MAKE CONTACT WITH THE BALL Westmoor C.C., • carla overhiser / 33 THE WAY A TOUR PRO WOULD.’ —BRIAN GUSSIS Brookfield, Wis. John Webster Golf Academy $125/hr. at The Breakers, garrett chaussard / 37 Palm Beach Skokie C.C., $200/hr. alex fernandez Glencoe, Ill. • rushi oza / 34 flip the club around to learn $140/hr. Jim McLean Golf School how to hit a flighted wedge Biltmore Miami, • luke donah / 27 Coral Gables, Fla. Lowering the thought is, knuckles down Cedar Rapids (Iowa) C.C. $150/hr. $125/hr. flight of a wedge on your lead hand as you zach parker / 39 shot is great if strike the ball. A way to train • carlton dove / 38 Wichita (Kan.) C.C. The Leadbetter you’re looking for these wrist positions is for a Golf Academy, $95/hr. better accuracy into greens. right-handed player to take ChampionsGate, Fla. • adam farabaugh / 34 $250/hr. It’s so much easier to con- a lefty wedge but swing it C.C. of Detroit, trol the ball when you don’t as if it were a right-handed • jake pleczkowski / 34 Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich. Naples (Fla.) National G.C. have to deal with wind. But club. The goal is to get the $130/hr. $130/hr. how do you do it? back of the wedge as flat to • richard franklin / 37 • jon schoepf / 28 To hit those low, boring the ground as possible as Deerpath G. Cse., Jim McLean Golf School at approaches, you need to you simulate impact. Lake Forest, Ill. Miami Beach G.C. train your wrists to put you $175/hr. $195/hr. in the right position at im- fernandez, 29, teaches chris green / 34 justin sheehan / 35 pact. The lead wrist should at the Jim McLean Golf Glen View C., Golf, Ill. $180/hr. Pelican G.C., be bowed and the trail wrist School Biltmore Miami in Belleair, Fla. cupped (left). A good swing Coral Gables, Fla. courtney mahon / 37 $200/hr. Falcon Ridge G.C., alana swain / 32 Lenexa, Kan. PGA Tour Performance Center $100/hr. at TPC Sawgrass, jennifer hudson chad middaugh / 36 Ponte Vedra Beach Village G.C., $225/hr. start at the finish to hit Dublin, Ohio john tillery / 38 better pitches $100/hr. Cuscowilla G.C., kyle morris / 35 Eatonton, Ga. A time-honored The Golf Room, $250/hr. way to improve Dublin, Ohio • brando tommasi / 37 $175/hr. rhythm, tempo Jim McLean Golf School • maureen olson / 33 at Miami Beach G.C. and sequencing Sykes/Lady Overland Park $250/hr. in your swing is by starting in (Kan.) G. Cse. t.j. yeaton / 32 the follow-through position $100/hr. Atlantic Beach (Fla.) C.C. instead of at address. It’s john perna / 38 $200/90 min. a great drill, which is why I TPS Player Service, grayson zacker / 35 love it for pitching, too. Many Naperville, Ill. Jim McLean Golf School amateurs decelerate when $375/hr. Biltmore Miami, pitching or make a short, brian gussis Coral Gables, Fla. • jon reigstad / 39 set up ‘tour-pro’ impact at address $250/hr. jabby swing. Keller G. Cse., To hit better pitches, start Maplewood, Minn. $100/hr. Here’s a great start to the right (for right- club in this ideal impact po- midwest in a follow-through position and simple way to handers) of your target line sition. If you don’t, the shot with the shaft of the wedge • eva rogers / 32 kiel alderink / 37 learn what a good as it leaves the clubface. won’t start to the right of pointing at the target (top Medinah (Ill.) C.C. Royal Melbourne C.C., $145/hr. impact position To do that, you have to swing your target. Long Grove, Ill. left). Then, take the club looks and feels like without on an in-to-out path with Practice this for a while, $150/hr. back until the shaft is rough- • daniel shelden / 38 Ruth Lake C.C., having to spend countless the shaft of the club leaning but it won’t take that long greg baresel / 36 ly parallel to the ground (top Hinsdale, Ill. hours on the practice tee. toward the target as it strikes to groove this pro look and Cantigny G., Wheaton, Ill. right) before swinging down, $125/hr. $140/hr. Address a ball in the the ball (above right, top and feel to your swing. You also getting the club back in the • tyler slocum / 28 middle of your stance, hood bottom). This is what tour will notice a difference in luke benoit / 39 same position it was in when Lake Shore C.C. a 7-iron so the face is point- pros look like as they swing how the ball sounds when it Interlachen C.C., you started (bottom right). Glencoe, Ill. Edina, Minn. ing toward your front foot, through the ball. leaves the club. $130/hr. $160/hr. and then take your normal By setting up with the club hudson, 36, is the director • t.j. sullivan / 36 • gary bissell / 31 grip (above left, top and bot- hooded, you have to make gussis, 36, teaches at of instruction at Sankaty GolfTec The Meadows G. Cse., tom). Now make a swing with the correct adjustments in GolfTec Woodbridge in Head Golf Club Oak Brook (Ill.) Allendale, Mich. $150/hr. the goal of getting the ball to the downswing to get the Metuchen, N.J. $100/hr. in Siasconset, Mass.

40 golf digest | issue 1 . 2021 issue 1 . 2021 | golf digest 41 aaron olson / 39 southwest ‘MAKING PRACTICE SWINGS WITH YOUR LEAD HAND Tour Striker Golf jeremy anderson / 37 Academy at Raven G.C., LOWER ON THE GRIP THAN YOUR TRAIL HAND Legacy Golf Phoenix Performance Center, Phoenix $200/hr. HELPS GET YOU SLOTTED.’ —RUSHI OZA $250/hr. jarut padung / 32 jonathan buchanan / 35 America Golf Academy Dallas C.C., at Paradise Valley G. Cse., Highland Park, Texas Phoenix $175/hr. $150/hr. mike bury / 39 andy patnou / 32 Mike Bury Golf Academy, Starfire G.C., Dallas Scottsdale $225/hr. $150/hr. troy denton / 38 • ryan rody / 35 Maridoe G.C., Southern Hills C.C., Carrollton, Texas Tulsa $200/hr. $200/hr. • joseph dichiara / 37 • robert scott / 39 Ancala C.C., Scottsdale Royal Oaks C.C., $150/hr. Houston • nick dunn / 32 $150/hr. Altus Performance, kaylin skovron / 33 The Colony, Texas Jeff Isler Golf, $150/hr. Southlake, Texas • katie finney / 37 $160/hr GolfTec The Woodlands • henry stetina / 34 (Texas) Red Hawk G.C., $190/hr. Las Cruces, N.M. ej kim / 38 $70/hr. Axis Golf Academy and Fitting Center, • craig trahan jr. / 38 Denton C.C., Cypress, Texas michael labella $150/hr. Argyle, Texas miss the ball to hit better shots $125/hr. john kostis / 33 • jennifer tucker / 37 JPK , A common fault is striking is to make swings club to swing and miss to the Scottsdale Desert Mountain C., $175/hr. early extension— with the goal of missing the inside (above, right). Note Scottsdale a straightening of ball on the side closest to how the lead leg straightens $130/hr. justin klemballa / 33 Forest Highlands G.C., the body with the your body. You read that as the hips clear out. Re- • thomas valdez / 38 Flagstaff, Ariz. hips moving toward the ball right—miss the ball. create that feel when you go GolfTec Houston Galleria $125/hr. in the downswing that alters Allow your lower body to back to hitting shots. $125/hr. • lindy labauve / 31 the club’s path and leads to start the downswing with • j.j. wood / 36 The Westin Kierland G.C., inconsistent contact. the sensation that it’s push- labella, 31, teaches at Golf Performance Group Scottsdale A drill to prevent early ing you away from the ball, the Nemacolin Resort in at Northgate C.C., $130/hr. extension and improve ball- trying to create room for the Farmington, Pa. Houston • andrew lewis / 36 $130/hr. Altus Performance, • brian zeigler / 33 The Colony, Texas Dallas National G.C. $175/hr. darren falk $200/hr. corey lundberg / 37 think close, not in Altus Performance west at Trinity Forest G.C., Dallas Trying to make $250/hr. putts you’re likely a.j. avoli / 39 Omni La Costa • kenneth mesimer / 34 to miss leads to Golf Performance Institute, rushi oza Lakeside C.C., Houston more three-putts Carlsbad, Calif. groove a better backswing cross-handed $130/hr. than hole-outs. Try to get $300/hr. Many golfers handle of your club and then as the club reaches the top. cliff mishler / 32 medium-to-long-range putts Golf Ranch • jason aichele / 39 struggle to get make a backswing (above, Alternate between this at Vista Ridge, close, but not in. Doesn’t Meadow Springs C.C., to the top of the left and right). Notice how cross-handed practice Lewisville, Texas matter if you’re short or long, Richland, Wash. $125/hr. swing in a way your arms feel more con- swing and your usual swing. $125/hr. as long as the next putt is that will put them in a posi- nected to your torso and You’ll probably feel a big ashley moss / 30 easy. Lagging enlarges your • john battaglia / 35 tion to swing back down and your elbows are close to- difference. You can even Superstition Mountain C.C., target considerably—and that PGA West Golf Academy, La Quinta, Calif. consistently hit good shots. gether. And although the hit short-iron shots at slow Gold Canyon, Ariz. will free up your stroke. $200/hr. $175/hr. If you want to know how swing length might seem speeds cross-handed. • mario bevilacqua / 31 it should look and feel when shorter than your normal paxton o’connor / 29 falk, 36, teaches at Desert Mountain C., TPC Summerlin, you reach the top, switch backswing, your torso oza, 34, teaches at the Bilt- Scottsdale Holly Ridge Golf Club Las Vegas hand positions on the should still feel fully wound more in Coral Gables, Fla. $225/hr. in Sandwich, Mass. $300/hr.

42 golf digest | issue 1 . 2021 issue 1 . 2021 | golf digest 43 devan bonebrake / 35 Rolling Hills C.C., Rolling Hills Estates, Calif. $225/hr. • alexandra braga / 36 Denver C.C. $120/hr. • jared butts / 34 Will Robins Golf, Folsom, Calif. $150/hr. • preston combs / 31 Twin Lakes G. Cse., Goleta, Calif. $650/3 hrs. alison curdt / 38 Alison Curdt Golf at Wood Ranch G.C., Simi Valley, Calif. $150/hr. • tanya dergal / 36 Brentwood C.C., Los Angeles $125/hr. • stefanie ferguson / 33 Experience Golf at Common Ground G. Cse., Aurora, Colo. $250/90 min. tyler ferrell / 39 La Rinconada C.C., Los Gatos, Calif. erin menath pinch yourself to stay behind the ball $250/hr. matt henderson / 35 Many golfers, To train a better down- move into your lead leg as TPC Las Vegas $150/hr. especially begin- swing, try this drill: Take you pinch and rotate your ners, start the your trail hand and place it ribs toward the target. Copy • ayumi hori / 35 Balboa G. Cse., downswing by above your trail hip below this feeling and move when Encino, Calif. letting the upper body ro- the rib cage. Holding a club you go back to hitting shots $250/hr. tate and slide toward the in your lead hand at ad- (above, right). jon horner / 35 target. It’s what we call get- dress, side bend away from Jon Horner Golf Academy ting ahead of the ball—a big the target until your ribs and menath, 37, operates at CordeValle, reason some golfers strug- hip bone pinch your hand Erin Menath Golf San Martin, Calif. gle to make good contact. (above, left). Feel pressure in Redmond, Wash. $225/hr. kyle kunioka / 35 Honolulu C.C. $150/hr. tim boegh sean lanyi / 39 draw it like a bowler Langdon Farms G.C., Aurora, Ore. Imagine holding $125/hr. a bowling ball in mackenzie mack / 33 your dominant Callaway Golf, Carlsbad, Calif. hand. While re- $50/hr. sisting rotation of your hips chris mayson / 39 and shoulders, let your trail Maderas Golf Academy, foot slide back as you tilt Poway, Calif. and “roll the ball” down the $300/hr. lane. Then, straighten your • erin menath / 37 arms and legs in the follow- Erin Menath Golf, through (far left). This is the Redmond, Wash. $130/hr. motion you want when hitting short punch shots (near left). • nathan morris / 37 GolfTec Westminster (Colo.) Do it, and you’ll groove $190/hr. a draw swing and shot shape. • andrew navarro / 34 The Club at 3 Creek, boegh, 36, teaches at Jackson, Wyo. GolfTec Madison (Wis.). $165/hr.

44 golf digest | issue 1 . 2021 patrick nuber / 38 ‘SHIFTING WEIGHT TOWARD THE TARGET IS IMPORTANT, GolfTec Headquarters, Englewood, Colo. BUT APPLYING GROUND PRESSURE WILL TRANSLATE $250/hr. travis olson / 34 INTO MORE YARDS OFF THE TEE.’ —ALEXANDRA BRAGA Rock Creek Cattle Company, Deer Lodge, Mont. $140/hr. • jamie puterbaugh / 36 Aviara Golf Academy, alexandra braga Carlsbad, Calif. step up $175/hr. for more power • jason puterbaugh / 37 Aviara Golf Academy, Shifting your Carlsbad, Calif. weight toward the $175/hr. target is impor- kevin shimomura / 37 tant, but focusing Ko Olina Golf Academy, instead on vertical pressure Kapolei, Hawaii will give you more power. As $140/hr. a drill, set your lead foot on brad skupaka / 33 a makeshift step—anything GolfTec Headquarters, Englewood, Colo. sturdy—and make practice $250/hr. swings. Push off the step in drew steckel / 34 the downswing with enough Southern Highlands G.C., energy that your trail foot Las Vegas comes off the ground. Note $350/hr. the force being created • jordan thomas / 37 down through the posted Rick Smith Golf Academy, leg. That’s the feeling you Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif. $189/hr. want when you hit shots. • jake toliver / 30 The Los Angeles (Calif.) C.C. braga, 36, is director of $140/hr. player development at • gina umeck / 39 Denver Country Club. California State University, Northridge $100/hr. gavin witzer / 39 Henry Brunton Golf Academy mitchell moore at Strawberry Farms, copy what you see Irvine, Calif. to curve it $1500/10 hrs.

To curve the ball, practice with these visuals: For raise your game a draw, place an —for free! iron face down on the ground parallel with your target line Take advantage of Golf so the butt end is just ahead Digest School’s 14-day of where a ball would be at trial of more than 400 address. Now make a swing video lessons from the trying to match the look of top teachers and that face-down iron when players in the game— your club reaches parallel to including several the ground in the through- Best Young Teacher swing (near right). To hit a award winners. The fade, lay a club face up and trial is free during the copy its look (far right). You month of January. To can even hit half-shots drill- explore the vast library ing with this visual. of golf instruction and fitness curriculums, moore, 33, operates the go to golfdigest.com/ Mitchell Moore Golf Acad- allaccess. emy in Hopkinsville, Ky.

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