If you have been fortunate enough to have taken a golf lesson from MANUEL DE LA TORRE in his over 60-year career as a golf professional, then you have been asked questions by Manuel. Here are some examples:
How do you visualize the shot flying when you use your sand iron? If you visualize the ball flying high in the air, then that mental picture may be the cause of your problems with the pitch shots and bunker shots. Did you ever wonder why golfers, who understand and will work on the proper mechanics of a pitch shot for years, will still struggle with the shot? If you change your mental picture of the shot, then your very next swing will be better! Manuel will tell you to visualize the shot flying low in a straight line to the hole. He may ask you, Where is the ball? Where is the hole? Answer: They are both on the ground, so visualize the shot going in a straight line from point A (the ball) to point B (the hole) and remember that both of these points are on the ground. The trajectory of the shot will be taken care of by the loft of the clubhead. How should you visualize your greenside bunker shot if you have a high bank of sand in front of you? You should visualize the ball flying low and burying in the bunker bank!
Why does the head move backward during the forward swing? (Lesson #100 in the book) Answer: Because the right knee is bending in response to the forward swing and the upper body backs up to maintain balance.
Why does the right arm supply more of the speed on the forward swing? (Lesson #29) Answer: Because the right arm is coiled (elbow is bent) at the end of the backswing.
How can the right hip move if the right knee doesn’t move? (Lesson #44) Answer: This question applies to the backswing, and the answer is that the right hip can’t move and respond on the backswing if the right knee doesn’t move.
In a platoon of marching soldiers, who moves first Who leads? (Lesson #19) Answer: Nobody moves first, and the soldier who is the first in the line will be the leader. This helps in the discussion of what moves first in the forward swing. Nothing should move first, but yes, the left hip is leading the club on the forward swing because it is ahead in the chain.
What are you trying to do? (Lesson #6) This question will often come early in a lesson, and it seems to be one of the most baffling. If you don’t have a clear answer to this question, then you should read, Learning Golf with Manuel. You should also read Manuel’s own book, Understanding the Golf Swing.
I have made a point to see most all of the highly regarded golf instructors in person as part of my “golf education.” This education began in 1983 and has been the key factor in my success as a golf instructor and PGA golf professional. The best teacher that I have seen is Manuel de la Torre. To me the “best” means having the most complete knowledge of cause and effect; it means developing a cohesive concept which can be explained in a precise and understandable way; and it means being able to work with all students from those who are making their first swings to those who have won on the PGA and LPGA tours. The bottom line is for the teacher to achieve results with a student. Manuel’s student is most likely to leave a lesson with a confident and uncluttered golf mind. His student can’t wait for the next round of golf. Manuel de la Torre learned to teach from his father, Angel de la Torre. Angel learned from and was friends with Ernest Jones, the British golf professional who wrote Swing the Clubhead. Manuel was the first recipient of the National PGA of America Teacher of the Year Award in 1986, was inducted into the World Golf Teachers Hall of Fame in 2005, and was inducted into the PGA of America’s Hall of Fame in 2006. Among Manuel’s fellow Hall of Fame inductees in 2006 was Jack Nicklaus.
John Hayes
Go to: johnhayesgolf.com to get info and book a lesson with John Hayes.
How do you visualize the shot flying when you use your sand iron? If you visualize the ball flying high in the air, then that mental picture may be the cause of your problems with the pitch shots and bunker shots. Did you ever wonder why golfers, who understand and will work on the proper mechanics of a pitch shot for years, will still struggle with the shot? If you change your mental picture of the shot, then your very next swing will be better! Manuel will tell you to visualize the shot flying low in a straight line to the hole. He may ask you, Where is the ball? Where is the hole? Answer: They are both on the ground, so visualize the shot going in a straight line from point A (the ball) to point B (the hole) and remember that both of these points are on the ground. The trajectory of the shot will be taken care of by the loft of the clubhead. How should you visualize your greenside bunker shot if you have a high bank of sand in front of you? You should visualize the ball flying low and burying in the bunker bank!
Why does the head move backward during the forward swing? (Lesson #100 in the book) Answer: Because the right knee is bending in response to the forward swing and the upper body backs up to maintain balance.
Why does the right arm supply more of the speed on the forward swing? (Lesson #29) Answer: Because the right arm is coiled (elbow is bent) at the end of the backswing.
How can the right hip move if the right knee doesn’t move? (Lesson #44) Answer: This question applies to the backswing, and the answer is that the right hip can’t move and respond on the backswing if the right knee doesn’t move.
In a platoon of marching soldiers, who moves first Who leads? (Lesson #19) Answer: Nobody moves first, and the soldier who is the first in the line will be the leader. This helps in the discussion of what moves first in the forward swing. Nothing should move first, but yes, the left hip is leading the club on the forward swing because it is ahead in the chain.
What are you trying to do? (Lesson #6) This question will often come early in a lesson, and it seems to be one of the most baffling. If you don’t have a clear answer to this question, then you should read, Learning Golf with Manuel. You should also read Manuel’s own book, Understanding the Golf Swing.
I have made a point to see most all of the highly regarded golf instructors in person as part of my “golf education.” This education began in 1983 and has been the key factor in my success as a golf instructor and PGA golf professional. The best teacher that I have seen is Manuel de la Torre. To me the “best” means having the most complete knowledge of cause and effect; it means developing a cohesive concept which can be explained in a precise and understandable way; and it means being able to work with all students from those who are making their first swings to those who have won on the PGA and LPGA tours. The bottom line is for the teacher to achieve results with a student. Manuel’s student is most likely to leave a lesson with a confident and uncluttered golf mind. His student can’t wait for the next round of golf. Manuel de la Torre learned to teach from his father, Angel de la Torre. Angel learned from and was friends with Ernest Jones, the British golf professional who wrote Swing the Clubhead. Manuel was the first recipient of the National PGA of America Teacher of the Year Award in 1986, was inducted into the World Golf Teachers Hall of Fame in 2005, and was inducted into the PGA of America’s Hall of Fame in 2006. Among Manuel’s fellow Hall of Fame inductees in 2006 was Jack Nicklaus.
John Hayes
Go to: johnhayesgolf.com to get info and book a lesson with John Hayes.
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