ClubLink Life Article – Jason Helman honoured twice for coaching approach
Thank you very much,
John Gordon and Tim O’Connor
Regards,
Jason Helman
2010 Ontario & Canadian PGA Teacher of the Year
Collection Area Shot Options…
Check out the video below on some shot options from collections areas. Some Important things to remember. If you would like to book a lesson and learn these shots, email me at jhelman@clublink.ca
Why you should take Golf Lessons Indoors…
Why you should take Lessons Indoors…
The simple fact or reasoning for taking lessons indoors is that you will be less focussed on the outcome or result and more focussed on the process. You’re trying to learn a specific sequence of events in the golf swing. The most important thing golfers’ forget is that they’re actually making a movement which is causing the outcome, not the outcome defining the swing motion. Golf Town’s V1 video analysis system along with my teaching philosophies will help you ascertain what your looking for out of the game. Whether it’s to get better so you can play decent Corporate Golf, Compete against a friend or just beat the golf course, or if you’re just taking up the game it’s a fantastic way to learn new concepts. Lessons are the key to “learning” how to make those brand new clubs work effectively. So, get your game on at Golf Town with Jason Helman and load a GIFT CARD up for that next special occasion. Makes a great Christmas Gift.
Regards,
Jason Helman, Canadian PGA
2010 Ontario PGA Teacher of the Year
Some good coaching quotes…
“The best athlete is an athlete that is independently motivated, not motivated by the coach. The coach creates independence, not dependence.” Anne Ottenbrite-Muylaert
“The quality of the work or practice session always outweighs quantity.” Jason Helman
“Probably my best quality as a coach is that I ask a lot of challenging questions and let the person come up with the answer.” Phil Dixon ( I prefer to teach this way as well, I already have the answer, let’s see how you understand or grasp the concept)
Coaching isn’t a great mystery. It’s Just hard work, determination, and inspiration at the right moment.” Bob Zuppke
“There are no failures – just experiences and your reactions to them.” Tom Krause
Welcome Score Golf Magazine Readers
Score Golf Magazine – July/August Issue Featuring Jason Helman
CLICK THE IMAGE TO DOWNLOAD
THE ARTICLE
I hope you enjoyed the article in this months issue, you may have been temporarily re-directed from my online academy site which you can certainly choose to visit after browsing around here.
http://www.johnstonhelmanonline.com/index.htm
If you would like to book a lesson please feel free to contact me at the information provided in the “about” section. Please also understand that these articles go through numerous edits for text space and there is limited room to expand, so you are getting somewhat of a condensed version. If you have any questions or concerns about the article I would be happy to address them.
Please feel free to check out my youtube channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/JasonHelmanGolf
Golf Town (Markham – Woodbine & Highway #7)
Please note, I’m also available a few days a week at the original store in Markham. All lessons come with a video analysis on the V1 system. Stop by the store and check out the Summer Lesson Special we’re offering as a launch to the Score Golf Magazine July/August issue.
FAQ’s
Q: Why do you say in the hip to hip gauge #4, finish with the clubface square to the target, shouldn’t it be “open”
A: No, I’m talking about hitting a solid pitch or possible chip shot depending on how close you are. Opening it will cause some extra spin and affect your distance, if you’re trying to spin it, then by all means “open” it up and cut across it but make sure you increase the acceleration rate a little more than normal.
Regards,
Jason Helman, Canadian PGA
Pink Out Golf Clinics
Hey everyone, the first Pink Out Golf Clinic is fast approaching, get signed up now to reserve your spot, only 30 are available per clinic. The application form is under the “Pink Out Clinic” section. It will be a fantastic day. You can also join the facebook group at: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=116356855062232&ref=mf
Hilton Head Golf…
Well, I just returned from a good trip to Hilton Head, South Carolina. Bring your GPS, the signage is scarce as they try to keep the island free of the typical signs that are posted everywhere Americana style. The golf courses were in decent shape considering the winter they had. Special Thanks to Chip Pellerin at the Country Club of Hilton Head for looking after us and Skip Pratt at the Hampton Hall Club a terrific Pete Dye layout. These are both must plays if you’re travelling to the area.
A quick story: We had a fantastic time with Larry Coletti a surgeon from the Connecticut area and his brother-in-law Bill. Larry is slight in size, just turned 80 but was very fun to play with. He told me a very funny story and trust me I hear a lot of them when playing with other people. Picture it coming from a small elderly man with the voice…you know the one. Here’s his story…”So, I was playing with my wife on the next hole, it’s a par 3 and she hits it just a bit short and doesn’t it end up beside a gator, well she says, “okay you win the hole, I’m not going anywhere near that gator” and he says “don’t be silly it’s not that close to him, you can hit it up there and still make par.” “She says no way, the only way I’m playing is if you stand between my ball and the gator.” He obliges, she flipped it on the green and made the putt for 3 and he wrote “L” beside the match total for Loss of hole. When she reviewed the scorecard one hole later she said, “I beat you on that hole” and he said “no, you can’t ask your opponent to help you when playing a hole, you asked me to stand between you and the gator, so I win the hole.” I asked him how he enjoyed the couch that night. Two holes later on the next par 3, Bill was in the same situation with a 6 foot gator, but there was only 2 club lengths between the gator and the ball, Larry didn’t oblige this time. Bill quickly hit and unfortunately topped it in the water, his next shot was dropped about 40 yards away, : ) he stuffed it to a foot and we gave it to him for double. All in all it was a very fun day and I had some serious laughs. One of the better days I had spent on the course when getting paired up.
Some good eating and happy hour spots: Wiseguys, Aunt Chiladas, Lands End Tavern (Sea Pines)
Winning…
Finally, after a long search I found my bible. One of the best books I have ever read. “The Psychology of Winning” by Dr. Denis Waitley.
Here are a few of my favourite excerpts:
“Winning” is taking the talent or potential you were born with, and have since developed, and using it fully toward a goal or purpose that make you happy.” Winning is giving and getting in an atmoshpere of love, cooperation, social concern and responsibility. Winning is coming in fourth, exhausted and encouraged – because last time you came in fifth. Winning is giving yourself to others freely. Winning is never whining. Winning is treating animals like people and people like brothers and sisters. Winning is turning all the cards up in solitaire without cheating. Winning is picking up a beer can you didn’t throw on the beach. Winning is being glad you are you. Winning is habit forming (So is losing.) Winning is a way of thinking – a way of living. Winning is all in the attitude! Talent is cheap. You can buy it, and recruit it. It’s everywhere. Education is not cheap, but it’s for sale and for hire if you have the time and money. You can get your BS, MBA or PhD. You can panel your den with diplomas. But the world is full of educated derelicts, unable to relate to supportive roles with others.”
Please keep in mind this book is not specific to golf but specific to life. It’s an amazing read and I would highly suggest you go out and get it.
If you were to relate this to golf it’s very important to find the right instructor/professional that can help coach you to success. There are plenty of professionals out there with den diplomas, but would you or could you hang out with them, develop a solid relationship aside from golf because they care about you just as much as your golf swing. If you can, you’re on your way to being in a great environment where you can actually learn. So, if you’re interested in working with me based on this article and it resinates with you then get back to me and quote this article via email to me and I would certainly be interested in working with you. I currently have room for 3 more tour professionals in my stable and at the club level I’m always willing to take on new students.
Regards,
Your New Coach
The word “don’t”….
As a golf professional or student of the game this word is very important, in that you should obliterate it from your vocabulary in the game of golf. It’s a very powerful and negative word that can lead to disaster for your swing, focus, game, mindset and general overall enjoyment of the game.
As a Professional if you use the word “don’t” during instruction you’re conveying a negative and this is what most people will remember. Have you ever watched the news? What do you remember after watching it? Currently it’s all of the distress, grief and misfortune occurring in Haiti. There’s rarely “Good News” on TV. We’re accustomed and tuned to the negative, have you ever rubbernecked at an accident to see what was going on? If yes, then why would you be so negative to a student, aren’t you trying to make them better? Here’s what they will remember when they get on course….”Okay, so the pro said “don’t” grip it so tight or it could right, “don’t” stand so wide or it could go right.” What happens to the student when you’re not there is that they will generally over compensate, grip it very loose, stand very narrow and then swing, have no idea where it’s going because the fear has been created by the word “don’t”. Then they doubt the pro because they did everything he/she was told to in the lesson setting. They should be remembering positive things, like, if I grip it looser and stand a little narrower, I hit it more solid. The student could also be standing over a shot thinking “don’t go right” there’s OB there, don’t be short there’s water there, so, that leaves long or left in the trees, guess what, if the fear of “don’t” is created it will remain present. We have to replace the word with better words or phrases such as “eliminate, try not to, limit, overcome” etc. so we can provide a more positive outcome for the student when they get to the range or course. Try it next lesson, see how you do.
As a student, your focus of “don’t” should also be replaced to a positive thought, such as “okay, where is my miss?” Some may say this is a negative but that’s exactly what tour players figure out in practice rounds. If it’s long like the example above this is where your focus should be, on that and that alone. In other words, the thought has been translated to “if I hit this too solid, I will be long, but that’s safe.” It will hopefully lead to the proper club selection as well, which will eliminate short and lets you think less about left and right. You have to create a type of tunnel vision that takes those three other negative thoughts you may have had away and narrow it down to one. Once you have narrowed that focus you will have given yourself a better opportunity at producing a better result. Make sure your pro/coach or instructor focuses on the positive.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me or your local CPGA or PGA professional.
The New Rules of Golf Instruction…
If you’re a golfer or an instructor and want to improve this is a great 60 page read. Author, Charlie King put it together and lucky for me he was one of my instructors when I went through a PGM program in Florida. I’m happy that I followed in my instructors footsteps and have been practicing these ideals since my career began. It has certainly been influential in my teaching career and I’m sure my students have found it mutually beneficial. There are many many days that I recall our classroom discussions on teaching philosophies and I often relay them to my students. I hope you find it a good read and can spread the word. Thanks Charlie.
Winter Academy Day 1
Well, all set up. Vector Pro Launch Monitor, Dartfish Video Analysis and the Boom Room portable studio unit which is absolutely fantastic. A little noisy with the blower running all the time but effective. It fits in students garages perfectly or their rec rooms, now I can do house calls for the people who always say they don’t have enough time to practice. I love it. Well, worth it and looks more professional than nets and pipes all over the place, inflates in 30 econds. Cdn retail is $499 at Golf Town or you can get it through Nearly New Golf (distributor).
Stop Over-the-Top Swings
Here is my “Quick Fix” article that was published in “Score Golf Magazine”
on how to help you stop getting over the top.
Check it out: -> Stop Over-the-Top Swings – Contents Credit
Actual Article: -> Stop Over-the-Top Swings
Clublink – Newslink Magazine
Here is my article that was published in our Newslink magazine. A very simple article on managing or thinking your way around the course. It’s easier said than done but when you get the hang of it you’ll play better golf.
Check it out: -> How to play 18 holes in under an hour
Golf Scene Magazine
Here is my article on practicing bunker play, published in Golf Scene Magazine.
Check it out: -> The Dreaded Bunker Shot – May 31, 2009
Putting – most people think they’re a good putter
If you’re serious about lowering your golf handicap and doing so quickly, work harder on your short game. It consists of 60% of your game. If you want to reduce 5 strokes immediately 3 to 6 hours a week just spent on putting should do it. Speed is the most important part of your putting game, worry less about your line.
To all of those people who show up at the range and work on your driver for a bucket…ask yourself this question. How Many Holes on a golf course? How many are Par 3’s? Normally, 4 to 5 holes on a regulation course. So, let’s say 5 for the sake of it. How Many holes do you have left if we take 5 away? That’s right, only 13, this means you have 13 chances at hitting your driver which equals 13% of your game if you shoot a 100, so why are you working so hard on that driver again? Let me know how your game improves after working on your putting for a few weeks.
Play Well!
Jason Helman Golf 