MEET MITCHELL SPEARMAN Pros N' Hackers AN INTERVIEW WITH ONE OF AMERICAS TOP INSTRUCTORS PNH: Mitchell, you've put your name on the teaching part of TopGolf's operations here. As one of America's top teachers, what did you see in TopGolf's concept that attracted you? MITCHELL: What attracted me to TopGolf was that it brings a new dimension to golf. Every level of player has a chance to score points. This opens the door to the novice in a way that was not possible before. This also brings fun to hitting balls on a range. The player can now be competitive which will enhance and improve their golfing skills. Also, Mitchell Spearman Golf Enterprises runs a junior golf camp in New York and we wanted to continue to grow the game at the junior level and we saw an opportunity to do so in a new and exciting manner. It is a great environment for the junior player. It quickly installs the principle of focusing on every shot and that every shot counts. When working with the tour players, productive practice sessions is something that is part of their discipline. Now with TopGolf, which by the way stands for Target Oriented Practice, the club golfer has that discipline built into his practice routine. Defined targets, with a value placed on each shot, is a way to assist the golfer in producing better performance. Finally, I have been wanting to expand my teaching programs and reach a wider audience. TopGolf achieves this and will bring more potential golfers to the game and I am very much looking forward to being part of the process. PNH: Top Golf is an innovative idea. You're also known for your innovation in teaching. How would you describe your approach to teaching golf briefly? MITCHELL: My teaching approach is to get the best from the student. Obviously, I do this in many different ways. Recognizing if a player is visual, kinesthetic, auditory, left-brained or right-brained are important in knowing which direction to go with a student. In my book, AIM of Golf, I bring these different dimensions to the reader so that they can find the way that works best for them. When I watch a golfer hit a shot I observe the following: ball flight, sound, divot, club lines, arm motion, body motion, posture, grip; This is all done in a split second. When I go about working to improve the player, I do it in pretty much the reverse order. I would start with the set-up, (grip, posture, alignment) then focus on the pivot (body motion, coil, torque etc). This gives me a platform to build the golfer's plane and arm movement and, hey presto, better contact and better shots. This is an over-simplified description of what happens during a lesson. At TopGolf, we see every possible level of player in every shape size and age. It is a very good place to enhance one's teaching skills and, as no two lessons are the same, it gives the teacher a great environment to explore the various ways to communicate a lesson. I personally have given several clinics here and have really enjoyed the variety of players that I have worked with. PNH: We will be talking with you throughout the year on how your teaching academy here accomplishes what you've described but one final question: "From your experience, when golfers do not improve, is it more a problem of skill or will?" MITCHELL: There is an old adage in golf that many of the old timers (pros) used to say. The answer to better golf is in the dirt. Back in that day that was probably the best way to improve. Go to the range and hit an endless number of balls and, through trial and error, figure out what works. However, times have moved on and now, through high speed video cameras, we can see exactly what is happening at any moment throughout the swing. We do not need to rely on just how it feels - in fact feelings can be very misleading to a golfer. So there is a more efficient way to go about improving, one might say a more structured way, a teacher can create a plan for improvement and, stage by stage, you can build a better swing and hence a better game. By taking a lesson, the student has already made a commitment to improve and therefore has a will to get better. In an initial lesson, it is important to lay out the picture of the plan, assess the player's strengths and weakness's, abilities and restrictions. As I often say to my students: Improving your golf game is like trying to get fit. You do it once and there is no difference but, if you keep working out on a regular basis, suddenly, without noticing, you will see a difference. A bit at a time adds up to something. A lot at once just doesn't stick. I believe that learning to play good golf is learning a skill. One does not have to have a skill but a desire and discipline for self improvement. In fact I really think that is the beauty of the game. Certainly, a distinct advantage we have of building a student's game at TG is unlike taking a lesson at your local club then heading out for a round. A player might shoot 38 on the front side, see the pro on the range and say: "I'm playing great, fantastic lesson." 9 holes later……… shoot 48….. "worse lesson I ever had." Too many golfers suffer from this "let's see if it works immediately" syndrome. At TG, after your lesson, we recommend that you hit balls and, quite often, the instructor will give you a TG game specially designed for you - aiming at certain targets, focusing you on a particular aspect of your game. So, therefore, immediate results are not the best gauge to see if you are improving. Remember, everyone develops at a different pace but, once you get it, just like being fit, maintaining it is a lot easier. To view the other Press articles featuring Mitchell click here . . . For more information on Mitchell Spearman click here . . . For more information on the Tour Players Mitchell is currently working with click here . . . For information on the other Staff working for Mitchell Spearman Golf click here . . . For information on receiving Individual or Corporate Instruction please click here . . .