To the instructors, an apology

[KD1]

1 hour ago, WesternRacing said:

Of course, one can just do what Jason Kelce did this week and post a video of one’s swing on Reddit asking for input from all the experts there…

 

 

 

[virtuoso]

1 hour ago, WesternRacing said:

 

The challenge being how to determine what is quality online instruction out of all the garbage out there.  That’s often the hard part over the Interwebs.

 

Of course, one can just do what Jason Kelce did this week and post a video of one’s swing on Reddit asking for input from all the experts there…

 

The good news there is he just gets to be confused for free.

[otw]

I was fortunate enough to be taught and work for a PGA instructor who at the time was ranked as a top 10 teacher by the PGA.  One of his favorite sayings which fits here is  "golf is the only game with as many teachers as there are players"

[TexasTurf]

15 hours ago, MK7Golf21 said:

 

maybe he is having flashbacks of some 70's golf instruction magazines

Spot on. I just watch, listen to, and read, the classic stuff. The older the better. An addiction I seek out and feed without the high. The pain of it never working is the reward.

 

But that simply doesn't work. So it was time to move on and get some help that actually works. A hard lesson learned after 20 years of diving into old school rabbit holes.

Edited May 9 by TexasTurf

[Canyonaro]

On 5/8/2025 at 5:51 AM, GoGoErky said:

YouTube golf is not where I would recommend anyone trying to fix their golf swing go to get help. When I say online I am talking about an online lesson with an instructor, whether that’s send in a video and get feedback with some type of ability to do a follow up to make sure you’re in the right track or to do some type of virtual lesson with them via zoom or other platform.

 

YouTube golf should be for entertainment purposes only 

 

I totally agree in terms of trying to fix your swing. So much is dependent on your own biomechanics that generic advice usually makes things worse. But for short game techniques, particularly chipping and bunker play, I've found it very helpful. Jake Hutt also does some fun short clips that focus on broad topics and feels. 

[TexasTurf]

"Early Extension" and more shoulder turn is my new #1 enemy. I've got more shoulder turn than Bryson and Daly combined on the way back, and mega front bend through the ball. Spent years successfully increasing these angles through the ball and getting worse. To find out it should be the exact opposite. What a game.

[CoreyW1369]

On 5/8/2025 at 3:26 PM, virtuoso said:

The good news there is he just gets to be confused for free.

 

He should come post here, where the results will be very much the same 😄

[TexasTurf]

Talked to a new cart kid about my lessons, who is a much better golfer than I will ever be. Forward and up and out with the body and everything else except the club of course, was met by massive confusion (understandably). He says, I thought we're supposed to only go down, back, and in with the body. "What happened to down, in, and around" is what he asked. Didn't have an answer for that. 

 

I know the answer is just different patterns and different desired ball flights. Just fascinating. No other industry has to deal with this opposite advice to achieve the same thing. 

 

Humping forward and up to fix a hook. you guys rock.

Edited May 22 by TexasTurf

[naval2006]

On 5/8/2025 at 6:23 AM, RayPlan said:

How can he be a joker? He's dishing out tips that ALWAYS WORK, for free, in just a few minutes. How could you argue with that?

 

 

This is the face of a hero. If only there were more people like him out there, then we could live in a world where 95% of amateurs actually do this one thing correctly to add distance.

This reminds me of the classic Better By Saturday column on Golf Digest haha

[dpc]

I can understand why Mark Crossfield gets some grief here, but it's gotta be tough to produce regular content for Youtube.  Even AMG who have produced some of the best content available on Youtube have drive-by tips which I'm sure they've used in lessons, but which are not recommended for everyone; the viewer needs to be discerning and knowledgeable of their own swing.  Which most aren't.

 

That said, I think Crossfield's distance seeking series a couple of years ago where he becomes the student was excellent and informative.

[CPT_LHR_ATL]

10 hours ago, TexasTurf said:

Humping forward and up to fix a hook. you guys rock.

Let us know how this one goes for you. 🤨

[GoGoErky]

11 hours ago, TexasTurf said:

Talked to a new cart kid about my lessons, who is a much better golfer than I will ever be. Forward and up and out with the body and everything else except the club of course, was met by massive confusion (understandably). He says, I thought we're supposed to only go down, back, and in with the body. "What happened to down, in, and around" is what he asked. Didn't have an answer for that. 

 

I know the answer is just different patterns and different desired ball flights. Just fascinating. No other industry has to deal with this opposite advice to achieve the same thing. 

 

Humping forward and up to fix a hook. you guys rock.

I’m confused reading this post

[Valtiel]

On 5/21/2025 at 11:48 PM, TexasTurf said:

...Forward and up and out with the body and everything else except the club of course, was met by massive confusion (understandably).
...He says, I thought we're supposed to only go down, back, and in with the body.
..."What happened to down, in, and around" is what he asked. Didn't have an answer for that. 

 

I know the answer is just different patterns and different desired ball flights.

Nor should you have had an answer for that, because conversations like that are the golf instruction equivalent of...


 

15 hours ago, dpc said:

That said, I think Crossfield's distance seeking series a couple of years ago where he becomes the student was excellent and informative.

Agreed, because as someone that had very little force coming from the lower body he basically went through the process of learning to use it more which became a great lesson in how to use it "correctly", specifically when discussing things like torque and vertical force. I have a couple clips saved from that, here and here, which are great discussions around the types of forces that *all* pros create to one degree or another that most ams do not. Mark is obviously trying to exaggerate it quite a lot, but the underlying concept is important regardless. 

Edited May 23 by Valtiel

[ScooterMcTavish]

On 5/7/2025 at 9:03 PM, WesternRacing said:

May take a while to find the right coach for you

 

This is a genuine challenge.  My experiences have suggested both coaches I tried had a "preferred swing" and attempted to jam students into it, regardless of it was feasible or helpful for them.  One also gave me a very poor fitting.

 

On 5/9/2025 at 1:31 PM, Canyonaro said:

I totally agree in terms of trying to fix your swing. So much is dependent on your own biomechanics that generic advice usually makes things worse. But for short game techniques, particularly chipping and bunker play, I've found it very helpful. Jake Hutt also does some fun short clips that focus on broad topics and feels. 

 

I agree with this, though would be careful in over-generalizing.  For example, even if someone cannot have their spine tilt 100% match what they see online, they can still likely improve their AoA by fixing their address position, which should naturally adapt to their biomechanics.

 

On 5/8/2025 at 7:53 AM, MK7Golf21 said:

maybe he is having flashbacks of some 70's golf instruction magazines

 

This is awesome.  Love 70's (and 80's) golf instruction magazines.  Still use Fuzzy Zoeller's putting tips to this day ("Make the money putts!")

[Hawkeye77]

7 hours ago, dpc said:

I can understand why Mark Crossfield gets some grief here, but it's gotta be tough to produce regular content for Youtube.  Even AMG who have produced some of the best content available on Youtube have drive-by tips which I'm sure they've used in lessons, but which are not recommended for everyone; the viewer needs to be discerning and knowledgeable of their own swing.  Which most aren't.

 

That said, I think Crossfield's distance seeking series a couple of years ago where he becomes the student was excellent and informative.

 

He was actually out in front of some of the conversation about wrists/transition a few years ago and was focused pressures/using the ground in terms of measuring, etc. awhile ago and talking with people that seemed to know what they were talking about, if that makes sense - seems genuine in his interest in data and "science" but who knows - I've found some of his content interesting in the past (never really cared for the giggles and goofy course vlogs or paid attention to club reviews).  The tag lines are all part of the game for sure.  

[TexasTurf]

12 hours ago, GoGoErky said:

I’m confused reading this post

Understandable. First, I don't know what I'm talking out as far as terminology, so I could be way off technically, but it's working.  I would say they are very into and teach the flexion to extension swing in my case. So a small draw bias, letting the club go through instead of releasing early and then carrying it through with the body the same speed and slowing everything down.

[GoGoErky]

7 hours ago, TexasTurf said:

Understandable. First, I don't know what I'm talking out as far as terminology, so I could be way off technically, but it's working.  I would say they are very into and teach the flexion to extension swing in my case. So a small draw bias, letting the club go through instead of releasing early and then carrying it through with the body the same speed and slowing everything down.

Still a post that is confusing.

 

Flexion to extension of what? Who are they?

 

what does letting the club through mean?

 

[LongNwrong27]

Dude is just trolling , nothing to see here

[TexasTurf]

Not trolling. As hilarious as this video is at the end, it is basically this pattern. Extension of legs, spine and core through the ball slightly from the inside.

 

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/-2U27AI7Xts

[TheDeanAbides]

OP, you're one of millions. The real question is always, "How does a player develop discernment when they don't have the time or resources to learn everything necessary to see through the crap?" 

 

Like everyone else, you have to pick a convincing voice and go with it, hoping it won't ruin your game. Fortunately, now we have well-respected teachers who use data. That's great, but it also brings the possibility to misrepresent, so we're back to square one. 

 

[TexasTurf]

16 hours ago, TheDeanAbides said:

OP, you're one of millions. The real question is always, "How does a player develop discernment when they don't have the time or resources to learn everything necessary to see through the crap?" 

 

Like everyone else, you have to pick a convincing voice and go with it, hoping it won't ruin your game. Fortunately, now we have well-respected teachers who use data. That's great, but it also brings the possibility to misrepresent, so we're back to square one. 

 

Thanks. I feel I may have been sucked into a stack and tilt cult. Hoping that's not the case, but it sure seems like it. I don't know.

[TheDeanAbides]

1 hour ago, TexasTurf said:

Thanks. I feel I may have been sucked into a stack and tilt cult. Hoping that's not the case, but it sure seems like it. I don't know.

Why do you say that? Here? The only S&T here is in the dedicated thread.

[TexasTurf]

21 hours ago, TheDeanAbides said:

Why do you say that? Here? The only S&T here is in the dedicated thread.

Not referring to GolfWrx. PM sent.

[naj959]

23 hours ago, TexasTurf said:

Thanks. I feel I may have been sucked into a stack and tilt cult. Hoping that's not the case, but it sure seems like it. I don't know.

That sounds like the pattern they have you working towards. Nothing wrong with S&T if it works for you. One thing I don't like is how dogmatic and polarizing some of the instructors are. I follow a few on IG and they really do come off as if they have a chip on their shoulder. There is a "you're with us or against us" mentality. I hope your coaches aren't like that. 

[TexasTurf]

On 5/25/2025 at 11:05 PM, naj959 said:

That sounds like the pattern they have you working towards. Nothing wrong with S&T if it works for you. One thing I don't like is how dogmatic and polarizing some of the instructors are. I follow a few on IG and they really do come off as if they have a chip on their shoulder. There is a "you're with us or against us" mentality. I hope your coaches aren't like that. 

The guy I'm with is great and isn't on their instagram. Definitely a data driven approach. We have diagnosed the problem, and how to fix it, now it's more on my end to move correctly

Edited May 27 by TexasTurf

[CasualLie]

On 5/8/2025 at 2:51 AM, GoGoErky said:

YouTube golf is not where I would recommend anyone trying to fix their golf swing go to get help. When I say online I am talking about an online lesson with an instructor, whether that’s send in a video and get feedback with some type of ability to do a follow up to make sure you’re in the right track or to do some type of virtual lesson with them via zoom or other platform.

 

YouTube golf should be for entertainment purposes only 

 

 

If only it was that simple...

 

Many years ago, on YouTube I watched a guy in a random park, not a driving range, so he was probably violating some city ordinance knowing how bizarre California can be, giving swing tips in cargo shorts.  His matter of fact demeanor, confidence, but not a hint of arrogance, resonated with me.  The videos moved to a driving range.  The knowledge was in line with many top instructors.  The delivery resonated.

 

So I got on a plane to take a lesson, more than once.  Changed my game all around.

 

Thanks Monte!

 

Being that it is May 2025, if you as a golfer, looking for help, cannot discern and filter on YouTube what is helpful to you, then that is on you, not the YouTube instructor.  Are there a bunch of wacky YouTubers teaching golf?  Yes.  A ton of content that does not apply to you?  Yes.  But that is the way it is.  Do your homework.  As a legendary former PGAT and major winner said many times, on a podcast!, you are the CEO of your own game.

 

 

 

[TexasTurf]

2 hours ago, CasualLie said:

 

 

If only it was that simple...

 

Many years ago, on YouTube I watched a guy in a random park, not a driving range, so he was probably violating some city ordinance knowing how bizarre California can be, giving swing tips in cargo shorts.  His matter of fact demeanor, confidence, but not a hint of arrogance, resonated with me.  The videos moved to a driving range.  The knowledge was in line with many top instructors.  The delivery resonated.

 

So I got on a plane to take a lesson, more than once.  Changed my game all around.

 

Thanks Monte!

 

Being that it is May 2025, if you as a golfer, looking for help, cannot discern and filter on YouTube what is helpful to you, then that is on you, not the YouTube instructor.  Are there a bunch of wacky YouTubers teaching golf?  Yes.  A ton of content that does not apply to you?  Yes.  But that is the way it is.  Do your homework.  As a legendary former PGAT and major winner said many times, on a podcast!, you are the CEO of your own game.

 

 

 

Truth, it takes actions on both sides. They can show, but you have to figure out the "how" for you.

[TexasTurf]

We're 9 lessons in and have tried balloons between the arms and "hanger" type devices to get from clubhead even with hands at impact to clubhead behind hands at impact and nothing has worked. I hit it center face but cannot get hands forward. Still so right side dominant, frustrating.

[EagleAteBirdie]

What a load of rubbish. 

 

Hitting YT for swing tips, after pulling my clubs out of the pond on hole 18, is the highlight of my weekend.

 

 

[KD1]

9 hours ago, TexasTurf said:

We're 9 lessons in and have tried balloons between the arms and "hanger" type devices to get from clubhead even with hands at impact to clubhead behind hands at impact and nothing has worked. I hit it center face but cannot get hands forward. Still so right side dominant, frustrating.

 

Are you venting or asking the forum for help?