12 quick and helpful tips from a top PGA Tour coach
GOLF Top 100 Teacher Justin Parsons is a great follow on Instagram.
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Justin Parsons is part of the new class of GOLF Top 100 Teachers, and he teaches golfers of all different abilities: From Tour players like Louis Oosthuizen and Harris English, to recreational golfers in his instruction role at Sea Island.
Justin is also a fantastic follow on Instagram (you can follow him right here!) especially because every so often, he’ll do wide-ranging Q and As where he’ll share all sorts of handy pieces of advice with his question-asking audience. There are all sorts of good nuggets here, so let’s dive right in.
1. How to stay under par
That’s the formula, according to Parsons. Easier than it sounds, but also helpful to see it broken down into component parts. Focus on doing the little things you can control, and the good scores will follow.
2. Improving range practice
Parsons said on a recent “Off Course with Claude Harmon III” podcast that the driving range can be a dangerous place for golfers. The best way around it? To go through your full routine, and hit different shots.
3. How to avoid getting steep
Don’t let the idea of fetting steep, which is a close relative of coming over the top, become an obsession. Lots of great players have been steep, Parsons says. But if you’re not one of those, throwing a frisbee with your lead hand is a good feeling to embrace in your golf swing.
4. Improve your range sessions
Simple, write it down in advance!
5. What is width?
Stretch your arms as far away from your body as you can on the backswing; what you’re feeling is width.
Young DL3 in 1992.
So much width in his arms and a huge shoulder turn. A former World Long Drive champ once told me Davis had more power in the tank than anyone. pic.twitter.com/DJsojbd6JU
— LKD (@LukeKerrDineen) November 4, 2021
6. How to conquer the chipping yips
First step: Don’t panic. Second step: Try lots of different grips.
7. Connect your takeaway
Drop your trail hand (right hand for right-handed golfers) and practice making the first half of your backswing.
8. One-handed putting
It’s great for tempo, Parsons says, and something you can practice mid-round.
9. Fundamentals
Good alignment and good contact; you can do a lot worse than focusing on those two things.
10. Short swings
Think of this as the Tommy Fleetwood drill.
11. Step drills
A great way to improve sequencing on the downswing, which is one of the trickiest moves to master in golf. The crow hop drill is one example.
12. Armpits over knees
Posture is another of fundamental that pros think about all the time, and can have big knock on effects later in your swing.
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