Casey McMullin is a teaching professional at Puetz Golf Aurora in Seattle, Wash. and the inventor of the Swing Whistle.

Casey McMullin on the importance of getting creative to help students learn proper impact:
Many of my students were casting and wasting energy early in the downswing and not maximizing the most out of their swings. In an effort to change this, I duct taped two 7-iron heads to a club and put it in their hands. On their downswing, I could hear a faint whistle sound emanating from the open hosel of the extra club head, and when the whistle occurred at impact, the student could feel exactly where the power was in the swing. Through that makeshift aid, I came up with a Swing Whistle that attaches to your shaft down near the hosel and teaches the golfer how to deliver maximum speed at impact. I try to get my students to achieve a low-toned note right at impact, rather than a “thin” whistle (over-swinging) or an early whistle (forcing the club down with your hands early). I also reinforce this concept by putting an impact board three inches behind the ball to encourage hitting down on it.

Casey McMullin on the business impact of getting creative to help students learn proper impact:
My changes to how I teach impact have really helped my students with their impact positions, which has helped them become better golfers. Since using these techniques, I have increased my lessons (I estimate that I did around 425 lessons last year) and sold about 50-75 Swing Whistles at $15 each. The Whistles were not necessarily presented to every student, just the ones I thought it would help. I was able to improve my business by being creative, and other golf instructors can do the same.

If you would like to email the author of this Best Practice directly, please email casmcm@msn.com