David Jankowski, the 2019 New England PGA Section Vermont Chapter Teacher of the Year, is the Owner and PGA of America Director of Instruction at Golf Garage in Burlington, Vermont.

David Jankowski on the importance of helping players understand the function of each club in the bag:

Before my beginners take any swings, I make sure that they understand what each club in the bag does. This includes not only what loft and lie is, but also what happens when they manipulate the club face by adding or subtracting loft. All handicaps and skill levels are encompassed in this teaching method. I have plenty of experienced mid-handicap players that come in for a session and are not familiar with the function of each club in the bag. Ball position, distance from the ball, and forward bend all slightly change with the optimal plan for the club in your hand. With Golf Garage being an indoor facility and most of my teaching performed using a launch monitor and other technology, I find that when my players know the purpose of each club, they successfully take in and process the information I am providing to them throughout a session.

David Jankowski on the business impact of helping players understand the function of each club in the bag:

With Vermont having a shorter outdoor golf season, the philosophy is to make golf year-round utilizing the facility properly. With that being said, golf technology is consistently utilized in our sessions. When 95% of golfers get on the launch monitor, they care about one thing: distance. And they certainly do not know what their optimal swing plane should be for, say, a nine iron. By starting my first session with a player explaining to them the purpose and function of each club in the bag, together we are able to build a foundational understanding of how each club should perform. This allows my players to better understand what their optimal numbers should be on each club. With a fair amount of Vermont golfers’ time spent indoors, I want to assist them in maximizing their time with the technology available to them. I hear countless times how the indoor season is just to prepare for the outdoor season. But let’s use the indoor time to our advantage, and let’s start from the first session by understanding every club in the bag. From there, my players can make the most of their time at Golf Garage, and dial in all of their numbers. Most importantly, they can have fun doing it.

If you would like to email the author of this Best Practice directly, please email janko721@yahoo.com