5 Questions with Golftec Coach Joe Stago

[Mr_Theoo]

This weeks 5 Questions come from my very own coach Joe Stago. I have been working with Joe for 2 years now. And my game has improved a lot. Wile I still have tons to learn I have enjoyed every bit of it. So without further delay here's the 5(ish) questions with him

 

Introductions first, who are you, how long have to been teaching and playing?

 

My name is Joe Stago, I've been a PGA member for 5 years and have been teaching since I became a member. I've been an assistant professional, head professional and teaching professional and have given roughly 4000 lessons.  I left the green grass side of the business 2 years ago to come teach at GolfTEC and have loved every minute of it.  I have recently began playing competitively again in SOPGA section events and am really enjoying it. I'm looking forward to a big 2015.

 

You call  yourself a “coach' rather than an “instructor. “ What's the difference?

 

A coach is an instructor but we are also so much more. A coach will focus on more than just the technical aspects of the full swing, short game and putting. I teach people how to swing the club the most effective way for them but then I coach them on how to play the game and score.

 

What makes for a successful lesson and what gets you excited during a lesson?

 

In my opinion a successful lesson is when you've made a tangible difference in someone's swing, game, or life. It could be as technical as getting a student on plane in the downswing, teaching a beginner how to grip the club, or even just sitting there and letting them talk about their day. Seeing a tangible difference from the last thing we worked on gets me excited at the beginning of the lesson because I know they are getting better and more importantly putting in the time to practice. During the lesson, seeing a change in contact, path, ball flight or even the student's attitude really gets me excited and I feel like I've made a difference for them.

 

What should a student do to properly prepare for lesson?  Should he take notes?

 

At GolfTEC it isn't imperative to take notes because of the weblessons but I always recommend the students give me feedback at the end of the lesson in their words and with what they felt so I can write notes for them in their words. It's important to be descriptive so when they practice they are taken back to what they felt and learned in the lesson.

What's the best way for a student to apply what he's learned to the course?

 

Practice in different ways. Practice with no ball and just swings to develop a feel, practice with a ball and video, practice working with ball flight on the range and not being overly with your technique, and then go out on the course and just play.

Do you have a philosophy or certain teaching style for all students? Or do you adapt to what each person brings to you?

 

I would say I do with shades of grey. I believe the most effective way to play this game for my students' is to learn to play a push-draw.  It's imperative to control the path and low point of the club through impact and I teach fundamentals and some positional moves that allow them to do this. That being said, everyone's swing and goals are different. I will adapt if needed based on the ability of the student and their goals.

What benefits do you see with a student making a commitment as opposed to the random lessons from the guy at the driving range?

 

The comparison is night and day. You could take a lesson from one of the best instructors in the world, but if you're not practicing the right things and not able to see what you're doing you could be forming bad habits. A great analogy would be you go to the gym once or twice a month. How much change do you think you'd see if your body? What if you went to the gym 4 times per week and every week you had a session with a personal trainer. Obviously you would make bigger strides in the second example.

What kind of variables do you consider when you fit golfers to clubs?

 

Clubfitting is something I am always trying to learn more about because I teach 95% of time and fit only about 5%. The student's' age, handicap, and future