11
Oct '12

Get to know SwingFix's Kate Tempesta

By SwingFix.com staff

It's easy to see that SwingFix instructor Kate Tempesta loves golf, especially introducing the game to youths. Just look to the school she founded, the Kate Tempesta Urban Golf Academy in New York City. Here, she is a leading youth creative movement educator in the city and her school specializes on introducing the game to young golfers with a unique set of equipment and games created specifically for newcomers to golf.

Another unique attribute to Tempesta is her embrace of the LPGA's holistic view of the golfer. Kathy Murphy, Lead Instructor for the LPGA National Education Program Series, had this to say about Kate:

“Kate is totally engaged and student-centered," said Murphy. "And she stands out as an instructor who is looking for the uniqueness in people as students.

To get to know Tempesta more, we asked her five questions about her teaching philosophy and what attracted her to SwingFix:

1. Tell us about Kate Tempesta's Urban Golf Academy. What makes it unique?

TEMPESTA: At Kate Tempesta's Urban Golf Academy we coach the "whole golfer." Since the vast majority of our students are junior golfers we believe in developing the child first as we guide and nurture their process and journey with golf. We treat every student, young and old, as an individual taking into account different learning styles, developmental differences, personalities etc. Most importantly we do our best to keep learning, training, playing and practicing FUN and engaging!

2. What attracted you to the SwingFix platform and how effective can this method be for golfers?

TEMPESTA: Golf is the greatest game ever played in my opinion and NO one should be left out of that! I love SwingFix because it brings golf and golf coaching to the masses at an affordable cost and works to break many barriers between students and instructors. The personal connection between student and coach SwingFix offers goes beyond anything a golfer can read about in a magazine or online. Building a relationship and creating something together as we do with our students on SwingFix is a very effective way to learn and improve in this game.

3. In your opinion, what is the secret to taking the "range game" to the first tee?

TEMPESTA: One must emulate real on course situations during their "range game." Having a purposeful practice is crucial in performing well on the golf course and in my opinion too few golfers take into consideration all aspects of the game during their practice. Tuning into the body mind connection is the key in my opinion, slowing down your practice, creating purpose and intent and NOT just beating balls on the range and stroking a few putts.

4. Is there a particular training aid that you tend to use most regularly and with the most effectiveness?

TEMPESTA: My "training aid" is an arsenal of games we use to teach with. I am a big believer in teaching skills and technique through games. On a daily basis we are coming up with new games that teach everything from posture to distance control, trajectory to course management, etiquette, problem solving, tempo and so much more. We use a variety of athletic equipment in addition to traditional golf clubs that develop the athlete.

5. Is there a way students who have worked with you most often dramatically improve and achieve that coveted five-shot drop in scores?

TEMPESTA: The majority of my students have improved and achieved the five shot drop through course and self management. It's not how you swing ... it's how you bring your swing, creativity and sense of enjoyment to the course. PLAY golf!
 
Tags: Instructors
8
Oct '12

Load into your back leg for stability, power

By Kiel Christianson

Balance is crucial to consistent contact and power. In order to maintain balance, you need to feel connected to the ground.

Likewise, you hear a lot of golf instructors talk about how power starts from the ground up.

In this swing tip video, SwingFix instructor Justin Bruton, the Director of Golf at the Biltmore Golf Course in Miami, shows you how to work on loading your weight onto your back foot and pushing off that pivot to increase power.

Focusing on your base like this will improve your balance, too, which should improve contact.

Take an online lesson with Justin Bruton.

Tags: Range Drills
5
Oct '12

Get to know SwingFix pro Craig Renshaw

By Kiel Christianson

Having worked with some of the biggest names in golf instruction, including Butch Harmon, Hank Haney, and Dave Pelz, Craig Renshaw brings a wealth of experience to his instruction.

Renshaw splits his time between Lake Winnipesaukee Golf Club in New Hampshire and the Golf Digest Golf Schools in Arizona, giving over 1,000 lessons a year. He focuses on purposeful practice, translating students' range games into on-course performance.

Of course, you can take a lesson with Craig here.

FIVE QUESTIONS

1. First off, talk briefly about your golf instruction philosophy and how you preach it at your facility.  

RENSHAW: My swing philosophy is heavily focused on the fundamentals of grip, stance, posture and ball position. From there I look at what the student brings to the golf swing physically and how I can take their positives and improve on them to help them reach their goals. I also believe that it is important to get students as much on course as possible. I believe we need to create more on-course situations that golfers are confronted with when playing. I preach my philosophy being consistent in my message and using these (fundamentals) when I practice my own game. This helps students to see that I believe in my message enough to incorporate it into my own game.

2. What attracted you to the SwingFix platform and how effective can this method be for golfers?

RENSHAW: I am always looking to expand my clientele and looking to help people that are looking to take the most direct path to correcting their game. Lots of people say they want to get better; it is a treat to have students that have taken action to actually make themselves better. This method can be very effective because students can get quick feedback to problems before they become bigger problems. Students can get direct answers to their questions without spending a lot of their money. This lesson is theirs to practice on their own time and schedule.

3. In your opinion, what is the secret to taking the "range game" to the first tee?  

RENSHAW: There is no secret; it is important that you get the student into on-course situations as often and as quickly as possible. The instructor must create this environment by getting students to understand practice situations, changing targets, lies and pressure that each golfer faces when playing. The better and more often that this is created the better off the golfer will be on the course.

4. Is there a particular training aid that you tend to use most regularly and with the most effectiveness?

RENSHAW: If I was going to pick one specific training aid, I would pick alignment sticks. They can be used in many different ways to help with alignment, ball position and starting direction of ball flight. But ultimately, the golf ball is the most effective training aid. It tells you everything that you need to know. If you pay particular attention to what the ball does in the air, it will tell you everything that you need to know to make the necessary corrections to become a better golfer.

5. Is there a way students who have worked with you most often dramatically improve and achieve that coveted five-shot drop in scores? Power, consistency, short game, management, playing more golf, etc.?

RENSHAW: The quickest way to achieve that five-shot drop is to incorporate plenty of practice in your short game, with attention to the areas where you throw the most shots away, taking a playing lesson to work on course management and learning how to play golf versus just working on having a great swing and finally getting on the course to work on your game. It is not important to keep score every time, but it is important to understand how to play golf. Golf requires each person to make decisions and react to the consequences of those decisions.
Tags: Instructors

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