As coaches, we teach people of different shapes and sizes and different physical attributes, the question I always like to ask myself when I teach someone new is, what is the best way that this person can swing the club with what they have?

You see, over the past decades of golf there have been different swing styles to help players improve their game, and all of these swing styles have brought a lot of positives to the game. There are lots of coaches  believe in a particular swing method and apply it to their pupils, ie, Two Plane Swing, One Plane Swing, Two Pivot Motion and most recently Stack and Tilt(single pivot motion),and stuck to these methods rigorously without any compromise. Some with successful results, others not so successful! So with this in mind, why were some people more successful than others in adopting a swing style? The answer in my opinion is their body style suited that particular method that was applied to them, and was able to carry out the physical demands that this style was putting upon their bodies!

So, as modern day coach’s stand we need to be flexible, so it is up to us not to dismiss any of these particular styles, (as Stack & Tilt has been much maligned) and to see which one is right for them? We can sometimes tell from a set up of the player on what swing style the need to adopt, although some people will be forced into a particular swing style, due to injury and fatigue (ie knee & hip replacements), but by asking the right questions and putting them through a few little tests to see what they can do physically, we can get a better insight in how we can move fellow golfers forward to progress their games to the next level!

If anyone is going through a swing change and finding it a struggle to adopt it. Let us know, it’s not that the swing method is wrong, it just maybe wrong for you!

Please feel free to comment!

Written by Mark  Janes

Apart from the Ryder Cup The Open has to be my 2nd favourite golf event to watch, sorry to say I can't make it to St.Andrews this year, way too much going on at the academy!  So like  a lot of keen golfers I'll be cheering on the British/European players to victory on TV, in the what should be a very closely contested 150th Anniversary Open Championship.

A huge amount of the talk going into the championship has been about the changes to the "Road Hole", so it will be fascinating to see how the worlds best golfers deal with the extra 40 yards that will make this hole even more of a testing challenge.  Opinion seems divided between those who believe it was tough enough as it was and those who are relishing the challenge of having to hit driver to give themselves a chance of hitting the right club into what is an incredibly demanding green.  I guess if you hit the ball miles and take a mix of 3's and 4's over the championship, then just like Simon Kkan with the new greens at Wentworth, you won't be complaining too much about the changes!

As for me helping you choose a winner, well don't put your house on it (i certainly won't be) but here goes for some sound advice from the Team at MJGA!

Mark's Top Tips - I'm going English, as unlike the football we are dominating golf currently and a Major has to be the next step!

Westwood to win - Poulter each way and for a long shot a sneaky couple of quid on Jimenez  for a Spanish treble!! Football, Wimbledon and Golf!

Ian's Top Tips -Mcilroy to win and Harrington each way!

Oli's Top Tips -  Rose to win and Poulter each way!

Will also be interesting to see how the crowds react to Tiger, from what I have heard he got quite a frosty reception on the first tee of the practice round.  But hey, make a couple of birdies and I'm sure the crowds will start to get behind him, maybe not quite like the galleries in the USA, but the crowds at The Open have a wealth of golfing knowledge and respect good golf!

For me it's still 'The Grande Dame' of Algarve courses - The Old Course at Vilamoura. Granted I'm yet to play in the States, and I havn't played the Old Course in the last 5 years (not making much of a case at the moment). However, those of you lucky enough to have played, will know the class and sheer quality of the place. It's not the most spectacular course in the world, or even the Algarve, but you know you're somewhere special as soon as you drive up to the club house. Friendly staff, who didnt even mind my dad in his cricket spikes (they put soft spikes in for free) or the fact that his divot went further than his ball on the first tee - the starter simply smiled and said ''I'm sure it will get better'' (it didnt) and the picturesque course has always been in immaculate condition when I've played.

Favourite Hole - 4th S.I. 15. Short par 3 over a pond and tree. Not a tough hole as the hazards are more psychological than anything else. However, it looks good and I hit the flag in my first round there.

Toughest hole -  8th S.I. 1. Only 420 yards, until you realise you're abroad and its 420 metres (460 yards). All slightly uphill. A tight drive made even tighter if you drove like I did on that day. The treeline leads you towards a bunker on the left with not much hope of reaching the green if you find it.

If you're in the Algarve it's a must play!

If you know of anywhere better we would love to hear about it.

Oli - MJGA

In my humble opinion Tiger really needs to get back to basics and start playing golf again.  Rumour has it he won't return until 2012, I guess Phil, Rory, Sergio and the guys must be loving that news!!  I just think if he's ever going to move on from this, he has to get back to winning events, then a few months from now people will be talking about what a great golfer he is and less of the other issues in his life.  I appreciate he will never be seen in the same light again, but proving what he's the best player ever to play the game will go some way in keeping him sane.

What do you folks think, play or retire?  What's the better option for Tiger and indeed golf?

Following on from my "Patience to Teach" blog.  Only one thing drives me slightly round the bend, no not getting beaten by my 3.5 year old son on the Rory Racing Car game, although that is a poor effort !!  It's to watch golfers hit the range with like 4 baskets of balls, all the gear money can buy and not a blooming clue on what they are working on.

Please, please have a game plan when you hit the range with let's face it all good intention.  If you just know what is the root cause of that slice or maybe that heavy strike, then you can actually do something about changing the flight or strike and move your game forwards.  Every time you practise you should see some improvement and change to what the ball normally does.  I think if your working on the correct "root cause" information, at the right pace and have some simple drills/thoughts as to stop the rot, then that ball really and truly should do something new and improved.  If your simply plugging info out of thin air or getting help from the lads, then it's not specific to you and although you might get lucky once in a while, there is no long term solution to your problems with this crazy approach.

KNOW THE ROOT CAUSE OF YOUR PROBLEM SHOT?

GET SOME ADVICE ON HOW TO CHANGE THE FLAW IN YOUR GAME?

HIT THE RANGE WITH A GAME PLAN!

TRY NOT TO HIT 4 BALLS IN THE AIR AT ONCE (ONLY JOKING, BUT SEE THIS ALL THE TIME) LESS IS MORE IN GOLF!

YOU SHOULD SEE A CHANGE IN FLIGHT OR STRIKE, OTHERWISE YOUR NOT WORKING ON THE RIGHT STUFF!

LITTLE AND OFTEN ON THE RANGE!

SMILE AND ENJOY!!! (WAY TOO MANY GRUMPY GOLFERS OUT THERE)

It's often commented that you need a huge amount of patience to teach golf!  I always reply that actually if you simply understand how difficult  this game is then you should be well positioned to help people improve.  I would suggest the client is the person who requires the patience and also a realistic expectation to what they can achieve in a certain time scale.

No one ever masters golf,  so don't go into the game with that intension, otherwise your in for a long ride and one that won't be that enjoyable!  Set realistic goals and take into consideration your family and work committments, just how much time do you have to work on your game?  Talk through with your Pro what it is you want to achieve and he will help you plan a suitable practise schedule etc.

If your expectation and your teachers are aligned correctly, then we all know what is expected and I guarantee you, you'll enjoy the ride and achieve great success in a much shorter period of time.