INTRO AND OVERVIEW
Along with four other golfers, I spent this weekend at the Long Island Tour Stop Clinic hosted by Brian Manzella and Michael Jacobs. It's a two-day clinic featuring many hours of instruction from both pros on full swing, driver, short game, putting, and a full 18 hole playing lesson. It's a ridiculously good value for $399.00. I'll provide a review of each aspect of the school below, but I think the two most important reasons that the event was so great are simply reflective of the amazing instructors.
The first reason is that the school is geared entirely toward a player's long-term development. It's not typical clinic band-aids designed to get a player doing something a little better that day. Instead, the focus is entirely on the premise of helping the player understand what he or she is doing wrong and why, so that he or she can take that knowledge home and use it to continue to improve. The second reason, which is probably the most unique in golf instruction, is how much these guys genuinely love teaching and care about their students.
The best way to illustrate these is to give a personal example. I have been serious about golf for about 2 years. In that time, I've had a metric ton of bad instruction. In my first lesson with Michael Jacobs, he worked incredibly hard to undo the canon of misinformation theretofore ensuring that all of my efforts to improve were for naught. Since that time, I've occasionally struggled with a very ugly swing flaw in which I'd suddenly be unable to make consistent contact and would literally lose 2.5 clubs of power on even "good" shots. It turns out that flaw is major-- dropping the club way underplane and coming in from about 10* inside. As I learned when this issue decided to come out all weekend, this is (for me) a ridiculously hard flaw to undo, but Brian and Michael would not quit. We covered full swing on day one, and I just couldn't fix it no matter how hard they tried to help me. I left discouraged and generally feeling like golf is becoming a waste of my efforts. I am naturally very good at many things, but golf is not one of them. That may be what I love about it, but on some occasions it just gets to be too much.
The next day, while doing short game instruction, Brian emphasized how great I was doing at the areas of the game that are my strengths. Instead of the guy who just couldn't get it, I was the example of the class. Moments later, Michael pulled me aside to explain how my solid pitch swing could fix my full swing. We worked on it for a good while, until it was time for the class to move on to bunker instruction. There, Brian pulled me aside and told me with all seriousness, "I dreamed last night of drills to help you." He pulled me aside to work on them, where he really pumped me up by claiming that I was the first student ever to do the hurdle drill (apparently from his dreams) on the first try, and that I'd be talked about for the next 99 years for that. It was especially great when he told me that David Toms almost killed David Duval the first time Brian showed him the same drill on the range at a tour event!
Both Brian and Michael continued to help and encourage me throughout the subsequent playing lesson, and about 13 holes in I finally started to get it. The best thing about this really tough situation was Brian and Michael's attitude. They never for a second sounded like it wasn't an absolute certainty that I'd figure it out, and it was just a matter of time until I decided they were right and did it. Throughout it, they were funny, witty and just incredibly great to be around. They are not playing characters in their videos, folks, it's the real deal.
If this hasn't convinced you to figure out a way to get to one of these events asap, below is a review of each aspect of the school. As you'll see, not only is there something for everyone, there is a fantastic amount of instruction crammed into two days.
Day One: Full Swing Analysis
At the outset, Brian and Michael look at everyone's swing on Trackman. The class listens as a group as each students video and Trackman numbers are analyzed, and the pros agree on the necessary changes. The enthusiasm and knowledge underpinning this discussion is just awesome, and it's really inspiring to hear how simple they think it will be.
After the analysis, the class heads to the range. There, each student gets significant one on one time with each pro. When you have two instructors as good as Brian and Michael, the instruction is quite complementary and compatible. It was absolutely amazing to see the difference in some of the students' games in just a couple of quick hours.
During the instruction, Michael had his personal trainer drop by. He spent some time with me working on diet, and then showed the entire class various stretches and resistance exercises for golf.
From there, the class moved to the driver. After explaining the differences between the full swing we've been working on and the driver swing, the instructors again reviewed each player's swing on Trackman and worked one on one with each student for a tremendous amount of time. Again, we saw some absolutely incredible improvement from some students in only a couple of hours. It's amazing the difference truly world class observational and instructional skills can make.
Day Two: Short Game and Playing Lesson
On the second day, the focus shifted to the short game. Brian gave the class a demonstration and explanation of chipping and pitching technique. From there, the students practiced the techniques for a solid hour with both pros providing constant feedback and assistance. It's almost indescribable the amount of one on one attention a really great instructor like Brian or Michael can provide when working with 2 or 3 students at once.
From there, Brian explained and demonstrated the correct technique for a basic bunker shot and a variety of different lies and pin positions. Again, the class broke up and practiced the skills while receiving constant feedback and instruction from the pros. At all times during this practice, both pros made absolutely sure to spend plenty of time with each student. As you'd expect with world-class golf instructors, the lessons were individually tailored to each student's needs. Yet, whenever Brian or Michael noticed a common fault or truly important point, they made sure to tell the entire group.
After bunker play, the instruction moved to the putting green. Brian and Michael teamed up to teach proper putting technique, including setup, grip and stroke. Again, each student received significant one on one time with Brian and Michael. Another point worth noting is that, whenever Brian or Michael noticed an equipment issue, such as driver or putter fit, they pointed out the problem and grabbed a demo club for the student to try.
After discussing technique, Michael provided an absolutely incredible clinic on green reading. The stuff he taught I have never seen in print. He is developing a system that will do for players who struggle with green reading what Confessions of Former Flipped did for, well, flippers, and the class got a ten minute lesson in it that was absolutely amazing. I know it works too, because there is no bigger pressure than when Brian tells you to read a must-make putt for him, which he asked me to do on several occasions later in the day.
From there, we played a full 18 holes of golf in two groups, with Brian and Michael switching groups at the turn. Both Brian and Michael watched and provided feedback on literally every shot hit by every one of us. They made suggestions concerning swing technique, course management, setup, and preshot routine. For example, Brian explained to me that I shouldn't back off my practice swing to line up my shot. Instead, it was much better for me to step right into the shot after a good practice swing. The change made an immediate difference. The pros also took the playing lesson to give us instruction on playing difficult lies and specialty shots. For example, Brian taught me how to blast the ball from the greenside rough like one would while playing a bunker shot.
Beyond the instruction, it was just incredibly fun. Brian was exactly the person you'd expect, providing his ceaseless, hilarious, rapid-fire, stream-of-consciousness musings on all things golf. I'd travel anywhere to get the quality of instruction only he can provide. Michael is simply awesome. He is smart, interesting and unflappable. I can't wait to be able to tell people I knew him in 2010 when the rest of the world figures out what Brian and many of us already know about MJ.
Throughout the weekend, and particularly during the playing lesson, all of the students were extremely friendly and encouraged one another unabashedly. We cheered great shots, offered advice and encouragement, and generally got along great. There was never any pressure and the students represented a very wide variety of ability levels.
At the end of the day, Brian and Michael recorded a video for each student, providing a complete review of his or her individual needs in each area of the game we had worked on over the weekend. They suggested drills and practice schedules, and no one left without a complete understanding of what to work on to continue to improve. I am quite certain we all left extremely exhausted.
I spent so much time writing this wall of text because I feel it's the least I can do given the hard work Brian and Michael put into this weekend for only $399 per student. I can't stress enough what an amazing experience it was. Find a way to go, and I guarantee you won't regret it.
Along with four other golfers, I spent this weekend at the Long Island Tour Stop Clinic hosted by Brian Manzella and Michael Jacobs. It's a two-day clinic featuring many hours of instruction from both pros on full swing, driver, short game, putting, and a full 18 hole playing lesson. It's a ridiculously good value for $399.00. I'll provide a review of each aspect of the school below, but I think the two most important reasons that the event was so great are simply reflective of the amazing instructors.
The first reason is that the school is geared entirely toward a player's long-term development. It's not typical clinic band-aids designed to get a player doing something a little better that day. Instead, the focus is entirely on the premise of helping the player understand what he or she is doing wrong and why, so that he or she can take that knowledge home and use it to continue to improve. The second reason, which is probably the most unique in golf instruction, is how much these guys genuinely love teaching and care about their students.
The best way to illustrate these is to give a personal example. I have been serious about golf for about 2 years. In that time, I've had a metric ton of bad instruction. In my first lesson with Michael Jacobs, he worked incredibly hard to undo the canon of misinformation theretofore ensuring that all of my efforts to improve were for naught. Since that time, I've occasionally struggled with a very ugly swing flaw in which I'd suddenly be unable to make consistent contact and would literally lose 2.5 clubs of power on even "good" shots. It turns out that flaw is major-- dropping the club way underplane and coming in from about 10* inside. As I learned when this issue decided to come out all weekend, this is (for me) a ridiculously hard flaw to undo, but Brian and Michael would not quit. We covered full swing on day one, and I just couldn't fix it no matter how hard they tried to help me. I left discouraged and generally feeling like golf is becoming a waste of my efforts. I am naturally very good at many things, but golf is not one of them. That may be what I love about it, but on some occasions it just gets to be too much.
The next day, while doing short game instruction, Brian emphasized how great I was doing at the areas of the game that are my strengths. Instead of the guy who just couldn't get it, I was the example of the class. Moments later, Michael pulled me aside to explain how my solid pitch swing could fix my full swing. We worked on it for a good while, until it was time for the class to move on to bunker instruction. There, Brian pulled me aside and told me with all seriousness, "I dreamed last night of drills to help you." He pulled me aside to work on them, where he really pumped me up by claiming that I was the first student ever to do the hurdle drill (apparently from his dreams) on the first try, and that I'd be talked about for the next 99 years for that. It was especially great when he told me that David Toms almost killed David Duval the first time Brian showed him the same drill on the range at a tour event!
Both Brian and Michael continued to help and encourage me throughout the subsequent playing lesson, and about 13 holes in I finally started to get it. The best thing about this really tough situation was Brian and Michael's attitude. They never for a second sounded like it wasn't an absolute certainty that I'd figure it out, and it was just a matter of time until I decided they were right and did it. Throughout it, they were funny, witty and just incredibly great to be around. They are not playing characters in their videos, folks, it's the real deal.
If this hasn't convinced you to figure out a way to get to one of these events asap, below is a review of each aspect of the school. As you'll see, not only is there something for everyone, there is a fantastic amount of instruction crammed into two days.
Day One: Full Swing Analysis
At the outset, Brian and Michael look at everyone's swing on Trackman. The class listens as a group as each students video and Trackman numbers are analyzed, and the pros agree on the necessary changes. The enthusiasm and knowledge underpinning this discussion is just awesome, and it's really inspiring to hear how simple they think it will be.
After the analysis, the class heads to the range. There, each student gets significant one on one time with each pro. When you have two instructors as good as Brian and Michael, the instruction is quite complementary and compatible. It was absolutely amazing to see the difference in some of the students' games in just a couple of quick hours.
During the instruction, Michael had his personal trainer drop by. He spent some time with me working on diet, and then showed the entire class various stretches and resistance exercises for golf.
From there, the class moved to the driver. After explaining the differences between the full swing we've been working on and the driver swing, the instructors again reviewed each player's swing on Trackman and worked one on one with each student for a tremendous amount of time. Again, we saw some absolutely incredible improvement from some students in only a couple of hours. It's amazing the difference truly world class observational and instructional skills can make.
Day Two: Short Game and Playing Lesson
On the second day, the focus shifted to the short game. Brian gave the class a demonstration and explanation of chipping and pitching technique. From there, the students practiced the techniques for a solid hour with both pros providing constant feedback and assistance. It's almost indescribable the amount of one on one attention a really great instructor like Brian or Michael can provide when working with 2 or 3 students at once.
From there, Brian explained and demonstrated the correct technique for a basic bunker shot and a variety of different lies and pin positions. Again, the class broke up and practiced the skills while receiving constant feedback and instruction from the pros. At all times during this practice, both pros made absolutely sure to spend plenty of time with each student. As you'd expect with world-class golf instructors, the lessons were individually tailored to each student's needs. Yet, whenever Brian or Michael noticed a common fault or truly important point, they made sure to tell the entire group.
After bunker play, the instruction moved to the putting green. Brian and Michael teamed up to teach proper putting technique, including setup, grip and stroke. Again, each student received significant one on one time with Brian and Michael. Another point worth noting is that, whenever Brian or Michael noticed an equipment issue, such as driver or putter fit, they pointed out the problem and grabbed a demo club for the student to try.
After discussing technique, Michael provided an absolutely incredible clinic on green reading. The stuff he taught I have never seen in print. He is developing a system that will do for players who struggle with green reading what Confessions of Former Flipped did for, well, flippers, and the class got a ten minute lesson in it that was absolutely amazing. I know it works too, because there is no bigger pressure than when Brian tells you to read a must-make putt for him, which he asked me to do on several occasions later in the day.
From there, we played a full 18 holes of golf in two groups, with Brian and Michael switching groups at the turn. Both Brian and Michael watched and provided feedback on literally every shot hit by every one of us. They made suggestions concerning swing technique, course management, setup, and preshot routine. For example, Brian explained to me that I shouldn't back off my practice swing to line up my shot. Instead, it was much better for me to step right into the shot after a good practice swing. The change made an immediate difference. The pros also took the playing lesson to give us instruction on playing difficult lies and specialty shots. For example, Brian taught me how to blast the ball from the greenside rough like one would while playing a bunker shot.
Beyond the instruction, it was just incredibly fun. Brian was exactly the person you'd expect, providing his ceaseless, hilarious, rapid-fire, stream-of-consciousness musings on all things golf. I'd travel anywhere to get the quality of instruction only he can provide. Michael is simply awesome. He is smart, interesting and unflappable. I can't wait to be able to tell people I knew him in 2010 when the rest of the world figures out what Brian and many of us already know about MJ.
Throughout the weekend, and particularly during the playing lesson, all of the students were extremely friendly and encouraged one another unabashedly. We cheered great shots, offered advice and encouragement, and generally got along great. There was never any pressure and the students represented a very wide variety of ability levels.
At the end of the day, Brian and Michael recorded a video for each student, providing a complete review of his or her individual needs in each area of the game we had worked on over the weekend. They suggested drills and practice schedules, and no one left without a complete understanding of what to work on to continue to improve. I am quite certain we all left extremely exhausted.
I spent so much time writing this wall of text because I feel it's the least I can do given the hard work Brian and Michael put into this weekend for only $399 per student. I can't stress enough what an amazing experience it was. Find a way to go, and I guarantee you won't regret it.
