Michael Breed
I decided that Suleiman would never improve unless he could practice alone, which meant he'd have to be able to go to a driving range alone. Impossible?
I didn't think so, so I started working on a routine that would enable Suleiman to hit balls alone. He had told me that he could get to Chelsea Piers, a sports facility in Manhattan with a driving range that has mats like Sunningdale's.
The lesson was one of the most successful and exciting of my career. We started by getting down on our hands and knees, and I helped Suleiman feel around the hitting mat. Once he knew the different parts of the mat — the edges, the section of turf to stand on, the section of turf to hit off, the tray holding the balls — we figured out a way for him to align the clubhead and his body to the ball.
The address routine is simple:
1. Suleiman bends down on his right knee while holding the club with his left hand.
2. He reaches for a ball with his right hand and puts the ball onto the rubber tee.
3. He aligns the clubhead behind the ball with his right hand while holding the end of the grip with his left hand.
4. He slides his right hand up the shaft to the grip.
5. He slowly stands up and slides his feet apart. He is then ready to hit.
At first, I talked him through the routine. But after a few balls, Suleiman had learned to do everything himself, with no verbal or physical guidance.
He hit a dozen balls. The first few were dribblers, but then his contact dramatically improved and the ball began flying in short little arcs.
His final shot of the day was a crisp wedge that flew about 40 yards. Suleiman was ecstatic. He raised his arms, smiled wide and yelled, "Yes, I did it!" We hugged like a caddie and tour player celebrating a victory on the 18th green.
BREED'S TIP: Preshot routine
Helping Suleiman become independent on the practice tee reinforced the fact that everybody needs a preshot routine. The routine can vary, but each golfer needs to create one and stick to it. Each golfer has a body posture, distance from the ball and club alignment that are necessary to make solid contact. Even a tiny variation in the preshot routine is likely to cause a poor shot.
