Eagle Class
Lesson Plan #12
Core Lesson: Planning for the Future
Core Lesson: Planning for the Future Etiquette: Priority on the Course Review Rules of Golf: Loose Impediments - Relief
Golf Fundamental: Swing Rhythm – Swing Tempo Homework: Pages 80-86
10 Minutes
Warm Up: Complete a TABATA Circuit. Choose 4 exercises to do twice – such as high knees, jumping jacks, jogging in place and sit ups. You should do the activity for 20 seconds and take a 10 second break before jumping right in to the next activity. You should go through all 4 twice without stopping except for the 10 second breaks.
5 minutes
Introduction to Life Skill and Split into Groups: After completing golf fitness warm-up exercises, coaches
briefly overview Planning for the Future
Have you given any additional thoughts to planning for the future since last week? Do you want to go to college/play a sport in college?
Do you remember the three phases in the career and academic planning process? o Self-Exploration
o Academic and career exploration o Implementation
Rules of Golf and Etiquette (to be discussed during the activities)
Priority on the Course Review - Priority on the course is determined by a group’s pace of play. Any group
playing a whole round is entitled to pass a group playing a shorter round. The term “group” includes a single player.
“Loose Impediments” – Are natural objects including: stones, leaves, twigs, branches, worms, insects, etc.
provided they are not fixed or growing, solidly embedded, or adhering to the ball. Sand and loose soil are loose impediments on the putting green, but not elsewhere.
Loose Impediments – Relief – Except when both the loose impediment and the ball lie in or tough the same
hazard, any loose impediment may be removed without penalty. On the putting green, if the ball or marker is accidentally moved in the process of the player removing a loose impediment, the ball or ball-marker must be replaced. There is no penalty as long as the movement of the ball or ball-ball-marker is directly attributable to the removal of the loose impediment. (23-1)
Objectives of Game: Focus on building a rhythm with the putting stroke to see how many putts you can make
in a row.
Supplies: Tees or cones and multiple holes on the putting green.
Description of Set-Up: The compass drill begins by placing tees or cones at 3 feet, 6 feet, 9 feet and 12 feet
from the hole and from four directions (N,S,E,W). Should you have less space available, decrease the distance from the hole or set up 3 putts in each direction. Ideally set-up this drill by giving participants an uphill, downhill, left to right, and right to left putt. This will give you 16 different putts that have to be completed in sequence (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 2a...)
How to Play: Each participant should putt each ball attempting to hole out on each stroke, again going in
order of the tees. They should count the number of balls in a row they make and try to increase this number each time they play. Just because they miss a putt does not mean they should start back at the first tee or cone.
Coach Notes: Coach Focus stroke rhythm and tempo
Were you putting consistently? How many putts did you sink in a row?
How can you improve your rhythm? Practice strokes?
Activity 2: Front foot, back toe, back hand Duration: 30 Minutes
Description of Set-Up: Set up as you would a short game certification. Participants should be far enough apart
to take practice swings within their stations. Be sure to set up a safety zone as well.
How to Play: Each participant should warm up by hitting their normal chip shot towards a target on the green.
Once they are warm, participants should place most of their weight on their target side foot. Next, they should rest their back foot on their toe or tip of their shoe. Participants can practice hitting chip shots this way to ensure they are not scooping the golf ball. Once comfortable with this, just after the point of contact they should release their back hand from the club. For right handed players, this is their right hand and for lefties it is the opposite. This helps them again, hit down on the ball to where they are not scooping it. Participants should be learning to listen for great ball contact with this drill.
Stance Photo vs Finish Photo:
Coach Notes: Coach Focus should be on finding a good swing rhythm and tempo while not scooping the chip
Do you usually scoop the ball when you chip?
How does this feel different from your normal swing?
Activity 3: Chipping and Pitching – Swing Rhythm and Tempo Duration: 30 minutes
Objectives of Activity: Participants should use this time on the range to develop a proper rhythm for different
types of shots.
Supplies: Cones, surveyors tape, tees, range balls, targets, etc.
Description of Set-Up: Set up hitting stations on the range as you would normally. Make sure there is plenty of
space at each station as participants will be hitting multiple balls quickly.
How to Play: Have participants line up 5 golf balls perpendicular to their body approximately 3-5 inches apart
second, third, fourth, and so on balls out into the range. Remember, the participant should be constantly moving without stopping their swing for all 5 golf balls. They should hit all 5 golf balls a total of two or three times and switch with a partner.
*Coaches, please discuss what swing tempo and rhythm means with your participants.
Swing Rhythm: A visual flow, or internal timing among parts of a swing, that occurs as one continuous swinging motion. Ideally, a PLAYer’s swing rhythm has a steady or smooth application of speed without any sudden bursts of effort
o Concepts influencing swing rhythm are swing tempo and swing sequencing Swing Tempo: The overall speed or pace of the putt, chip, pitch, or full-swing motions
o Each PLAYer has a swing tempo that is unique to them
o The key is to find that natural swing tempo and then practice maintaining this tempo under variable conditions.
o As a PLAYer becomes more advanced, he or she can experiment with using different, but steady swing tempos that will enable her/him to hit a wider array of shots.
Swing Sequencing: The order of movements in the swing motion. The purpose of optimal sequencing in the full-swing is to generate maximum power in the desired direction.
Coach Notes: Coach Focus should be on swing rhythm and tempo
How did it feel to swing without stopping?
Did swinging continuously help you get a better rhythm for traditional swings?
Do you know what swing rhythm means? (a visual flow, or internal timing among parts of a swing, that occurs as one continuous swinging motion)
Do you know what swing tempo means? (the overall speed or pace of the putt, chip, pitch, or full-swing motions
Wrap Up: 10 Minutes
3. Why is swing rhythm important in the golf swing? 4. What is the difference between rhythm and tempo? 5. What are some examples of loose impediments?
