famous pro who ruins swings

**mrt10x** · May 29, 2010

I remember a discussion a while back about one of the well known pros who was notorious for ruining swings... the saying went something like "he's been Leadbettered" only Im not sure if it was Leadbetter.. anyone know who I am talking about?

**senorchipotle** · May 29, 2010

david leadbetter is infamous for ruining nick faldo's swing.

**VOX** · May 29, 2010

Some refer to it as "Lead poisoning".

**sean_miller** · May 29, 2010

I remember a discussion a while back about one of the well known pros who was notorious for ruining swings... the saying went something like "he's been Leadbettered" only Im not sure if it was Leadbetter.. anyone know who I am talking about?

I used to laugh at his GD tips. Swing this, while holding this under here, stepping on this, while thinking about this that and the other thing. His claim to fame was making people look like clowns.

**michaeljames92** · May 30, 2010

Ian Baker-Finch. Need I say more?

**Titleist_ProV1x** · May 30, 2010

I thought it was Butch Harmon, ........hahaha, just kidding Butch

It's David Leadbetter, He has a school over at Strawberry Farms GC, in Irvine CA, Where he's better known as "Lead Poison" worst instructor in golf, lol

**MSDOGS1976** · May 30, 2010

I wonder how he had so many high profile players under his tutelage at one time? Not saying he is a good instructor, but there must be something there to reach the status he has/did.

**WUTiger** · May 30, 2010

Back about 2003, I took a couple of lessons from a former club pro who is now a local businessman.

He told me about his summer gig teaching with Ledbetter. He said Ledbetter has some good general principles, but they often don't translate well to the needs of individual tour pros.

He said Ledbetter's strong suit is marketing: Ledbetter talked better teaching pros into bringing their college-bound local stars to the school. Then, when the youngsters did well in college, they were associated with the Ledbetter "method."

He said he's decidedly "non-Ledbetter" in his teaching approach.

**senorchipotle** · May 30, 2010

Back about 2003, I took a couple of lessons from a former club pro who is now a local businessman.

yeah, AK works with one of leadbetter academy's teachers. i just hope he doesn't take any advice from david himself. but really though, can a teacher be that bad? after all, he's teaching people to swing a club, he's not doing eye surgery. what's his deal?

**laconic517** · May 30, 2010

well all those young kids who seem to go to ledbetter camps seem to crush the ball, partly due to that early wrist hinge he seems to promote I suppose. I have to believe his method is fine for getting people to play golf in college, but at the highest levels maybe it doesnt work as well.

**WUTiger** · May 30, 2010

yeah, AK works with one of leadbetter academy's teachers. i just hope he doesn't take any advice from david himself. but really though, can a teacher be that bad? after all, he's teaching people to swing a club, he's not doing eye surgery. what's his deal?

The pro I talked to identified one PGA tour player was hopping mad at Ledbetter for messing up his swing. This player is not one mentioned by earlier posters - can't remember who it was.

Anyway, DL took a guy who had won lots of PGA tournaments and tried to improve the player's swing. The player risked trying to improve things, and ended up worse off. The old battle between continuous improvement and "if it ain't broke don't fix it." I took a look at some of DL's online short game tips this morning, and his whole scheme was quite a bit different than what I've been doing. DL may be good for some people, but I'll pass.

**jamo** · May 30, 2010

well all those young kids who seem to go to ledbetter camps seem to crush the ball, partly due to that early wrist hinge he seems to promote I suppose. I have to believe his method is fine for getting people to play golf in college, but at the highest levels maybe it doesnt work as well.

You need to take those camps with a grain of salt. The kids first of all are all very very top skilled golfers already, but most of them have self or parent taught swings, so most real PGA instruction will do them good. Plus, they never actually see Leadbetter (or Haney, or whatever), so you can't give him all the credit. And those kids play all day every day (really, how much school work do you think gets done?) and live on a golf course. They have everything in their swing timed perfectly.

He said Ledbetter's strong suit is marketing: Ledbetter talked better teaching pros into bringing their college-bound local stars to the school. Then, when the youngsters did well in college, they were associated with the Ledbetter "method."

He is a good marketer, the bracelets, Callaway, and I've seen him in hotel commercials.

I took a look at some of DL's online short game tips this morning, and his whole scheme was quite a bit different than what I've been doing. DL may be good for some people, but I'll pass.

I'm with you on that one. Basically all of the big guys are a little off-putting to me personally

**alf174** · May 30, 2010

For the masses I think he's fine; pros, who knows, opinions are going to be very subjective. I've got his interactive video package and everything I've watched is pretty basic well known stuff that agrees with other instructors stuff I've seen (again, for the masses). Whomever he's working with on the marketing, it looks pretty top-notch.

**Shanks A Million** · May 30, 2010

He has his moments. I got one of his videos on Netflix to check out, and it had some good tips. His explanation of hitting through the ball got rid of my weak and short followthrough. He explained that you hit through a tennis ball because you don't know the exact moment it's going to hit the racket. Same deal with a golf ball, you want to swing through it and keep moving well after impact.

**Nike Markiie** · June 1, 2010

Isn't he Ernie Els instructor? Michelle Wii?

**jamo** · June 1, 2010

Isn't he Ernie Els instructor? Michelle Wii?

Yes to Wie, but I think he is sort of on again, off again with Els.

**JaY_B** · June 2, 2010

Wie is working with Ballard, they have to say shes working with Leadbetter because he is her management companies 'head coach'

**mattttt25** · June 4, 2010

Anyone read The Golf Swing, his first book? I have always thought it may be the perfect instructional book for the masses. Speaks of the athletic swing, and doesn't concern itself with fades, draws, fixes, clubs selection, anything. Just pure athletic swing.

If you have read it, please let me know where he screws up.

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