Need advice for a new female player

[glueguy]

My wife wanted to start playing, and I was thrilled.  I bought her a decent starting set and we ventured out last weekend.  I was fully prepared to buy her some lessons with a real coach early on, but wanted to get her on the driving range when it was just the two of us for her first time.

Very quickly I ran into a problem that I don't know how to address.  I tried to show her that the shot is in the wrists and not lots of body rotation, arm muscling, etc.  I stood over the ball and showed her to move the club straight back from the ball (so that she wouldn't lift up right away) and then start to hinge her wrists.  When she tried this, standing in what I would call a typical posture (slightly bent, club at comfortable length) her, um, chest got in the way.

We worked for a little while, and she migrated to a posture that had her leaning a lot, and her feet not positioned relative to the ball where I wish they were.  This was what she needed to do to be able to let her arms move free.  She was hitting the ball, but not far because she wasn't getting good wrist action.  I'll leave that to a pro to figure out how to get her to do that.

She said that next time she will wear a much more compressive sports bra, but I still think that there will be an issue relative to a guy's body.  Any advice?  Will the average male pro be able to work with this or should we look for a female or anything else specific?

[The Recreational Golfer]

First off, I don't mean to be unkind, but how can a 30-handicap teach his wife how to play golf? I don't say a word to mine unless she asks, mainly because I don't know the answer, and if I do, I still don't know how to teach it. Most of the time my answer is, "Ask H*****," her pro.

The best thing to do would be to sign her up for lessons and go do something else while she gets them. Leave everything to the pro.

In his book, For All Who Love the Game, Harvey Penick suggests that big-chested women allow their left arm to bend in the backswing, and allow the left heel to rise, in order to get a full turn.

An average male pro might not know how to deal with this issue, but a good one would. Not being cute, here, either. There are pros and then there are pros.

[cbrian]

Well you kind of have it wrong. The swing is supposed to have lots of body rotation. The better she gets at turning her body, the less she will get in her own way. Trying to swing all arms or with the wrists (w/e that means) is going to make it harder for her... or anyone for that matter.

[sean_miller]

Originally Posted by The Recreational Golfer

First off, I don't mean to be unkind, but how can a 30-handicap teach his wife how to play golf? I don't say a word to mine unless she asks, mainly because I don't know the answer, and if I do, I still don't know how to teach it. Most of the time my answer is, "Ask H*****," her pro.

The best thing to do would be to sign her up for lessons and go do something else while she gets them. Leave everything to the pro.

In his book, For All Who Love the Game, Harvey Penick suggests that big-chested women allow their left arm to bend in the backswing, and allow the left heel to rise, in order to get a full turn.

An average male pro might not know how to deal with this issue, but a good one would. Not being cute, here, either. There are pros and then there are pros.

Look at photos and paintings of women golfing in the 1800s and early 20th century. Most of them have a bent left arm.

[boogielicious]

Have her get lessons where they do video.  It will help.  My wife is similar and she went to Golftec for a few lessons.  She does bend her right arm (she's a lefty) but make good contact.  It is tough to teach your spouse.  I've had some luck, but be cafeful not to try too much, especially on the course.  The range or practice green is a better place.  On the course, wait until they ask.