Steve Robinson

• Thursday, 15 May 2008
• Neil Tappin
• 0 Comments

Steve Robinson is the head professional at Sandburn Golf Club in York.
Turned Pro - July 1979
Years coaching - 25

Most notable coaching achievement : Coaching Emma Duggleby to three Curtis Cups (2000-2004), Naomi Edwards to the 2006 Curtis Cup, Simon Dyson to the 1999 Walker Cup and Michael Skelton to the 2003 Walker Cup. EWGA National Coach, EGU AAse Coach, Yorkshire Union Boys Coach, Yorkshire Gents Assistant Coach, Yorkshire Ladies County Coach, Personal Coach to Kelly Tidy 2010 British ladies Amateur Champion, coach to a number of Challenge Tour Players and LET Players.

Best tip: Always swing as hard as you can without losing your balance. So long as your swing is in balance you are in control. Motion is power, balance is control.

Lack of power: My tip to help golfers with a lack of power and poor quality ball striking would be to try and maintain the knee flex of your trail leg all the way to the top of your backswing whilst letting your upper body coil up against your lower body. This will help develop a powerful body action and give you a more consistent delivery of the club at impact.

Best course management advice: I feel players need to develop a better understanding of how far they hit the ball with each club. Lots of driving ranges are now equipped with launch monitors so once you have established the distance you carry and hit your clubs you can then develop better on-course strategies.

New equipment advice: All your new equipment needs to be custom fitted to you. Irons need to have the correct lie, shaft and grip size. Using a driver with the right shaft and loft for you along with a ball that suits your game will increase distance and accuracy off the tee. Check the loft, lie and bounce on new wedges to give you the best results around the green. A face balanced or heel-to-toe putter which is the correct length for you will be of huge benefit to your putting stroke.

Which Tour professional and why? Jim Furyk is not the longest of the tour players, but definitely one of the smartest. He always plays his own game demonstrating great course and self-management. Furyk's distance control from 100 yards and in is his huge strength and affords him many birdie chances on the long par 5s he cannot reach in 2. Players of all abilities should try to improve this area of their game.