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Steve Cooper

Thursday, 15 May 2008
Neil Tappin
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Steve Cooper, Top 25 Coach

Golf Monthly Top-25 coach Steve Cooper is based at Gainsborough GC in Lincolnshire

Date turned pro: 1970

Most notable coaching achievement: Being awarded an Advanced Fellowship of the PGA in recognition of my achievements in coaching

Coaching philosophy: Good, better and how? Good = what’s good about a player’s swing? Better = what area needs improving or strengthening? How = How am I going to structure the improvement? Technical changes, ways of thinking, drills, etc.

Best tip: To enable the club to move through the correct positions within the swing consistently and at speed. It is imperative that the arms and body work in total harmony to support it. If the body movement out performs the swinging of the arms, good golf can never be achieved.

How to stop slicing: Be aware of how the clubface should perform through impact. The clubface should appear to naturally over through impact. Ensure you employ a neutral grip, two knuckles evident on the back of the left hand and both V’s point to the right shoulder. This will allow the clubhead to release freely through impact. When the shaft of the club is parallel to the ground, post impact, the toe of the club must point to the sky.

How to stop hooking: Place three balls on the ball to target line a ball width apart. Holding the club above the middle ball, swing back and through feeling the club face squares as it would make impact on all three balls, with the clubface now staying square for longer through impact. Consequently the ball flight would improve straight away.

Lack of power: By swinging baseball style (i.e. addressing an imaginary ball at waist height), swinging back and through without stopping so the sensation of swinging the arms, timing the body, transferring the weighting and locking/unlocking the wrists all become obvious. A really dynamic feeling is achieved as the clubhead really does travel at speed.

How to stop yipping: Favour a heavier putter. Grip lightly and feel the putter swing from side to side from the shoulders. Keep the hands passive but ensure the putter stays square. Maintain good rhythm.

How to stop fat & thin shots: To alleviate fat and thin shots, ensure good posture at set up and then maintain the spine angle throughout the swing until the ball is on its journey. Strengthen core stability to help maintain this angle.

How to stop the shanks: Ensure good posture and spine angle, making sure that the weight doesn’t fall onto the toes as the club comes into impact. Do not allow the head to fall forward into the ball. Practice hitting above the feet to further develop the correct feeling.

How to stop three-putting: The majority of three-putts occur as a result of poor distance control on the first putt. If you are a distance away from the hole, visualise putting into a dustbin lid to take the pressure off and ensure the next one is a much shorter putt.

Best course management advice: Always stay in the present concentrating solely on the shot that you are about to play. Forget about any bad shots that have already occurred or shots that you will be facing later in the round.

New equipment advice: It is imperative that any new equipment you might purchase is custom fit to you. The correct length, lie, shaft flex, weight, grip thickness and design of the clubhead are all so very important. Without these a correct and consistent swing cannot be easily achieved. Ensure a custom fit is available to guarantee a correct choice.

Which Tour professional and why? Ernie Els. He demonstrates such a superb rhythm, balance, coordination and a great technique. He really does support the feeling of effortless power. The coordination he shows by allowing his arms and body to work together in harmony is absolutely first-class.