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Oct '12
Five Questions: Getting to know Chris Rowe
By Swingpal.com staff
His star is on the rise nationally these days, but for several years now Chris Rowe has been recognized as one of the top golf instructors in the state of Texas.
He is currently the head golf professional at Whispering Pines Golf Club outside of Houston and prior to that he worked at famed Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth.After a successful playing career, Rowe turned his attention to teaching and found his passion, and his students have been benefiting ever since. Several juniors have gone on to earn college scholarships under Rowe’s tutelage and he has helped golfers of all ability levels take their games to new levels.
And that work has not gone unnoticed, as Rowe has twice been honored by the PGA of America with national awards and he has been nominated for the top instructors lists issued annually by both Golf Digest and Golf magazine.
We caught up with Rowe recently to talk about the golf swing and how the average golfer can better improve their game in this new edition of Five Questions:
SWINGPAL: How would you describe your teaching philosophy to a potential student?
ROWE: All students fall into one of two impact positions. These positions are rounded impact and target impact. The rounded impact position is considered the modern swing where the club covers the ball and starts working left of target. Target impact is considered the old-school swing where the club points at the target for a longer period of time right after impact. Your flexibility and your body’s ability to rotate determine which category you usually fall into.
SWINGPAL: What would you consider to be some popular myths about golf instruction, meaning things that most average players believe are true but actually are not?
ROWE: The myth that I hear from television commentators all the time is the player was off plane but got his club back on plane before impact. You are either on plane or you’re not!
SWINGPAL: What aspects of the golf swing do you think most of the players you teach have trouble understanding?
ROWE: Rotation seems to confuse students. Rotation is not just the backswing it is the follow through as well. I like to have my students hold a medicine ball with both hands, make a simulated backswing and then throw the ball to me simulating a forward swing with me standing directly behind them. Most students do not rotate enough the first few times. Once they feel a complete rotation it has an immediate impact on their swing.
SWINGPAL: What advice would you give a golfer who is going to seek out professional instruction for the first time?
ROWE: When looking for a new instructor, ask around. Most cities and towns always have a few instructors that stand out. Ask some of the better players at your course who they would recommend taking lessons from.
SWINGPAL: What is the most valuable aspect of the lesson process for most golfers?
ROWE: The most valuable aspect of the lesson is that the student gets better! I ask every student after every lesson these questions; did you learn something and did you have fun? If they were not able to say yes to both of these questions then I did not do my job.