Five Questions: Getting to know Josh Dyer
By Swingpal.com staff
Josh Dyer is a PGA Teaching Professional at The Johnny Warren Golf Academy in Gallatin, Tenn.
He has had extensive experience teaching both juniors and adults year-round at the academy's 1,200 square foot indoor/outdoor teaching facility, making full use of the facility’s state-of-the-art video swing analysis technology and launch monitors.
Dyer was kind enough to sit down with us for an interview to cover a variety of topics for this edition of Five Questions:
SWINGPAL: First off, talk briefly about your golf instruction philosophy and how you implement it at your facility.
DYER: My teaching philosophy is that my job as a golf professional is to help each student enjoy golf more. I focus most of my teaching on the pre-swing fundamentals like grip, alignment and posture. Once those fundamentals are in place, I progress to the shape of the student's golf swing relative to the student's swing plane. I believe all students have their own individual golf swings and swing tendencies. I use drills to move the student's club and body into a better position in the impact zone. A proper impact zone is the key to playing good golf. I implement this philosophy using video analysis and swing aids.
SWINGPAL: What attracted you to the Swingpal platform and how effective can this method be for golfers?
DYER: I was first attracted to the Swingpal platform because it offers a quick lesson for a good price. It allows the golf professional to analyze the student's swing using video and has all the drawing tools I use everyday at the academy. The drill videos are also very helpful.
SWINGPAL: In your opinion, what is the secret to taking the "range game" to the first tee?
DYER: I believe the key to taking the “range game” to the course is understanding the difference. On the range you can be mechanical and work on your swing, but on the course you must limit your thinking and play golf more athletically. The key to doing this is practicing a lot during the week and having a good pre-shot routine during your round. During the pre-shot routine think and rehearse your mechanical moves, but once you step over the ball you need to play target-oriented golf with no swing thoughts.
SWINGPAL: Is there a particular training aid that you tend to use most regularly and with the most effectiveness?
DYER: I use the Path-Pro almost every lesson. The Path-Pro can be used to do a number of different things with the golf swing. I use it mainly to work on swing path but I have also used it to keep parts of the body from moving in certain directions. For example, if a student moves his/her head off the ball on the takeaway I can place the noodle of the Path-Pro against the left side of his/her head to keep it in the same place. It is a very versatile aid.
SWINGPAL: Is there a way students who have worked with you most often dramatically improve and achieve that coveted five-shot drop in scores? Power, consistency, short game, management, playing more golf, etc.?
DYER: If a student wants to drop their scores about five shots, then we would do at least half the lessons on short game. Improving the short game is the quickest way to recovering some of those lost shots. I would still work on their swing because striking the ball better makes golf more enjoyable. I believe the three most important clubs in your bag are the putter, sand wedge and driver. With that being said, improved putting and chipping can shave many strokes off your game.
Take a lesson with Josh Dyer.