Brian manzella's 10 rules for golf teachers

1. Lessons should be fun. That doesn't mean funny, but it could. It means entertaining, and that is different things for different students. Some folks would be "entertained" just by hitting the ball better and nothing else.

2. The student should hit better shots than they showed up hitting and the sooner in the lesson the better. They might need something that won't click right away, or even for a long time, but they need to hit it measurably better now too.

3. The Hall-of-Fame is made up of golfers with very different looking swings. Even if you have some things you think are commonalities that you teach, never forget Trevino looks nothing like Nicklaus, and Nelson and Hogan grew up together but don't look alike either.

4. The club hits the ball. If you change or add anything to a golf swing, it had better result in changing what the club does, otherwise it is nothing but window dressing that might make you feel better as a teacher, but probably is a waste of your time and most importantly, the student's time.

5. You are getting paid for your best. Act like it. Try like hell in every lesson both mentally and physically. Don't leave anything on the table. You might get dirty. You might get sore. You might have to look like a fool. But if the student gets better, you did your job.
6. You should be able to give a great lesson without saying a word. Try it sometime. But every word you say in a lesson has an impact. Choose them wisely.

7. You should be able to demonstrate everything you are teaching. Well. Never ever stop working on your own swing and game. No excuses. You are your own best guinea pig. Test it before you ever think about teaching it.

8. More golf swings are ruined than saved. But every golf swing ever made should be able to be improved or helped to maintain. Make sure you know which one is best for that student and make sure you know which one your are doing at any point in a lesson.

9. You will make mistakes in lessons. You will give horrific lessons. You will teach goofy ideas, just because. You will fail. That's just human. But, you can reduce the mistakes, give less bad lessons and fail way, way less. Every day. Every year. Until they box you up like a bunch of range balls.
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10. Listen to everyone who thinks they know something about the game. There will be something to learn from it, even if that is what not to do. Never quit learning. Never stop evaluating everything you see. You have the ability to make a living doing something millions would love to. Appreciate that fact every day.

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