Athletic Motion Golf- The Podcast · Mike Granato and Shaun Webb

How to Fix Your Golf Swing Step by Step (Change Your Swing!)

·22 min·1 clip

Shaun reveals how a simple drill with a headcover and wall transformed his backswing after months of practice.

This episode features Sean and Mike from Athletic Motion Golf discussing the practical process of making a lasting swing change for experienced golfers. They draw from their extensive coaching backgrounds, using technologies like GEARS and force plates to analyze swings. The conversation focuses on the mindset and methodology required for effective change, rather than quick fixes. Sean recounts his first significant lesson with instructor Phil Ritson over twenty years ago, which cost $115 an hour. Ritson prescribed a drill involving a taped headcover and a wall to correct an inside takeaway, a change Sean practiced for months. He later experimented with methods from Leadbetter and Mike Bender before adopting the "stock" model they now teach, based on data from tour players. A common frustration they address is the "low left" shot that can ruin a round, contrasting it with a playable slice. They emphasize that intent alone cannot fix issues like a steep downswing or an overslide. The hosts compare a golf lesson to physical therapy, where initial gains are painful and must be maintained with consistent homework. They state that expecting immediate fixes after a lesson leads to frustration and the belief that "I got worse." They differentiate their approach from "band-aid" resort lessons aimed at getting through a single round. For a significant change like fixing a bad grip and steep downswing, they tell students it is a "year project" and they will likely play worse initially. They cite working with NBA Hall of Famer Grant Hill, who spent a summer relearning his basketball shot, as an ideal mindset. A key insight is that attempting change at full speed, like a 90 mph 7-iron swing, offers "zero chance" of success. They advocate a progression starting with static poses, then slow-motion swings, foam balls, and gradually increasing speed. They note that over half their lessons use foam balls to avoid the negative feedback of mishits. They argue the forces in a current flawed swing are precisely what need changing, and a new motor pattern cannot be written at full speed, likening it to trying a new signature. They stress that meaningful change requires thousands of correct repetitions, with stages rarely discussed, and honest coaches like Scott Hamilton or Sean Foley cite timelines of six months to two years even for tour players. The hosts insist on using video feedback for every practice swing, recommending tools like the Swing Coach app, as practicing without visual feedback is "wasting your time." They dismiss golfers asking "what it should feel like," stating feel is earned through reps and is personal, so a coach's description is often not applicable. The tone is educational and conversational, blending personal anecdotes with clear coaching philosophy. The style is direct and pragmatic, avoiding sugar-coating the effort required. Golfers frustrated with inconsistent results and willing to commit to a long-term technical overhaul would find this episode invaluable. Listeners seeking a quick tip to use immediately on the course should skip this discussion.

As heard by us

A plainspoken look at why real swing fixes take patience, repetition, and a coach's eye.

This episode stays on a simple point: a swing change only matters if a golfer can live with the work that comes with it. The coach walks through cause and effect with gears and force plates, and keeps circling back to the idea that the visible miss usually comes from something…

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Why you'd press play

If you need the truth about swing changes, this is the one.

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