The 3 Things I Fix in Every Swing Lesson

It’s Thursday (whoops, Friday) and you’ve got this coming,

How I Start Every Lesson (And What You Can Learn From It)

Hey folks, welcome back! 👋

Most of you may never get the chance to work with me in person—but that doesn’t mean you can’t benefit from how I approach my lessons.

Whether you’re struggling with your swing or trying to take your game to the next level, I want to share the exact 3 things I look for in almost every first lesson. These are the same fundamentals I come back to again and again with players of all levels—from beginners to scratch golfers.

If you’re unsure what to work on, use this as a self-audit framework for your own swing. Let’s dive in.

Watch the video breakdown here!

Looking back on the last 5 years

It’s been 5 years since I left my club pro job. I took some time to look back on what I learned, and also what I have missed

👉 Watch now

✅ Step 1: Grip and Setup

The first thing I always ask is:

“Does this player look and feel comfortable over the ball?”

That tells me a lot before they even hit a shot.

I look at their:

• Grip – Is it functional? Does it match their ball flight?

• Posture – Is their weight balanced through the middle of the foot, or are they too much on their toes?

• Ball position – Is it consistent and appropriate for the club they’re hitting?

💡 One of the biggest issues I see: players starting on their toes, which leads to all kinds of compensation later.

 ✅ Step 2: Posture and Balance

From down the line, I draw a line from the armpits to the ground.

If that line drops through the toes, the player is likely on their toes and off-balance.

If it drops through the middle of the foot, they’re more likely to be stable, athletic, and set up to move properly.

This one detail—armpit line over toes—can help explain:

• Early extension

• Pulling the club inside too quickly

• Swaying and balance issues

✅ Step 3: The P2 Checkpoint (Takeaway)

I’m always looking at the P2 position (club at hip height).

Here’s what I’m checking:

• Is the shaft on plane (roughly parallel to target line)?

• Is the clubface square to spine angle?

• Are they already compensating by P2?

If your takeaway is off, your downswing has to be a miracle to recover. Players who start inside with an open face at P2 are almost always battling a slice.

🔁 Fix the takeaway, and you may not need to think about the downswing at all.

🎯 What You Can Do Right Now

If you’re struggling with consistency, don’t rush to fix your impact position or transition. Instead:

• ✅ Check your grip

• ✅ Get your posture right

• ✅ Audit your P2 position

Even without a coach beside you, these three fundamentals can help you self-correct and identify swing issues earlier.

And remember: your golf swing starts at setup. Build the foundation first.

Got questions? Want me to review your swing? Drop a comment or send me a message.

Let’s keep building better swings—one checkpoint at a time.

Thanks for reading and watching!

—Ryan

🎥 Watch the full video here

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