Andy Gaither is an ardent student of golf’s mechanics, so it’s hardly odd to see the teaching pro at Black Gold Golf Club spending hours discussing the elements of the swing with anyone who’ll listen.
Gaither, 58, has spent decades picking the brains of past and present teachers such as Mike Bender, Jim McLean, Jim Hardy, Hank Haney and his mentor Jimmy Ballard.
“Every instructor has something of value to add about the golf swing,” Gaither said. “I may not agree with their overall swing philosophy, but I always learn something new from them that I can use.”
His thirst for knowledge is passed on to his students, although he doesn’t dictate they all swing the club the same way.
“It’s up to the individual player to have their own feel of the golf swing. Only the individual can determine that,” Gaither said. “My job is to turn that feel into a swing that works for them.”
His dedication to teaching golf is well known in Southern California. Gaither has helped coach the Villa Park High School golf team for the past eight years and he’s been involved in junior and adult learning programs for more than 25 years. He also brings in golf notables such as Jim Colbert for free clinics, and he’ll help any struggling golfer at any time.
“I was raised by parents who taught me to give back to my community, and I’m a people person,” Gaither said. “As a teacher you have to connect with the person you’re instructing. You have to care about them and care about their success.”
That attitude was recognized recently by other regional instructors who selected Gaither as the 2014 Southern California PGA Metro Chapter Teacher of the Year.
“Southern California is one of the epicenters for golf instruction in the U.S.,” Gaither said. “We have a lot of really good teachers in our chapter and it’s a nice honor to be recognized by your peers for doing a good job. It’s a validation by my peers that maybe I know something about the golf swing.”
After years of study, Gaither, a North Carolina native who still speaks with a tinge of a Southern drawl, believes there are two absolutes in the swing.
“To me, Mike Bender knows the geometry of the swing better than anybody. You have to be on plane swinging into impact,” he said. “And Jimmy Ballard knows what the arms and body should be doing with the ‘connected swing.’ You have to have both of those dynamics to have a consistent, repeatable swing.”
Gaither credits technology with helping teaching professionals perfect mechanics.
“Just look on the pro tours and you see a lot more good swings from top to bottom – a lot of players swinging the same way,” he said. “The danger is when teachers use technology as a crutch. You can’t teach by just using Trackman, you still have to use your eyes and use video to break it down.”
Still, when Gaither scans the driving range at Black Gold he sees most golfers stuck in a “hit balls” routine.
“They’re not working on any one part of their swing and they don’t use anything that will give them feedback on what the club is doing,” he said. “You have to have feedback. Placing something like an empty water bottle outside the golf ball will help you hit the ball from the inside and promote a draw. If you’re hooking the ball, put the bottle on the inside of the ball to correct the swing path. It’s that simple, but most people won’t use anything. Feedback is the key.”
