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ShareDean Hedstrom's Teaching Style and Published Works
The best way to describe Dean's teaching style is that he lead with his heart, then backed it up with his knowledge and enthusiasm. He believed in starting with the short game, teaching the student how to get to a 'good impact position' and gradually building the swing from that point. He never advanced a student until he truly believed he or she was ready for the next step.
First and foremost, he made all his students understand the importance of a good pre-shot routine: Posture, Aim, Grip and Stance. He then started them with small swings building to long swings, always focusing on returning the club to a good impact position and on to a balanced full finish.
To wrap up Dean's philosophy it must be understood that no one taught with more passion. He truly believed that people don't care how much you know until they know how much you care.
This interview originally appeared in Philadelphia Golf Magazine.
Q & A with Dean Hedstrom of Ben Sutton Golf School
Editor's Note: Dean Hedstrom is the long-time director of instruction at the Ben Sutton Golf School outside of Tampa, Fla. The school, which recently celebrated its 35th anniversary, is the longest-running, largest destination instructional facility in the U.S. He recently took some time to talk to Cybergolf about Curt Schilling, tough love, and golf instruction the Ben Sutton way.
Q: The "Curse of the Bambino" is over, in large part due to Curt Schilling. Is it true he was a student of yours?
Hedstrom: Curt was the best student I've ever had. He worked harder than anyone we've ever had at the school. I asked him to hit 9-irons to a green and he hit 9-irons to a green ... for hours and hours. He approached golf instruction like he approached pitching, that is to say in a meticulous fashion.
Q: The Ben Sutton Golf School is often referred to as the "Howard Cosell" of golf schools, where the instructors "tell it like it is." You've been known to take off the kid gloves with students. Are you a fan of tough love?
Hedstrom: Let me start by saying the number one goal at Ben Sutton Golf School and in golf, in my opinion, should be to have fun. That said, our students didn't spend their hard-earned money to find out what they are doing right. We have students from around the world and around the corner. Many have been coming back for over 20 years. They return because we're getting through to them and advancing their goals. If that's tough love, then I am a fan.
Q: Could you describe your teaching philosophy? Do you adhere to any particular school of thought on the golf swing?
Hedstrom: I adhere to the Ben Sutton school of thought that there is one golf swing. Chipping, pitching and the full swing are variations of the same concept. We use the face of a clock to express this idea to students. Between nine and three o'clock, all golfers should be in the same positions. Swings can be unique at the top or at the follow through. But all great players are at the same place at impact.
Q: Do you believe in the notion that the short game is where students can realize the most significant improvement in their games?
Hedstrom: I believe anyone can be taught and become good at three things: short putting, good-lie chipping and good-lie bunker shots. I tell my students they should never have a bad day in these three areas. They might miss a short putt, chip or bunker shot now and then, but never all day.
Q: Finish this sentence: Students learn best when...
Hedstrom: They are having fun and the game is taught to them in a simple, straightforward manner. We stress honesty - whether they want to hear it or not, we will tell them where they are at now and what they need to do to get better. I guess that goes back to tough love!
Q: What problem is most common to your students and how do you help them with it?
Hedstrom: Set up, grip and impact position, hands down. Very few people come here the first time with a good set up and grip. This hampers their ability to produce shots they want and directly affects their impact position. They typically have a set up, grip and impact position, which usually produces weak shots.
Below are additional links to Dean's work as a golf professional:
