Lesson Testimonials
After I give lessons, I ask my students for feedback via email, several are below ... Tom.
Hi Tom
Like to report back after a couple weeks of practice sessions and it seems my shanks are a thing of the past time. My confidence is growing back healthy. Currently working on compression.
Thank you again
P.S.I been bragging your name on how you helped me.
Joshua S.
Thank you Tom. Great Driver lesson today.
You knew how to diagnose the problem and fix it in just a few swings. A testament to your instructional skills.
Don C.
Tom,
I'd like to first start off by saying thank you. You are a tremendous teacher and make learning the complicated game of golf seem
much easier. I did the 5 lesson package, and feel that I walked away more confident, and also knowing what to do to help
improve my game.
I throughly enjoyed your teaching approach, I never felt embarrassed when I would have a miss or bad shot. You knew how
to correct form and achieve the result we were looking for.
You can tell how much you care about the game of golf and helping others improve theirs. There is a lot of information to
process and go over, which I enjoy because you always have something to work on while at the range to get better.
The biggest take away for me after these 5 lessons is how comfortable I feel over the ball, that always felt awkward before.
Also having the tools when I hit a bad shot - the steps to correct it, but more when hitting a good shot what was done
right.
In the past on a bad or good shot I wouldn't have know what was done correctly or not, or how to fix it.
I'd highly
recommend you to anyone looking to improve their game, no matter the level of golfer you are. I look forward to more
lessons in the future.
Thank you.
Andrew LaForce
Editors note: this was an unusually compressed lesson package, theee swing lessons in one week at the clients request.
Hi Tom,
Well, tourney 1 in the books, and I didn't become an expert golfer overnight, BUT, I gotta say I am sooooo impressed with how
well my game had improved!!!!!!
I honestly didn't expect that good of results. 80% of my hits were drastically improved from all previous years. And when I hit
it wrong, I knew what I did wrong and could adjust next shot,
Just wanted you to know how pleased I am with the results! Thank you again my man!!! Really pleased!
Luke Giannone
Tom,
I really enjoyed the lessons and the layout of them. For me the timing of once a week was perfect because it allowed me time to practice between sessions.
Having you help me develop my "cues" during my different swings was a real game changer.
Thanks again and I will be booking again for sure!
Ben Flansburg
Hi Tom,
Your encouraging words after every lesson were very helpful, sending me notes for me to review was a great asset. I look back on
them all the time. Not knowing what to expect you opened my eyes on how to address and hit the ball. I thoroughly enjoyed my
lessons with you and would highly recommend your lessons.
Thank you,
Tim Royce
This testimonial was unsolicited:
Thanks Tom, I looked forward to every lesson. Your step by step process was exactly what I needed, and your follow up notes
will be a good point of reference. I feel that I now have a baseline to improve my game and knowledge to make some on course
corrections.
Thanks again
Phil Wolfley
This testimonial was also unsolicited:
Hey Tom it's Kyle J, I was hoping to set up another lesson with you. I really liked the lessons we had and found them
very informational and has helped my golf game a lot.
The weekend after our first lesson I ended up winning the "B" Flight of the Club Championship at Batavia CC,
and the lesson we had the week before really helped me play the best I could that weekend.
Thanks again,
Kyle Johnson
Good morning Tom,
Just a note of thanks for the recent lesson.
It really paid off!
I shot 79, 81 over this past weekend in the Cazenovia Club Championship.
and finished 1st place in my class by 11 shots!
I hope we can get together for a round before the season ends.
You're the man!
Kevin Garry
Thanks coach. I really enjoyed learning the basic skills needed for my new retirement activity. It was fun being the
student/athlete again.
You did a great job breaking down the skills for me to practice and put into play.
I hope to see you in the clubhouse.
Dave Seward
Tom - We really enjoyed our golf lessons with you. We looked forward to it every week. I've never swung a golf club in my life,
and in about 6 weeks I went from not even hitting the ball most of the time to being able to hit the ball with my driver about
150 yards more consistently. I knew it was possible, but I really didn't know where to start.
Thank you for being patient but
at the same time it's obvious you have very high standards. We really like that about you. At times the technical language was
a lot to process for a newbie...but in the end it made sense. We appreciated all of the drills and the technique.
Now after
your beginner package we are having a lot of fun on the golf course. Worth every penny. We can't thank you enough!
Rebecca & Suzanne
Hi Tommy, I can't thank you enough for the lesson. My driving has improved significantly and I'm starting to score !!
I concentrate everyday on the drills you gave me and am completely focused when I play!!!
You're the man!
Thanks,
Tim Buckley
Tom, Thank you so much for the outstanding golf lessons! You are a natural born teacher.
I really appreciate your patience, vast knowledge,and understanding of the game of golf. You provided me with all of the
tools necessary to improve my swing
and my game. After each lesson, I became more and more motivated to work on what I had learned.
Being the organized person I am, I especially enjoyed having my personalized webpage you provided, including detailed notes,
drills, links to videos, and lesson feedback. Your drills are so helpful! My body is finally comprehending the techniques
of the golf swing, stroke, body alignment, pre-shot routines
and so much more!! Thank you for always having the perfect trick up your sleeve - (or apparatus in your truck) - to demonstrate the lessons perfectly!!
I'll keep practicing and will always remember to "Unleash the Beast"! (Editor's note - this was a phrase we came up with to
remind Kathy to execute her technique with authority - not passively.)
Thanks,
Kathleen Starkweather
This was a fantastic experience for me. I was struggling with my game and the 5 lesson package helped more than I anticipated.
The chipping and putting lessons alone have instantly saved me strokes. Tom's ability to read me as the lessons were in
progress made me feel like he is in tune with the slightest details of the golf swing and what was right for me to be a
better golfer. His attention to detail proves that he has studied all aspects of the game and is prepared to teach you at
the level and speed you need to learn.
Jim Luttrell
I've been golfing about 10 years now and have taken many lessons from a couple of different instructors. There have been many
ups and downs: learning the basics, playing poorly at first, playing better, getting bad habits, getting frustrated, taking a
lesson, then repeat.
After taking the 5 lesson package with Tom, I feel like he was really able to narrow down the bad habits I had and show the
correct way to swing each club. Using drills and key phrases to remember them was a big help. Also having all the lesson
notes on my own page was really helpful to recall what I learned. With all my previous lessons, I feel like I forgot what I
learned by the next season (or the next week!). I will definitely be referring back to them in the future.
After some practice with all of my new knowledge and working out some kinks, I played the best 9 holes of my life this week.
Most of my other rounds this season have been in the mid to upper 50s. This week I shot a 42! While 4 months pregnant!
Thanks for the help and the confidence Tom!
Jessica Jolliff
Tom,
It's been several weeks since my last lesson, and I must say that I have seen an improvement in my game. The first time
I played, post lessons, I did poorly, and was wondering if I had learned anything.
But then I started to replay your words in my head before taking a shot,
for example, "straight back, straight through". That actually helped. Of course it would, you have a purpose for all of your
statements, slogans,
mantras, etc.
Having never played golf before, and beginning at age 74, I questioned whether or not lessons would do anything positive for
me - can you teach an old dog new tricks? Well apparently you can,Tom.
One sign that I actually learned something, is that I was regularly losing 8 or ten balls per 9 holes.
Now I rarely lose one. Also, whiffing on the ball has all but disappeared.
I appreciate that you tailored the lessons to my age group. I like the pre-lesson notes you send, and of course the
post lesson review with recommendations.
Your knowledge of the game and its intracacies, coupled with your affable demeanor made for a fun experience.
I could write a book on what I liked about the lessons!
I look forward to more lessons in the future, after all of this sinks in a little more.
Please feel free to share my comments as you wish.
Sincerely,
Nick Ilasi
P.S. I especially liked winning the ten dollars from you as a result of the putting drill.
Hi Tom,
Loved the golf lessons. You really packed a lot of information into those 5 lessons. I especially liked the various drills and
personal notes on the ones for me to focus upon. I do chipping and putting practice nearly every day and feel much more
confident that I can improve when I actually play.
I also liked that you explained why we were doing a particular drill and the mechanics behind it.
When I came for these lessons, you were basically my last hope. I was ready to quit the game, it was so frustrating to not
have any consistency. Your positive attitude and encouragement along with a great learning experience has given me a renewed
interest in the game.
Thank you so much.
Carolyn Bongi
Hi Tom, I can't thank you enough for starting me on the path to a better golf swing. I felt I hit about 60% of the balls well
and a few were like "rockets"! Going to hit balls tomorrow morning to ingrain the three key ideas from the lesson.
Thanks for watching after the lesson. I will concentrate on the follow through.
From a teacher evaluation standpoint. You asked me my goal, you gave me enough training to improve my swing but not too
many changes that I would not be able to remember them tomorrow. I feel like I can replicate the swing tomorrow.
You exceeded my expectations.
I can't wait to hit balls again tomorrow and bring it to the course. My goal tomorrow in league is to make good contact,
the score will follow.
Don Chmielowiec
I've been golfing for thirty years. This is the first time I've taken lessons. I love the game of golf but have been struggling
with a bad slice and a hard time with my chipping.
From the very first lesson, I've learned how to strike the ball properly. The sequence of the lessons put me on the
right track of the proper swing. The putting lesson gave my more confidence and has improved my putting. I know with more
practice and playing I can be the golfer I always wanted to be. I'm hitting the ball longer and with more control.
My drives are unbelievable. Long and straight. The training videos and lesson notes will come in handy to keep me on track.
Thanks Tom,
Fred McVay
Hi Tom, here's my feedback response to my lesson package with you:
1) I looked forward to each lesson and have rededicated myself to practicing, indicating a trust that I developed from our
experience together.
2) I intend to stay in touch with you in order to continue learning.
3) Especially useful to me is your use of practice drills which you conveniently make available via communication technology
and which I can retrieve from my stored files.
4) I've experienced that any lack of full understanding of technique and implementation becomes more and more clear as I
practice the drills.
Thank you
V. James (Jim) Monaco, Jr.
The lessons were great, Tom. Having been playing for 15 or so years on and off, it now feels like I am starting all over again.
And thats a positive! I was constantly shown the wrong way on how to strike the ball, or the same old "keep your head down."
All without proper instruction.
I cannot say that I am completely fixed, because I have some serious practicing to do. But I can say that I feel very confident
that with the tools that you've given me, to greatly improve on my game. I may have been expecting a little too much upon my first
lesson. I think that may be the drive in me to succeed, that I want immediate results. But I understand now, that thats only
possible with practice and solid effort.
I really appreciate the emails at the end of our lesson. I can see that you really put time and effort into each and everyone
of your students. And thats wonderful. I have nothing but positive things to say to my friends and family about your lesson
package. I would not hesitate to recommend one of them to you, if they are in need of a tune up. Their swings look a lot
better than mine tho!! Im sure that I will be needing a tune up as well in the future.
Thanks again, Tom. I really do appreciate it.
Take care,
Jared B.
Hi Tom, first of all I hope all is well.
I really enjoyed the lessons you provided and I am starting to see some definite improvements in my game. When I first began
lessons I was suffering in ball striking and distance. As I continue to practice and perform the exercises you have provided
my game and my confidence has greatly improved.
I think the way you structure your lessons in beginning with the ball striking lesson 1st is definitely a big plus.
This past weekend I played the finals for the C class players in my golf league (Buffalo Golf Club of Western New York - 19 and up
handicap) and won the finals match play last Saturday.
I believe if it weren't for the lessons you provided I would of never even made the 1st cut. My handicap has dropped 3 strokes in
the last month and it is still in the downward trend. I definitely will be interested in further lessons in the future and I look
forward to working with you again.
I have highly recommended you to many people and hopefully they will take the same steps I have. Once again a big THANK YOU
for a fantastic job working with me.
Jim
Hi Tom! Jason and I were discussing our lessons last night and how glad we are that we took them (especially me!).
It is frustrating to continue to play golf badly if you can improve your game immensely just by taking lessons.
You have corrected everything on me including the proper stance, grip, swing and how to line up the driver.
Golf is apparently one of those games that looks deceptively easy!
I thought the lessons were perfect the way they were! I understand how you have to build up from the basic swing
and correct form to the full drive and then on to chipping and putting. I very much appreciate you changing up
the order when requested when I was so frustrated with my driver that I wouldn't use it anymore.
My driver and I are now friends again thanks to you! My putting has improved immensely and I will keep working on the chipping.
I also loved that the lessons were direct and to the point and you made sure that my form was correct. I am looking forward to
implementing what I learned on the course and improving my game. I definitely anticipate working with you again in the future
to make further corrections as needed.
I know Jason was so happy after his swing lesson last night! He said he was so happy he took the lessons from you to straighten
out his swing! We are so looking forward to the rest of the golfing season and would definitely recommend you for anyone
looking to improve their game or learn correct form from the start.
Thanks again and I am sure our paths will cross again!
Linda Tomporowski,
Hi Tom:
I found my golf lessons to be very informative and extremely beneficial. I have already seen improvement in my game.
Your emails before and after the lessons are excellent tools to help remember all of the aspects taught at our lessons.
I looked forward to my lessons each week and you provided me with some much needed confidence in my ability to play the game
of golf. Thanks to you I might actually enjoy playing the game of golf and not get so frustrated.
My husband and I took lessons last year from another professional at
(name of country club in Rochester withheld by editor)
which I thought was a big waste of money. The lessons we received there came no where close to the level at which you teach
and the in-depth knowledge you provide at your lessons.
I will stay in touch and let you know if I reach my goal to beat my husband in a round of golf this year.
Thanks again for everything,
Lynette C.
Editor's note - this student is in his eighties, with the enthusiasm of a student in his twenties!
Hi Tom,
I've been working on the swing pointers you've recommended, with and without club in hand. Have also hit balls several times
in the golf dome with some good results, but also some power leaks.
Per your recommendation, I picked up a mirror at Walmart as well.
My wife found the DVD you recomended on Ebay
and it arrived yesterday.
With just a look at one if the discs, as you predicted, I love it, and am eager to review it all. It opened my eyes to what
I've been doing and what I should be doing.
I think I'll be a better pupil when we next meet. Thank you for your help and patience.
Tom, you have a great ability as a teacher to get into the mind of the pupil, recognizing not only his possibilities, but
also working around his limitations. Your enthusiasm is contagious and inspiring. To get a phone call at home concerning
something covered on a lesson is highly unusual, but much appreciated, as are your detailed email reports and reminders following
each lesson.
You are truly special!
I look forward to our next encounter.
Jim Powers
My wife and I had never played golf, but we were both eager to learn. Tom focused our attention during each lesson to very
specific goals, and provided us small things to work on between lessons. We learned the basic mechanics of various swings used
in golf (putting, chipping, full swing) and had a lot of fun!
It has been a month or so since our last lessons, and we are enjoying trying to improve our golfing. I definitely plan on going
back for more instruction.
Thanks Tom,
Tony Lister
Hi Tom,
I researched golf instructors prior to taking lessons. Your lessons are our first lessons! Your webpages and weekly
newsletter are very helpful to learn about you. Your teaching philosophy and golf mechanics resonated with me prior
to the lessons. Thus, we chose to travel to you for lessons. (Editors note: Dave and his wife Wendy travelled 60 miles
each way for their couples lessons)
I knew we would need to change our golf mechanics to become better. Your lessons are well organized and in good logical
order. Each lesson improved our game and confidence for putting, chipping and full swing.
You use of training aids and alternatives is excellent. After seeing so many training aids on the market, we are glad
to hear first hand experience and thoughts.
Although time was limited to get all your information across to the student, I greatly appreciated your responses to
questions on special situations a golfer may confront.
It is obviously that you have researched your golfing materials and your experience playing and coaching at a high
level adds to the quality of your lessons. Those have helped you become an excellent instructor.
Overall, the lessons were worth our time and travel. To improve, we knew we needed to take lessons from someone with
similar golf philosophy. For us, change was necessary and you helped provide the catalyst and underpinnings to
improve our respective golfing experience.
Thanks Again,
Dave Bray
Hi Tom,
I want you to know that I really enjoyed your lessons. I feel that I really understand where I was going
wrong with my swing. I like the way you made sure I understood what you what you were showing me. I like the
drills you recommended and how they pertained to my swing problem.
I was also impressed with Plum Creek Driving Range. Very well kept and clean with good prices.
Sincerely,
Dan Edwards
P.S. Thanks for he extra time you spent with me.
Tom
Thanks for your help during the past couple of seasons. I have been able to drop my score into the mid 80s with the best being a 82 twice. Your weekly email tips has augmented the lessons . It is short and to the point. Keep up the great work.
All the best for a great 2015
Alan Ley
Hi Tom,
I just wanted to thank you for all your help. I came to you 2 years ago when I was struggling to hit the ball
with any club, and my handicap had gone from 8 to 12.
Since I have seen you 5 times in the past 2 years, I've been
a lot better. My handicap is currently 5.3 and I've won 2 club championships and played great in various other
tournaments.
I will continue to come to you in times of need and before tournaments to freshen up my swing.
You have done wonders for me and I wanted to say thanks!
Joe Bogue
Hi Tom,
Your lessons were truly the first time someone explained what is important about the swing and the game of golf, and why.
You are passionate about the game, and you don't teach quick fixes to get immediate results.
I will let you know how my season goes as I will be playing in numerous tournaments for work in the upcoming weeks.
Thanks again,
John Sabo
(Editors Note: this student had a putting lesson on Wednesday, a chipping lesson on Thursday, played golf on
Friday and sent me this email after her round. Also note that I mandate that all my students refer to themselves
as "excellent putters" because if you don't think it, it won't happen. Tom)
Hi Tom,
Thanks for 2 excellent lessons and for providing honest feedback. Your teaching techniques, drills and tips gave
me a tremendous boost in my confidence as well as a solid foundation toward playing better and better golf. I can
attest to the fact that your are a top 100 teacher, or as I said "a top 10"!!
Because I love to practice, I really appreciate all of the drills you incorporate into your lessons. Also, the pre
and post lesson e-mails are invaluable and will help to reinforce what I learned.
Today I played 18 holes at Batavia CC and broke 100 for the first time ever there. In fact, I shot 51-45 with
5 pars (holes 4,12,13,14 and 16). All pars were made with 1 putt... I struggled with my putts on the front nine
but got better as I became more and more comfortable with my grip and stance and stayed true to the pre-shot routine.
I am confident I will break 90 this season because I am an excellent putter!!
Best Regards,
Karen Kosciolek
Tom,
Thank you for the golf lessons.
The lessons were exactly what I needed, and probably should
have happened years earlier.
I was very pleased with the methodical, step-by-step explanation of the
various strokes (compression, chipping, putting, driver)
and the specific practice drills designed to help me to "own" them.
I appreciated the detailed explanations (in language I could understand) for each
topic.
Thanks again for you time and expertise.
Kevin McLaud
Hi Tom, really enjoyed the lessons. Had lessons before which obviously didn't help much. After searching the web I
saw your site & was really impressed. So much information... I'd thought I'd give you a try at fixing my problems.
Originally I was looking to fix my driving which was the worst part of my game, but I liked your sequence of ball
striking first, etc. After 40 years of golfing, I realized how much I was doing incorrectly. The technical
explanations opened my eyes. I'm glad I picked the package to cover all aspects - I would suggest that to
anyone who is looking to improve.
I especially liked the review notes you sent so I can refer to them. So far I've only been to the range & can
see the difference. I do catch myself reverting to my old habits at times but now I know how to fix it.
Just remembering one key thought & it straightens right out - amazing.
I can't wait to see what happens on the course. At least I have my confidence back. I'll update you after playing a
few rounds.
Thanks Tom,
Rich Howe.
Tom - your lessons worked for me.
My last three rounds have been in the 70's including my best ever score of 75
on a difficult par 72 course.
I have played golf for over 40 years and always struggle to keep a single handicap.
After two lessons with you, my ball striking is the best it has ever been.
Birdies come a lot easier when you are on the green in regulation.
Hope to see you next year for some tune-up.
Best regards, Craig
C. Craig DeMuth DVM
Hi Tom -
Here is some feedback for you, feel free to use any of this as a testimonial.
Overall, I really enjoyed our lessons. For the first time, I really feel like I know what I am actually
doing when I swing the club. Not that I always do it right, but I know what I should be doing, and why.
That is a very good feeling.
My favorite part of the whole process was the preview/review notes. This appealed to me very much, and is one
reason I called you initially. When I had lessons previously with someone else, I sent him a similar profile
prior to the lessons just because I thought it made sense to do so. He did not request it, but I thought it
was an obvious thing to do. And the review of each lesson and preview of the next lesson was very helpful
to have in writing. It is too much to remember in your head all at once. As you said, I have printed
everything and put it in chronological order in a notebook, so now I can refer to it.
As for the lessons themselves, they were great. I was amazed, and still am, that we did not take a full swing
until the final lesson. I now see why, but I just can't imagine any other instructor doing that. But I
think it makes a lot of sense.
I feel like you are better suited to teach "good" players than high handicappers because you really know a lot
about the swing and a lot of it might be over the head of golfers who are not swing fanatics. But, you said
you talk to golfers like that a bit differently, so maybe it all works out. I may be totally off base here;
I probably am. For me, your approach definitely works.
I felt immediate improvement throughout the lessons. After the putting and chipping lessons I played and
shot 78 with seven up-and-downs, 29 total putts, and I made six putts between 3-6 feet in length.
Straight back, straight through! I also saw dramatic improvement during my full swing lesson, and
that is when I think I started to really understand what I should try to be doing with my arms,
stance, etc. I look forward to hitting balls with a purpose now!
Thanks much. I will let you know how things go.
Eric Stone
Tom,
I could write a three page letter to tell you what you and your lessons have done for my golf game.
But I will only touch on a few things.
Two years ago I was an 18 handicap golfer, after the first year of taking lessons with Tom I ended the year
as a 13 handicap golfer.
This spring I told Tom if I could hit my driver a little longer I would be a better golfer.
After a lesson or two Tom had figured out my driver shaft was wrong for my swing. So I ordered a new driver
shaft that he had recommended for my swing. After I hit the new driver,I called Tom and told him "He was a genius"
I was hitting my driver better than I ever had before.
Tom breeds confidence into his students. He told me "you are a better golfer than you think you are, you need
to believe in yourself" so I did, and after that my scores improved.
At the end of this year my handcap is now a nine thanks to Tom Tucker.
Just so everyone knows - I have taken lessons
from other Pro's and they don't compare to Tom Tucker. I will keep taking lessons from Tom and have reffered my golfing
buddies to Tom because they have seen the great improvement
in my golf game over the past two years.
Thanks Tom,
Jeff Marcy Sr.
Chris Carroll is a professional player on The US Players Tour who started taking lessons from me in 2013.
We get together for a swing session when his swing is way off, but usually I can email, text, or call him with
instructions
after he explains what's wrong with his ball flight. The vernacular with the swing method he uses is very specific, so
we understand each other when I give him written or verbal instructions.
Here's an excerpt from am interview he gave after winning an event in Canada in September 2013:
Is there anyone you would like to thank ?
I have had the best support team in the world. I would like to take this time to thank Tom Tucker. He is my new golf
coach and friend. He and I have been working for about three months now, and I see my game heading toward
greatness. He is a huge help to me. In more ways then one.
Mini tour life is hard - not easy at all. He is a good
guy to talk to and a great golf coach. I would have never been this good with my driver if I had not seen him.
I owe him a lot.
Hi Tom,
I am extremely glad that I decided to get the couples golf lesson package instead of just lessons
for Josh. I enjoyed the lessons and feel that I am already a better golfer.
What I like most about
the lessons are your pre lesson notes and prompt feed back. After each lesson I looked forward to your
email to remind me of what my strongest points were, what drills I should concentrate on, and some
recurring things I was doing incorrectly, and of course the encouragement that I am doing well!!
I can always refer to the notes (or your website) when I feel like I need a refresher.
Your prompt emails and detailed reviews showed that you truly cared about how we were
doing and are invested in assisting us to becoming better golfers. What I love most is that
after taking your lessons I have the confidence to go to the driving range or golf course on
my own and I have the knowledge to know how to change my swing if I'm making mistakes.
Thank you so much for all of your help!! I would definitely recommend my friends to you!
You can use any quotes you like from my feedback, And also, I've been hitting my hybrids and driver so much better,
still working on the 3 wood though!
Thanks Again,
Shannon Foley
Tom,
Sorry it's taken me so long to get back to you - but life got busy!
My feedback on your lessons:
They were great! It's obvious you know your stuff and I certainly appreciated you working with the different
swing model I am trying to attain (Moe Norman). You helped me a lot.
Your website, your tips, your instruction, and your knowledge are are 1st class.
I am highly recommending you to any of my friends who are interested in taking some golf lessons.
I'm sure I'll be seeing you again....
Peace,
Eric Bessette
Hi Tom,
Without a doubt, your golf instructions/lessons were the most comprehensive Diane and I ever received. The
questionnaires we answered was a excellent first step in evaluating our playing experience, along with establishing
teaching curriculum.
The after-action Lesson Comments (critiques) following each session is great feedback/reinforcement of
what we are learning. The use of training aides and practical props to promote the proper swing paths and the
delivery of a square club face were excellent.
After twenty years of playing golf, and lessons from countless instructors, we highly recommend you to all who want to
improve their game.
Thanks Tom!
Rich and Diane
Hi Tom,
I really liked the lesson previews. It let me know you had a plan of what you wanted to teach, how you were going to
teach it, and what the expected outcome would be. Post lesson feedback was very valuable for both Lynne and me.
I feel more in control of outcomes if I understand the the theory of what I'm doing and then applying that
theory into a real world situation.
I saw a huge improvement in Lynne's mechanics in all phases of the game.
You may remember I was leaving on a golf trip the weekend after our 4 lesson series ended.
Driving was good to very good - I hit 10 of 14 fairways and didn't have any drives that were horribly bad,
a couple 180 to 200 yard "sky" balls but in the fairway. I was concentrating on not over swinging and keeping
my swing path consistently from the inside. My shortest drives were when I was trying to kill it - lesson learned.
Putting was as good as I expected it to be, didn't hole a lot of putts but was consistently around the hole and
pace was good for greens I'd never played before.
Here is something you will like. One of my playing partners who I had never met before told me I had the best
impact position he'd ever seen in an amateur and compared it Johnny Miller....Johnny freaking Miller!
I see areas of definite improvement, and feel like I have a good foundation on which to practice and build my game.
I'm looking forward to warmer weather and the opportunity to meet with you again to fine tune some swing mechanics.
I also think I might want to do a driver fitting with you.
Thanks,
Steve & Lynn
Editors Note: this student is a 4 handicap player who took the fundamental putting lesson,
then texted me this message the following day:
Hey Tom, it's Peter Igoe here - thanks for the summary email last night, I put it to the test today.
Played nine holes at my club, shot a boring 38 - 4 out of 7 fairways hit, 3 out of 9 greens in regulation,
and 14 putts including 4 one putts (2 over 20 ft.)
Thanks for your help!
Dr. Peter Igoe
Hi Tom,
My daughter said I wowed her and our partners when I sank a 40+ ft. put yesterday at Terry Hills. I am using the putting grip you showed me and it's working well, thank you.
My drives have improved with what you showed me about setting up and finishing my swing, and my chipping is so much more controlled.
I totally enjoyed your lessons and will call you for a refresher lesson before the leagues start next year.
Thanks again,
Gillian Romano
Hi Tom,
I read every issue of your golf tips and this one struck close to home, especially the opening line.
"
Does success need to happen before you get complete confidence, or does confidence breed success?"
From personal experience I can say the two go hand in hand. I don't have that natural swagger in my
personality so I needed the success to develop the confidence. Those with the natural swagger
(not arrogance) already have an level of inner confidence which probably helps them attain success
at a faster pace. So, the answer to your question depends on the personality of the individual.
Case in point. The weakest part of my golf game has always been the long fairway shots, both irons
and woods. I joined a golf league this year for the first time and my scores reflected
the bad shots. I had no confidence in my swing because of all the bad shots, and I became overly cautious
in my swing in an attempt to increase the accuracy. It didn't work. So, I went back and read the saved
notes from our lessons and one aspect kept standing out -- practice, practice, practice.
For three straight days I went to the driving range, got a large bucket of balls, and hit nothing but
the 5/7 woods and irons. The first day I hit a few good shots. The second, even more good shots and my
body started to 'feel' the position it needed to be in during the swing (muscle memory). The third day
even more good shots and I felt myself getting more confident/aggressive.
For the past 4 weeks in my league my golf partner is amazed at the transformation. My fairway shots
are now one of my strongest points and he commented last Tuesday how much more aggressive my swing
is and how well I'm hitting the ball. Yes, there's actually a little swagger there now.
Thanks again for the tips and lessons we had, I still refer back to my notes when I'm
having problems.
This weekend I'll be working to improve my short game.
Jim Erck
Hi Tom,
Just got done practicing in 88 degree weather. I never would have done that before I took lessons from you.
The knowledge that you gave me now allows me to practice with a purpose. When I hit a good shot I know why
it's good and more importantly when I hit a bad one I now know why! This gives me a real chance to improve
my game. I already see an improvement in my driving and my chipping.
I still have work to do with my irons
and my putter.
I plan to continue to review your lesson plans and critiques of our sessions together.
I also plan on playing and practicing a ton. I want to have another couple of sessions in September so
I can continue to improve.
Thanks again for such great instruction!
Jack McCarthy
Editors Note: This was a spontaneous comment I received in an email from a ball striking lesson student -
I didn't ask him for any feedback:
Tom
Great lesson today. I made better contact on iron shots than I have in my entire life.
It really felt good to compress the ball properly.... I have been struggling to achieve a
good impact position for over ten years ever since I saw a pro in Pennsylvania who told me I needed
to work on it. I never experienced it until today.
Thanks
Jim Arthur
Tom...
Chris and I very much enjoyed our lessons with you. They were informative, enlightening and helpful.
You are an excellent teacher and make it easy to understand your instructions.
We learned so much and I think that over time it will make a great difference in my game.
Chris' game has already shown a huge improvement. His drive swing and resulting shots
are very good. He has taken what you told him and incorporated them into his game.
My game needs work..I think I am doing what you instructed me to do, but Chris says I am
missing at least one or two steps each time, so I will continue to work on them at the range and home.
Again, we would (and will) recommend you to anyone interested in improving their game.
Your approach to teaching and the game of golf are refreshing and make learning fun.
Thanks so much for time. We may actually come back next year for follow up - and so you
can see the results of your efforts with us!
Judy and Chris Whiteford
Thanks, Tom, for your patience!
We had so many things to correct. The items to practice and the clarification of our deficiencies
are particularly enlightening, and your follow-up e-mails are an added bonus, plus your positive
attitude was appreciated.
We would recommend you to anyone from high handicappers to very good golfers who maybe just need a
small adjustment. In fact we already have recommended you to a couple of people.
Thanks again.
Pearl & Lee Hyatt
Tom,
the lessons were very helpful and I feel better knowing that I got my money's worth.
I have mentioned your help to my friends and suggested if they want some quality golf
instruction, that they should see you.
Your golf tips in your newsletter are also very helpful and I look forward to
them, so keep them coming.
Thanks
Bob Bechtold
Tom..
Many thanks for the ball striking lesson with Quinn on Saturday, I feel he
really came away with a lot of knowledge about the swing.. we played after the lesson, and he hit some great iron shots from the
fairway... he now loves those shots around the green and those
100 - 160 yard shots.
Thanks again,
Tim Plesums
Before starting my lessons with Tom Tucker, the best thing about my golf game was my outfit!
Now I can add driving & putting to my "bests."
Tom's enthusiasm is contagious. He tailors each lesson to your individual strengths
and weakness using repetitive drills and simple tools to help you "feel" the proper swing.
He always provides a written summary of your lesson and gives you guidelines for practicing.
So thank you Tom, not only do I look like a golfer, now I play like one too!
Deborah Gillen
Tom,
After playing golf for 10 or 11 years, my game was stagnant, there had been no improvement in a year's time.
In July of 2010, I took my first lesson with Tom Tucker at the Batavia Country Club.
After one year of working with Tom, my handicap is four strokes lower, and I lowered my
personal best 18 hole score by 6 shots. This could not have happened without Tom's help.
Despite being 61 years old, I find that I am more motivated as a golfer, and perhaps more importantly, golf is now much more fun.
Thanks for the help Tom, and I am looking forward to more lessons.
Jim Mahoney
Tom:
Good lesson yesterday. In hindsight I can see your logic in the sequencing of activities.
Everything was seemingly coming together nicely yesterday.
Yes, I thought that I hit some excellent shots, but that is not too unusual.
In my introductory remarks I indicated that consistency was my greatest need.
Previously, good shots were often a random activity.
I didn't know precisely why a shot was excellent and the next one awful.
But now I understand the "why" much better based on the many tips you provided.
Here's what I liked about my lessons:
- the sequencing of activities as I mentioned above;
- your use of anecdotal stories and research results (it is too easy to forget the detail, but your interesting stories/quips are what I will remember and they, I think, will help trigger the correct memory response);
- your follow-up comments (emails) and your judicious use of positive reinforcement (spoken from a long time educator);
- your backup information sheets online - excellent resource to complement the training sessions;
- your experience and competence shows which supports the credibility of what you are saying (spoken from a long time golfer);
- your use of training "props" - these were excellent to make a point or stimulate learning through visual feedback;
- you gave me your fullest attention and were always enthusiastic;
In total, this was an excellent learning experience. I never had formal lessons before
and did not know what to expect. But after the first session, I was looking forward to
each subsequent lesson. I've thanked my son many times already for his well thought gift.
His only problem now is having to listen to me give new golf tips and stories when we play.
Oh, I've become a terror putting on my rug. The new grip works wonders. I feel little tension
in the arms and have much greater "feel" for the shot. I can't wait to impress my golf
buddies on a real course (and as I mentioned yesterday, I would not be surprised if they
showed up at one of your lessons - I have been very complementary).
Thank you for your time and patience. And if I can get my foot healed and back on the
course, I'll be sure to pass on details of the next "great round".
Feel free to use any of these remarks for your testimonial needs.
Now I am off to the back yard to practice chipping.
Thomas Golaszewski, Ed.D.
Professor,
SUNY @ Brockport
Hi Tom,
I just got back today from Lake Placid,where we attended a wedding
and I was able to play 18 holes at White face CC. I was excited about playing because of what
I had learned from my lessons and I felt now was the time to apply what you had taught me.
I had a good round of 80 from the white tees and my only bird came on the first hole,
I think the guys I was playing with thought I might be a ringer but I assured them that
this doesn't happen to me often and its probably going to be all down hill from here.
What you taught me about the inside out swing and my misses being right worked to my
benefit that day,I had very few misses.
Your instructions/lessons were a lot of fun for me and the training aids for hand roll
and inside out swing will keep me in form when I'm not playing. I will practice all that
you showed me this year and probably see you again in the spring next year.
Thanks again for all your great help.
Bob Vanelli
PS..Feel free to quote me.
Tom,
Thank you very much for the patience you extended me during my lessons. I had developed some
bad habits trying to learn on my own,but thanks to you I think I have improved greatly.
I had a 37 a few weeks ago. It would not have been possible without your help and instruction.
Again thanks for your help.
Deve Benty
Hey Tom,
I don't have anything but positive remarks to give you. It is easy to tell that you enjoy teaching,
and seeing your students do well.
I liked the way you based the instruction on our progress; for example, if I caught
on to a task we moved quickly to the next one, but if I was struggling in an area we would go back to the basics until I got it.
You gave plenty of feedback and enough training drills to keep me busy for a while,
I will definitely come back to you for future lessons and would recommend you to anyone asking.
Thanks again,
Jason Schug
Hi Tom,
Just want to thank you for your excellent teaching techniques and help in identifying flaws in my golf swing/putting.
I have already seen a 10 stroke improvement in my score.
Again thanks and I would highly recommend you to anyone wanting to improve their golf game.
Keith Thompson
Editors Note:This particular testimonial was unsolicited. It would be hard to believe except for the fact that
Keith had played professional baseball, and my experience with athletes that have competed at a high level
is that they seem to be able to focus extremely well on instruction. Plus - in the past he had been a pretty
good golfer ..... Tom
Tom,
It was nice hearing from you so promptly. Thank you for the feedback. I learned a lot in the few sessions that I had
with you. I know I have a long way to go, but if I know my faults, then I can eliminate my faults. There wasn't
anything I could tell you to improve on.
Additionally, the chipping and putting lesson changed my game. I cannot tell you how much you have helped me around
the green. Such simple changes have yielded drastic results.
Keep up the good work, I will be recommending you whenever anyone asks. I'll be seeing you around, take care.
Jeremy Squire
Good morning Tom,
I haven't been able to get back to you because work has kept me busy and I haven't had the chance to play much golf.
I did go to the practice range often and worked on all your lessons. Feel free to quote anything as a testimonial.
Here's the good news. As you know the majority of my golf scores in the past have been in the low 100's range.
It was very frustrating to constantly mishit the ball or, when I did make good contact, watch it hook or slice into
an unplayable lie. That has now changed.
I played a round at Lake Shore yesterday and had the best round of my life; 42+47=89. This was my first sub 90 round.
Every aspect of my game has improved dramatically (tee shots, fairway shots, chipping/pitching and putting) and it was a
great feeling to finally not be the worst golfer in the group. I still hit some bad shots but those are now the
exception and not the norm.
Your lessons helped me cut 10+ strokes off my game and, with additional practice and playing time, I'm optimistic
the scores will go even lower.
What I liked about your lessons:
I'd taken lessons from two different instructors in the past. Their method was to watch me swing a club and make a few
adjustments. It may have helped temporarily but long term I went back to my old habits because the foundation of my
game was flawed.
What I liked most about your method of instruction was that you taught me,
from the ground up, the CORRECT body position and how to swing the clubs. Compared to how I was playing before it
feels much more natural and I actually had a few comments yesterday from the other players on what a great golf swing
I now have. It's resulted in better accuracy and increased distance with less effort on my part.
What I didn't like about your lessons:
There wasn't much I didn't like. I'm an analytical person and you gave me a lot of information to process. At one
point I was feeling a little informational overload. But, with your notes (and a lot of practice, practice, practice)
I was able to put it all together.
Closing comments:
I will highly recommend you to anyone that wants to improve their golf game and would suggest they take the full
package of lessons. You provide the foundation to turn anyone into a good golfer.
Thanks again,
Jim Erck
Tom,
Thanks again for the lessons, I learned a lot.
I have been playing golf sporadically since high school but I never had any lessons. This year for Fathers day I asked
my family to get me golf lessons. My reason for wanting lessons was I wanted to hit the ball farther than I have been.
On the first lesson I found out I needed more help than just distance. Tom was very patient and showed me the proper
grip, stance, ball placement, and the proper pace for the ball. It was very surprising to me that it is not how hard
you hit the ball but hitting it in the right place and having a good pace in your swing.
Once Tom showed me how to properly set up to the ball he showed me a very simple swing that I picked up very quickly
and I was immediately hitting the ball straight. Tom also sent me e-mails before each lesson to prepare myself and
he backed that up with a set of drills that I could take home with me. Tom also showed me what I was doing wrong when
I miss hit the ball or if it didn't go straight.
The next surprise was when I was able to take what I learned to the golf course. For the first time since I started
golfing I was consistently hitting the ball clean and straight. I still have a problem with distance but I learned
that it was more important to me to hit the ball clean and straight. Tom explained to me that after I get more
comfortable with what he taught me the easier it will be later on to get better distance by properly turning my body
in the backswing and the finish.
Whether you are just getting started or if you are like me and looking to get more serious about your game then Tom
is the right person to teach you about golf. In a very short period of time Tom can take you from the basics to
applying the swing he teaches to fit your own abilities that results in giving you more confidence on the course.
John Palillo
Hi Tom-
Sorry it took me so long to reply - it's been a crazy week here in the lab (not crazy enough to keep me from practicing,
though!). So, I'll start by saying that there wasn't anything that I didn't like about my lessons. I thought
the notes beforehand were great - it always makes me feel better knowing what I'm "getting into" beforehand.
I also liked the different drills that you showed me.
I think it's great when someone can really help improve your swing without even having to use or hit a ball.
That way, when I can't get to the range or somewhere to hit balls, I can still practice and feel like I'm improving.
Most of all, though, I think I liked the fact that you were patient, didn't get frustrated, and didn't let ME get
frustrated. I can tell you really enjoy what you do, you're passionate about it, and the information in each
lesson conveys well to others because of it.
Thanks a lot for everything!
Dr. Kimberly Prohaska
Post-doctoral Associate
Biochemistry and Biophysics
Scientist
OyaGen, Inc.
Hi Tom-
Since completing my series of advanced putting lessons, I have seen steady improvement in all aspects of my putting.
I owe you a big thank you for the increased confidence I now have as I approach greens.and for the improvement
in my average putts per round.
My enhanced ability to read my line, control ball speed
and stroke the ball with the pure pendulum swing you teach has already paid dividends in terms of improved
performance.
The big bonus I wasn't counting on
comes from the practice drills you use during the lessons. Anyone serious about improving can continue to do
so after the lessons are over because you very systematically lay out the fundamentals and use practice drills which
can be replicated by the student to provide positive, concrete feedback- the gold standard
in motor learning!
Since I desire to know "why" as well as "how" when learning something, I found your willingness and ability
to communicate exceptional. Am I a satisfied student? Absolutely, and I got more for my money than I ever dreamed
I would and had fun to boot! Thank you.
Diane DeBacy
Hi Tom, you can go ahead and use any comments from this email as a testimonial.
Thank you again for the great lessons. My golf game has taken a 180 degree turn and I am
playing the best golf ever! Prior to the lesson I was shooting in the high 90s. The last two
times out I shot an 87 and an 83!
What's more important is that I am enjoying the game. You have a great teaching style that works
well with both of us. The couples lesson was a great thing for us to do together. Janell's swing
is coming along nicely as long as she remembers not to take her club back too far.
Thanks again for all of your help and we will keep in touch!
Kory Kitagawa
Tom,
I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed my golf lessons. My ball striking consistency has improved
considerably and my putting has shown a huge improvement since taking lessons from you. I really appreciated
your ability to explain proper swing positions and dynamics through drills and demonstrations. Your patience and
understanding were instrumental to success in correcting my alignment and my change to a more rotary swing.
I left each lesson with the tools and motivation needed to work at improving my game.
All drills and technique aside, the best part about taking lessons from you is that the lessons were fun and
I had a great time. I would highly recommend your lessons to anyone looking to improve their swing
and enjoyment of golf.
A fun time and play better golf,you can't lose.
Thank you,
Brian D. Mongi
Dear Tom,
Thank you so much for being so, so patient!!! Keith and I reallly enjoyed the golf lessons and also
your teaching expertise!
We feel your positive approach is your most outstanding attribute!! You always made the
lessons fun and made us feel comfortable even when we made mistakes!! We were also impressed
with your knowledge and skill of the game of golf. You really make it look too easy!!!
As a former teacher, I liked knowing what you were going to teach, and your objectives for
those goals. Using the many props to teach the different techniques was very helpful
and allowed us to "feel" and "see" what skill you wanted us to learn. (Use of all modalities!)
Thank you for all the golf notes! We will certainly be using them each time we practice.
To use your quote, "You cannot get what you've never had unless you're willing to do what
you've never done"!! We will practice and we will get better at this game!!!
Thank you again for all your help. Feel free to use any part of this letter as a testimonial.
Sincerely,
Keith and Carol Corona-Willey
Thanks Tom for the great lessons! You gave me a much better understanding of my body movements & of
the game in general. The drills we did were extremely helpful. The more I practice them, the better
my shots get. I now know my biggest problems are not turning my shoulders & keeping my left arm
straight. I have improved quite a bit though & feel much more confident!
Brian & I had a lot of fun. Thanks again for all of your help! Feel free to quote me.
Danielle Cook
Hi Tom, thank you for the opportunity to give some feed back. I found your classes to be very helpful and informative.
My putting and chipping have greatly improved, meaning that I have started to shave strokes off my game,
being a one or two times a week player. I know that with time and persistence
I will be playing a mid 90's game, which I look forward to very soon. I believe that anyone no matter how
young or old or good you are could benefit form Mr. Tuckers classes.
Andrew B. Fuller
Hi Tom,
I play on a league and carry a high handicap, which frustrates me. After 3 lessons I noticed my drives
were straighter and had more distance. The guys on my team asked me what I had done to achieve this.
I said I was taking golf lessons. Their comment was, "I was surely getting my money's worth". I hope
with practice I can apply this knowledge to the rest of my game. I was very impressed with all the teaching
aids Tom had acquired. I would highly recommend anyone taking these classes. Whatever your skill level is,
you can always learn something to improve your game. Tom always e-mailed the structure of the lesson ahead
of time. This will be a great reference to have in the future. The closing statement of the end of each
lesson was "you cannot get what you've never had unless you're willing to do what you've never done".
This statement impressed me very much.. It's not only true in golf but true in life.
Thanks again - Dave Aradine
I really picked up several new skills. Several of them are working quite well. My drives are much better
and hopefully I can pick up more distance with time. I really am glad I took the classes. Practice make
everything better!!
Marie Aradine
(Editors note: Bonnie participated in a couples lesson)
It was a pleasure working with you, Tom. Your patience, knowledge and excitement for the sport shows in every
lesson you gave. You were able to coach a very experienced golfer while teaching someone who has never been on
a golf course! Thank you for all you gave us!
Bonnie Pusateri
Tom,
First of all, thank you very much for an outstanding lesson. This is exactly what I was hoping for and I understand
the details you were conveying. I have already been practicing in the basement on my 16' practice green
(putting & chipping). I have also been putting in my living room with a training aid being 2 balls
connected, trying to putt them straight ( helps with alignment of the putter stroke, rolling to the left
if toe hits first, and right if heel hits first ).
I'll try the weakening of the left hand, and firming it per your advice
Appreciate the help as always,
W. C. "Twilly" Lynch
P.S. Thanks for the extra time also
Tom, Sorry my response took a while, it's tough for me to keep on top of my personal e-mails!
In regard to the lesson,
I think it was very well executed. I appreciated the fact that it was structured and progressive, each segment of
the swing taught and practiced until the end when we could put it all together.
I don't think I can think of a
lesson in which the swing was broken down like that for me. I actually think I understand what the heck I've
been doing wrong all this time! I can "feel" what my body has to do to execute a good swing and it's nothing
fancy or hard to understand.
I think half of my problem is I have very poor body awareness, so when someone
tells me to move a certain way I really have a hard time sensing what they want me to do. Pointing out how
my arms should feel (passive) and what my shoulders should be doing(rotating )was a first. I think the
drills will be most helpful, I appreciate the visuals that go along with them so I can make sure I'm practicing
correctly.
It must be tough to have to teach people at various levels all in the same group but
you accomplished it!
I'll actually be looking forward to the beginning of golf season for a change!
Thanks much and you can certainly use any part of my comments if you'd like!
Beth Rich
Hi Tom,
I enjoyed the lesson very much. As I noted earlier, I've been playing this game for a long time so I
have some deeply engrained bad habits that always seem to rear their ugly head (usually toward season end)
and in retrospect, it's probably because of the timing required to keep my current swing together.
I like the philosophy of your technique,and with steady practice and implementation on the course,
I feel that the simplicity of this swing will allow me to lower my score. Now if I could only putt.
(That's another lesson)!
Beth and I enjoy your passion for the game and we love playing together, so hopefully, this will help
her to enjoy the game more. She get's frustrated while playing and I'm a worse teacher than a golfer.
You covered a lot in an hour so we will follow up with you in the spring with another lesson so you
can evaluate our progress and will look forward to a round at your course, (I've never played BCC).
Best regards,
Jeff Rich
Hi Tom,
We both wanted to thank you for the great lesson.
Destry and I both
learned many new things about the rotary swing and many other key
techniques for improving our golf skills. For me, it was so much to
think about, because I am a self-taught golfer (I'm sure it shows).
Destry enjoys your instruction greatly. I am hoping we may be able to
"swing" a few more lessons this spring/summer.
Thanks again,
Bob and Destry Mullen (Editors note: father and son)
Thomas,
I was very pleased with the lesson. I thought that you did a great job describing the three swings and the
differences. I thought the lesson was packed with useful information; especially the drills.
I plan to practice them and hope to gain consistency. I believe that you provided a very sound starting
point for that - from knowledge and drills.
I would not hesitate to recommend the indoor lesson to my friends.
Thank you for the additional thoughts.
Chad MayerHofer
Tom,
I really liked the class. I like how you're really concerned about our
game. The only thing is that it just went by too quickly.....
It was really nice
of you to take the extra time to help us. There was so much information that
you presented us with in such a short period of time. It's great having
someone there to check your swing.
I think what you taught me will help,it
certainly is different from my swing. I think that just keeping more weight
on my left leg is going to be a major thing. I also feel stronger bending a
little more with a wider stance. I was too straight up and I never felt
confident that I could hit the ball solid most of the time.
I think I remember all of the drills and how to do them but I was wondering
if you could have a brief explanation after each one on how to do them and
what they're meant to do. For example, the towel drill,which I really liked,
but I don't remember exactly where the towel was suppose to be on my back
swing. I know on the follow through it's suppose to be a mirror image of
your back swing. I know that the wrists are suppose to be ahead of the
club,is there a drill that will help with this?
[ Editors Note: In response to Stephen's feedback, I installed the key drills
for this lesson on web pages for review, the student gets the links as part of their notes...Tom ]
..........Thank you for everything and I know your classes will help a
lot of golfers.
Stephen Kolbert
Tom, Just a thank you for all of your patience during my golf lessons. Your method of teaching is very
easy going, and is just what I needed to get a better feel for what I may be doing wrong. so thanks again,
Dave Larson
Coach Tom,
Elyn and I thought the lessons were great! We learned and had fun at the same time.
We liked the way you taught and the use of the training aides. The only problem Elyn
had was the technical or theory that was talked about at times. But this was a lot
clearer with the notes after the lessons. The drills to prepare for the next lessons
were a good way to prepare for the lesson. I particularly liked the post lesson notes.
I have put them on 4x6 cards so I can reference them on the course. Feel free to use any quotes we have sent you.
As a couple, this was the most fun we have had in a long time. The atmosphere was structured, yet loose.
We not only learned the basics of the game of golf, but had fun in the process. Coach Tom is very knowledgeable
and methodical in his teaching of the game. We looked forward to each lesson and took what we learned and applied it to the game. It made playing more fun. With each lesson we both could "feel" that we were getting better and had become "excellent" putters in a few short lessons! If anyone is thinking about getting involved in golf as a couple, then Coach Tuckers' lessons are for you! It is the best investment that we have made in a long time. Thank you Coach!
Henry & Elyn Moscicki
Note: Mr. & Mrs. Moscicki have two sons that participate in the BCC Junior Golf Camp, and since the kids call me
coach it kind of stuck...Tom
I told Tom that I'd write a Testimonial for him so others can read and learn
what type of an instructor, and person Tom really is, so here goes.
When I first heard of Tom Tucker, I was amazed at the number of people who
already knew him or heard of him, and many of those people were folks I already
considered to be good golfers, so I knew right away that I made the right
choice in selecting him to instruct me.
I knew within 10 minutes of meeting Tom
that "this guys knows his stuff", and he CAN & WILL help my game and
skill level. One of the best things about Tom is his passion for teaching
the game is as great as mine for wanting to learn it, and improve at it! We
hit it off very well, and after taking his advice and just learning to
settle down, I really started to hit some beautiful "pure golf shots". It's
amazing, I bought all those DVD's, and magazines, and until after my lessons
started to develop, they never made sense, they sure do now.
Tom takes the time to discuss what your swing flaw is, and corrects it there
and then - he does not just tell you what you are doing wrong and send you on
your way. He gives you several checkpoints to use to evaluate and correct
what went wrong, all the while keeping this with a positive spin. He's a
firm believer in teaching the correct way to swing, and not apply a band-aid
swing fix.
Tom's level of professionalism is great. Put your trust in him, you will
improve, and have so much more fun in the game.
Tom always makes you feel like you're a golfer. He instills confidence in you,
so you know that when faced with a shot that you have that shot, and that
club, and believe you can achieve it. I now know there are many ways to
accomplish a shot I am faced with. I've learned a great deal about myself,
and really about the game of golf. It's actually not that complicated once
you start putting the pieces together. Trust in what he's telling you, I
promise, the game is so much more fun once you understand ball flight, swing
methods, and start to hit those pure shots, and best of all, do them when
you want to! Anyone serious about the game, or wants to have more fun, or really wanting
to get better would benefit from working with Tom.
One thing I realized, I
know this is a business for Tom, but I never, ever, once felt like it was.
It was more like a mentor teaching someone skills that they could continue
to work on and see results. It seemed the more questions I threw at Tom, the
more accomplished I grew, the more innovative challenges he'd come up with
to help me progress towards my golf goals.
Tom, thanks for all the information, patience, and just listening and
understanding. I'm lucky to call you a friend.
Tim Plesums
Hi Tom,
I thoroughly enjoyed each of the 4 lessons on putting, chipping,
pitching and full swing. You were quite detailed and specific, first
dealing with basic fundamentals, then gearing your teaching skills to
my specific swing, mistake, problem or execution.
You gave thoughtful constructive criticism when needed, and positive
feedback when warranted. I especially liked the teaching drills, many
of them in rapid succession, which helped to make the mind and body
memorize the movement. I also appreciated it when you told me to stop
when you noticed I was doing something incorrectly, take a step back,
practice the move as taught, then resume the activity specific to the
skill, whether it be the chip, put pitch or full swing. You used a
full array of teaching tools as well, which helped to further your
point or aid in my development.
Finally, I like the idea of getting immediate feedback, on the spot and
through timely emails with all the teaching instruction, drills and
tips reviewed so that I can remind myself right after each lesson and
copy them for continued reference.
Thanks for your efforts. I will be playing now with more confidence
and am looking forward to improved scores.
I will let you know about seeking further lessons. Please keep me on
your mailing list if you decide to do further instruction clinics.
Thanks, and my best,
Carl De Luca
p.s. I do not mind if you quote me.
Tom,
Thanks so much for the golf lessons. We have gotten the chance to play
and already see a great improvement in our game. We appreciate the
individualized critiques through email and are able to watch each other
to correct our problems. We look forward to many more hours of playing and improving our golf.
We have truly enjoyed our lessons!
Thanks again,
Chad and Melissa Maniace
Hi Tom,
Sorry about the delay in getting back to you. I wanted to
play a few times before I gave you some feedback.
WOW!
What a big
improvement in my putting. I am averaging 1 & 2 putts with a rare
3 putt. I have more confidence when I address the ball, whether it
is a tee, fairway or chipping shot. I am hitting the ball farther and
straighter from the tee. I know now how each shot should be played and
I practice doing it the correct way. I really enjoyed your
organization and teaching methods.
Your follow-up notes are very
helpful. I have copied key points to work on, onto index cards and
carry them with me. I also love learning from someone who has a true
passion for what they are doing. The best thing is I am having fun
playing with a lot less frustration. The great thing is I parred a
hole, beat Dick (Sharon's husband) on the same hole and tied with him on 2 other holes.
Tom, thanks again for your time and patience.
Sharon Hartman
Tom,
I want to thank you again for all of the time you spent teaching me
how to chip. I practiced all of last week, and then played nine holes
with a friend. I want you to know that I actually shaved TEN STROKES
off of my usual score. I can honestly say that at least six of those
strokes were due to improved chipping.
THANK YOU AGAIN,
Nancy Hoag
Tom,
Thanks so much for your patience with me. I thought you were very
professional but also friendly and helpful. I liked the helpful hints
and the practice drills - the lessons moved along nicely without being
rushed. Also the email follow ups are very useful for me. Reading over
the next day
what we did and how to improve really helps it sink in. After a
little
practice I would like to continue working with you.
Thanks,
Craig Yunker
Hello, Tom
I thought your lessons and follow-up notes were great. I especially
appreciate the follow-up notes, because not everything is absorbed
during the instruction period. I really liked that you started with
putting, because in my opinion, as a first time golfer, it is the least
intimidating. It made sense to me to progress from the small ball to
the long ball. I also appreciated your advice on etiquette at the golf
course.
As a professional instructor, you never made your beginner students
feel inadequate, and you took our lesson time very seriously. In one
instance, I recall a couple of your acquaintances walked over to the
practice area where our lesson was being held, and after you greeted
your friends, you told them that you'd really love to chat, but
couldn't because you were involved in our lesson. I appreciated that.
In all, your group lesson was beneficial to me and I have already
recommended you to another golfer wanna-be.
Sincerely,
Linda Risewick
Hi Tom:
My apologies for not responding to your last e-mail sooner. I just
finished a week of vacation, and am pleased to say my husband and
I golfed everyday. The money for the golf lessons was well spent,
and I wished I would have taken them sooner. I can't believe how much
I have improved with just 3 lessons (and neither can my husband - he
may be e-mailing you also). It has made golf much more enjoyable for
both of us.
What I found most helpful was the way you were able to stop me at any
point in my swing and correct whatever I was doing wrong at that time.
My full-swing shots have increased dramatically both in distance and
accuracy. I also appreciate the e-mail feedback and have used your
notes to help reinforce what I learned from your lessons.
Feel free to use any of my comments as testimonial. I am interested
in taking more lessons from you, although my schedule varies each
week. I deeply appreciate your patience. You're an extremely good
teacher.
Mary McCarthy
Hi Tom,
When I signed up for your golf lessons, it was because I really knew
next to nothing about what I should be doing on the golf course. I
found your lessons extremely helpful for all aspects of the game.
Learning the proper stance for each club from the putter to the
drivers and how to swing each club was a terrific help for me. I used
to stand stiff legged and try to kill the ball. Naturally, I had no
idea why it went where it did. Now, when a ball goes left or right,
I know what I did wrong, and I have actually corrected the balls flight
on the range! Also, I have hit a couple of balls that just sounded
different than any other balls I have ever hit in my life. And they
flew far and straight. Now I know why golf is so addictive.
Thank you very much for the help. I can actually say I got more from
your lessons than I hoped for. Yes, of course you may use anything I
said as a testimonial if you would like to.
Thanks,
Dave Reichert
Hi Tom, Enjoyed all the lessons. My chip shots and putting have
improved. Reduced my putting to mostly two strokes after on the green.
Chipping is more accurate and better loft getting to the green.
You are very knowledgeable and have great teaching tools. I appreciate
the review of lessons and tips you have e-mailed me. I enjoyed working
with you and will recommend you to others.
Dick Hartman
Hi Tom:
I was very pleased with all aspects of your teaching. You packed a lot
of information into 60 minutes and the email reteach was very helpful
for reinforcement. I also agreed with your philosophy of teaching from
the hole back. Everyone got an equal amount of attention and the class
size was just right. The putting aids were very useful. You used
terminology everyone could grasp and added personal stories of
interest. The whole experience was very worthwhile and well worth the
investment of time and money. Thank you. I would like to follow-up
with a few lessons to cure my tendency of pushing the ball to the
right.
Don Hawkins
Hey Tom,
I am very satisfied with my game right now. I want to thank you for all
of your advice and instruction. I would like to say that after going to
a number of other instructors, you are my favorite. You showed a lot of
interest in my game during our lessons and also through email. I really
appreciate it. I liked the 3 lesson combo because it hit every aspect
of the game for the most part. Another thing that I liked was the
drills and tips on how to correct my swing or stroke. You are very
organized and professional at what you do. There is nothing about our
3 lessons that I didn't like. Again I would like to thank you for
working with me and I'm sure I will be back for another lesson. As long as
my game keeps heading in the right direction I think I
will just continue getting reps on the range and practicing what we
have gone over.
Thanks for everything
Best Wishes,
Jeremy Kern
Tom,
Thanks so much for the lesson .....we all enjoyed it. This is my 4th
season golfing, so it's been difficult this year, because I no longer
can blame all of my bad shots on being a beginner.
You certainly have a gift to teach.......I felt 99.9% more confident
with my putting after you showed us a good grip, stance, and approach
to the pin. Thanks for the email with tips for improving my game.
Thanks again
Jill Klotzbach
Tom -
Sorry I haven't e-mailed you sooner, we were out of town. I'm e-mailing
with feedback for the lessons. I am becoming a very good putter since
your class. I have gotten to the point where I no longer fear any kind
of putt. As for chipping, I am still adjusting to distance in relation
to whatever club I happen to choose. I just chipped in yesterday from
about 30feet; I much better at that aspect, as well as pitching.
After taking your 3 lessons, I am much more confident, especially from
approx. 100yds. and in.
It was a great lesson plan.
Thanks again,
John Lonergan
Thanks again, Tom for introducing and teaching me to golf. It was more
enjoyable than I imagined. Your excitement about the game was
contagious.
When teaching me a skill, you were very clear. The feedback was so
helpful. It is a tremendous help to receive emails with review notes.
I print them out and read them a few times in a day (especially on days
that I golf on a course). The drills will really improve my strokes and
give me the strength that I need.
I am optimistic about improving. I think by August, I should be
golfing much better!! I will call you when I need a short brush up
lesson but for now I need to practice ALL that you showed me.
Enjoy the great summer,
Kathy Bettors
Last year I was walking off the course with 9 holes at 58-65 strokes.
This year has been anywhere from 51-56. Almost 10 strokes off my game
and still imporoving. I haven't had over an 8 on a hole in awhile and
that is a HUGE improvement for me.
I feel like I know what I need to do. Whether I get up there and do it
will be something that comes with time but at least I can tell now when
I am doing something incorrectly or when I do it correctlly.
Thank you again Tom for all your instruction, patience and good humor
during the lessons.
Michelle Scafetta
Note: the day after her Pitching Lesson - summer 2006 - Michelle
called me to tell me she had her first ever hole-in-one. I guess she'll
have to teach me that shot! Tom
The golf lessens were absolutely money well spent. It is now up to me
to make it happen.
I had played in a tournament a couple weeks back and began to apply my
new techniques. It was shaky at best, which told me to get back to
practicing the skills you taught me. A comment from one of my golf
partners was "I can tell what kind of shot you will have on how you
approach the ball." He made me aware that when I applied your
techniques, my shots were exactly how they should go. My biggest
problem at that tournament was that I was too anxious to hit perfect
shots all the time.
Here is my assessment: It is going to take me a while to break my old
habits. I have proven that your methods work and that I have to break
away from my "sins of the past". The only way I can accomplish that is
to practice the basics.
I am in it for the long haul so you'll see me again for more lessons or
even a "refresher".
Don't change a thing, I liked your approach and appreciate the extra
attention you gave me!
Todd Bender
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