Ladies, tell me I am lying. Do not all husbands think they are an expert in ladies golf instruction? I have given literally thousands of ladies golf lessons and I always share this discussion very early in our teacher-student relationship. I tell them that they can forget everything that their husband has ever told them about golf instruction. Amazingly, I can see the tension roll out of their shoulders right away and in turn they relax.
Let me tell you the couple of "ladies golf lessons" you will hear from your husband and what to tell him to make him happy and let you practice and play golf!
Your hubby will say "keep your head down." This is just ridiculous! Golf is an athletic motion which requires your head to move in order to maximize results.
Every time I hear an amateur say "keep your head down" I picture someone in a golf stance with a player with their chin on their chest. This picture does not make me think that the golfer is very comfortable or ready to make an athletic motion. This example might be more extreme than you would like to have; however, Annika Sorenstam has been shown for years of not "keeping her head down." Until recently, she has been ranked the #1 female player in the world for several years.
While David Duval was also number one in the world, he had a very similar motion with releasing his head toward the target during impact. Attempting to keep your head still during the swing will often lead to other swing flaws such as a reverse pivot. A reverse pivot will lead to a loss of distance and direction.
Your hubby will say "keep your left arm straight." Now along with the picture from above with the player with their chin on your chest as they set up to the golf ball and now add a stiff straight left arm. Wow! There is no way they look comfortable or athletic. Giving credit where credit is due. Your husband is half (or maybe a quarter) right and I will tell you why. The golf swing is no place for tension to reside. The way he wants you to achieve the goal is to use tension to make it happen. This is wrong.
When you use tension, your muscles tighten or shorten and this makes you find a new path to return to impact because your arm is shorter. During the golf swing your left arm should remain extended not straight. Many people think that this is a play on words however it is two different things.
Take a swing and stop when your left arm is parallel to the ground on the backswing. Put a "death grip" on the club. This is your husband's "straight left arm." Now start over and again stop when your left arm is parallel to the ground and actually feel the weight of the club. Now you are extended and more importantly relaxed.
Finally, your husband wants to give you all of this great golf instruction advice. Right? How can you make him happy after the round at home but yet be able to not feel hassled the rest of the practice session or round? You can do this with one very simple sentence.
After he gives you unsolicited advice, simply reply "Thank you. That is exactly what I have been working on." It makes him feel important and typically ends or at least slows down his input. This simple sentence has worked many, many, many times and can work for you too!
