Leadbetter's lessons: Top tips from one of golf's best coaches

    By Gary Morley, CNN

    Updated 1944 GMT (0344 HKT) December 9, 2011

    "The grip is one of the most important aspects of the swing. Most people grip the club too much in the palm of the hand, which creates tremendous tension and doesn't allow the wrist to work correctly," says golf coach David Leadbetter. "People who do this wear a hole in their glove. It's important to hold the club out towards the fingers, not the palm. It helps more golfers than you can believe."
    Photos: David Leadbetter's top 3 golf tips
    No. 1: The grip – "The grip is one of the most important aspects of the swing. Most people grip the club too much in the palm of the hand, which creates tremendous tension and doesn't allow the wrist to work correctly," says golf coach David Leadbetter. "People who do this wear a hole in their glove. It's important to hold the club out towards the fingers, not the palm. It helps more golfers than you can believe."
    Hide Caption
    1 of 3
    "So much of golf is based around how you set your foundations. It's really important that when golfers set up for the ball that instead of having slouchy round shoulders, pull your shoulders down, then your arms can actually get to your chest," Leadbetter says. Almost like how the Japanese how bow: rear end out, slightly bend your knees, pull your shoulder blades down and arms resting in your chest and you're in perfect position."
    Photos: David Leadbetter's top 3 golf tips
    No. 2: The stance – "So much of golf is based around how you set your foundations. It's really important that when golfers set up for the ball that instead of having slouchy round shoulders, pull your shoulders down, then your arms can actually get to your chest," Leadbetter says. Almost like how the Japanese how bow: rear end out, slightly bend your knees, pull your shoulder blades down and arms resting in your chest and you're in perfect position."
    Hide Caption
    2 of 3
    "Make sure your arms and chest always stay together through the swing. Practice little wedge shots -- put a club-head cover or towel under the left armpit and make little half-swings," he concludes.
    Photos: David Leadbetter's top 3 golf tips
    No. 3: The arms – "Make sure your arms and chest always stay together through the swing. Practice little wedge shots -- put a club-head cover or towel under the left armpit and make little half-swings," he concludes.
    Hide Caption
    3 of 3

    Story highlights

    • Golf's best-known coaches have set up academies all around the world
    • They cater for young players, professionals and weekend warriors
    • One-on-one tuition is expensive but cheaper options are available
    • Working with golf's top names helps coaches establish their empires
    So you want to become a pro golfer. The top players rake in millions of dollars each year, and you want a piece of the action.
    Whether you're a promising five-year-old, an amateur trying to make the next step or a professional seeking to kickstart your career, the best way forward is generally to work with the people who've been there and done that.
    They might not always be cheap, but golf academies offer training techniques that have taken the likes of Tiger Woods, Lee Westwood and Ernie Els to the top of the tree. But fear not, CNN has some tips from one of the sport's leading instructors, David Leadbetter.
    There are three areas where beginner golfers struggle, he says.
    First off, you need to hold the club right.
    "Most people grip the club too much in the palm of the hand, which creates tremendous tension and doesn't allow the wrist to work correctly," says Leadbetter, who helped Nick Faldo go from a nearly man to the winner of six major titles between 1987-1996.
    "People who do this wear a hole in their glove. It's important to hold the club out towards the fingers, not the palm. It helps more golfers than you can believe."
    David Leadbetter is recognized as one of the world's leading golf instructors, and has worked with stars such as Nick Faldo, Nick Price, Ernie Els and Greg Norman.
    Photos: Golf's best coaches
    David Leadbetter is recognized as one of the world's leading golf instructors, and has worked with stars such as Nick Faldo, Nick Price, Ernie Els and Greg Norman.
    Photos: Golf's best coaches
    Instructor to the stars – David Leadbetter is recognized as one of the world's leading golf instructors, and has worked with stars such as Nick Faldo, Nick Price, Ernie Els and Greg Norman.
    Hide Caption
    1 of 10
    Seen here with former child prodigy Michelle Wie in 2010, Leadbetter has established coaching academies around the world.
    Photos: Golf's best coaches
    Top teacher – Seen here with former child prodigy Michelle Wie in 2010, Leadbetter has established coaching academies around the world.
    Hide Caption
    2 of 10
    Leadbetter's golf empire has grown from his main academy in Florida to locations all around the world.
    Photos: Golf's best coaches
    Teaching the world – Leadbetter's golf empire has grown from his main academy in Florida to locations all around the world.
    Hide Caption
    3 of 10
    He says he has scaled back his on-tour coaching these days, but does a lot of corporate work and writing.
    Photos: Golf's best coaches
    Reaping the rewards – He says he has scaled back his on-tour coaching these days, but does a lot of corporate work and writing.
    Hide Caption
    4 of 10
    Butch Harmon made his name coaching Tiger Woods. Here he guides Woods during the 1995 Masters -- two years before his breakthrough victory at Augusta.