Robert Craigmyle, Jr., PGA

I first booked five lessons with Robert because i hadn’t seen a golf instructor in over 18 years and had abandoned the game due to life and responsibilities. I have found the game again this past year and like everyone am focused on improving. I was attracted at first to Roberts fair rate for five ½ hour lessons and did some research on him too seeing that he had worked with some schools and big names (Player — one of my favorite old timers)
I was averaging about 110 at most courses playing from black tees including all swings — shanks, provisions penalties etc.
My first lesson with Robert he focused on my timing and physical cues i should look for and feel at the point of impact — clearly my swing had flaws but timing was what he felt was the first thing i had to work on so i spent the next six months working on timing on my own with the drills he showed me — i even watched videos in slow motion of the worlds best pros and saw those same timing cues in tiger’s, adam scott’s and Nicklaus’s swing so it confirmed for me he knew what he is talking about. Well winter came and i didn’t see Robert for several months, too cold to practice but was focusing on timing and my swing started coming together due to many adjustments and grip changes i made on my own and I was getting great consistency with my swing and ball striking — shot my first 92 on a pga tour caliber course from the blacks. I was proud of myself though I still wasn’t perfect and had many ideas in my head of what i was doing wrong from reading all the magazines etc.
I made an appointment with Robert recently to try and tweak what I have been doing with the hope of improving distance and accuracy — even though my swing was more consistent Robert showed me how all my adjustments were made to compensate for the unathletic swing i had been getting away with. The next lesson focused on showing me what muscles i should be using in my backswing and the physicality of my lower body being involved. Even though I thought I was incorporating my lower body correctly before i wasn’t even close to how much more my lower body is now involved which is a more physically involved swing that is more in line with what I see from some of the true bombers in the game. I am now focusing on these elements which more closely resemble the stroke of some of the best tour pros. I already see an increased distance and power in my swing and even my golf buddies remark when they are pulling a 7 iron but i am hitting my pitching wedge and I am now working on what I believe is a superior swing — no scores yet to report because i am still training my body to get the consistency but you can bet i will update as i perfect it.
Robert is quite simply a guru who recognizes the subtleties of what it takes to bring your game to the next level. There are many tips and adjustments out there that try to compensate for flaws in your swing, i was guilty of doing that to try and improve my game but it hits a plateau with no hope of greatness. If your goal is to play at a level close to the pros and understand what a true powerful and physical golf swing is then Robert is your man. If you are only trying to learn the basics he is good for that too but a beginner might get frustrated with the time and dedication required to get that perfect golf swing that Robert teaches which can only be learned in steps over time.
Anyone can teach you the basics to hit a golf ball straight and moderately long — but if you truly want to understand what muscles you should be using at each point and understand the physical requirements in an athletic swing which is required to excel in this game then i recommend Robert wholeheartedly.