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Instructor Search Finalist: Karen Palacios-Jansen (39:58)

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Golf Channel's Instructor Search continues with featured professional Karen Palacios-Jansen.

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-I need a creative outlet. I'm writing a golf tip everyday or I...

-I need a creative outlet. I'm writing a golf tip everyday or I'm teaching. When I saw that they were having this competition, I'm like, "That is for me." When it's down the line like that, it's so much easier to come from the inside. I started my career as an assistant golf teacher for the David Leadbetter Golf Academy and I got to be exposed to a tremendous amount of Tour players: Ernie Els, Nick Price. Then I went on to work for Nick Faldo and it was all about the playing experience and learning how to practice. And then from there, I went on to work for Jim McLean and I really learned to teach golf. And in 2008, I was named LPGA Teacher of the Year, and that was really an incredible highlight because the other LPGA teachers, my peers, vote on that. When I went to the David Leadbetter Golf Academy, I think I happened to be at the right place at the right time. The Golf Channel was starting. The TV bug bite kind of got me and I would like to go back to that. I've kind of channeled my golf instruction into journalism and-- and gotten to write a lot of tips. I'm the managing editor right now for Golf Fitness Magazine. I've incorporated so much of golf fitness into-- into my instruction. I actually have a studio at my house. I call it the KPJ Golf Studio. I can video their swing and-- and analyze their swing. But I can also help them work on their fitness. So, I'm kind of like a one-stop shop. -Well, it is great to have you at home with us for this special half hour on Golf Channel Academy. We obviously have one of the best in the business with us to give you instruction and show us why she might be the next big instructional star right here on Golf Channel. Karen, congratulations on making it to one of 3 finalists left in this competition. -Thanks so much, Kelly. It's very exciting. It's great to be with you. I really appreciate it. -Long time friends. We've competed against each other over the years and we've done a number of shows together as well. -Yes. -It's been quite a journey, and here we are at this point. Why don't you tell the viewers at home what your philosophy is and why you might be the next person they wanna latch on to in this game. -Well, Kelly, I think golf in the 21st century has really evolved, and I've really tried to stay on the cutting edge. Golf is not just golf instruction anymore. It includes golf conditioning, and strengthening, and it includes golf nutrition. You need to know about the mental side of the game. So, what I try to do is help people get the most out of their games by offering those different services. -What are the 3 main points that you push in your instruction? -Well, first of all, I think the fundamentals are incredibly important. I think that's first and foremost. I've worked for David Leadbetter and Jim McLean, and-- and I've really learned those fundamentals from them, and I try to pass those on to-- to students because the setup is half the battle. Once you setup correctly then, you know, your body takes over. And then, the other thing is you need to learn to move your body correctly. So, you need to have some flexibility. You need to have some strength. You need to incorporate that into your-- your instruction. And then, also, I think it's important that you look at the other side of the game, like, scoring, and the mental side of the game, and just learning to have fun and, you know, play your best. -Yeah. -Uh huh. -You're obviously putting together a lot of great components there so you can get the workout, you can also workout the mind-- -Right. -and put together a heck of a golf game. Why don't you give us a couple of exercises just to start to kind of echo the points that you were just making. -Okay. Well, everybody swing differently, but there are a bunch of trouble areas that I typically see with my students, and one of them starts with one of the fundamentals--posture. This is very important. And what I typically see, Kelly, is that a lot of people have a hunched over posture at address. Their shoulders are rounded. Their butt's kind of stuck in. They're kind of just bent over. And it's very difficult to make a good full shoulder turn and make a good swing. So, I try to help people setup correctly, at least to give them a good chance. So, first of all, you need to know what good posture is and basically, if you stand up straight and just put your arms behind your back like this, this opens up your chest and gets you into some good posture. -Uh huh. -Then when you bend over for golf, this is really important. You actually bend from your hip sockets, not from the waist. So, you bend from your hip sockets then you add a little bit of knee flex. Then let your neck relax, and then just let your arms hang down, and it's an athletic position. Alright. Here's a really good exercise to strengthen some muscles for your posture. And pretend you're holding some hand weights, better yet, go get some hand weights and then hold them like this. And then, basically, lifting your elbows at past your back and hold it there for a second, feel your shoulder blades press together, and then drop down again, and then lift up like this back and forth, nice and smooth. And if you have weights in your hands, you'll be strengthening you're muscles in your back. And even if you don't have weights, you can feel all the muscles that you're using in your back, and those are muscles that you need to strengthen so that you can have better posture. -Yeah, you're getting a workout. You're strengthening your muscles-- -Uh huh. -and strengthening your position of your posture. -Right. A lot of people-- a lot of people don't have awareness of what even muscles that they're using. So that just gives you that feeling. -And how about another one? Do you have another tip? -Okay. Yeah, I do. Let me use this chair right here. And so people at home can do this with me. Grab a chair, and another big trouble spot that I see is at the top of that swing and that transition coming down, a lot of people come over the top. They've probably been told that before, you know, that's a typical turn. -I do it all the time. Absolutely. -And it-- and-- and it's a hard concept. So, you have to learn what it feels like. So, this is a great exercise. So, setup in your good posture like this. Hold on to the chair with your left arm if you're right-handed like I am. Pretend like you're holding the club with your right hand, and then swing to the top of your swing. Now, here is the tricky part. To start your downswing, you actually have to have a little lateral movement with your hips first, alright? And that's what drops the arm down. Then as you swing through, you turn and your right arm goes underneath your left arm like this. This is a power position. Where a lot of people go wrong is they get to the top and their first move is over the top this way. So, their arm would come over and, you know, cut across it and slice, or do a bunch of different shots. So, you need to have a little bit of awareness of what's starting the downswing. It's the lower body. And you need to have some flexibility and you need to be able to move correctly in order to-- to do that. And if you get into this position right here, you really feel how you're using your core at this point. My chest is still facing the target but my hips are open. So, that's a real power position. -We'd love to take a look at your golf swing. I know you've had a lot of great success in competition. Show us a swing kind of incorporating the things you just talked about and have some fun with the simulator here. A lot of people-- -Okay, great. -like to watch this. -Uh huh. Well, again, when you setup, I think that's one of the most important things and here, it's great that we have a target. When you-- when you practice, you always wanna practice to a target because when you're on the course, you always have a target. -Uh huh. -Some people go to the range and they just hit a bunch of shots and they're like, "Oh, I hit it great." But they didn't really have a target, so, always have something to aim to. And when you setup, you always wanna start with aiming your club face first, and then your body second, alright? And that will get you lined up parallel to your target where a lot of people go wrong as they try to aim their body to the target, okay? Then from here, get your grip and your nice setup, and then, really, what I'm trying to think about is-- is making a nice level turn. -Lovely! -That's a little bit left, too. -A little bit of shut club face there at impact, I guess. -Oh [unk]. -But still, nonetheless, in the fairway holding on, and this is the swing of Karen Palacios-Jansen. Obviously, more tips are coming in this half hour, and we want you to know that there is a myth that is commonly associated with the short game. She is gonna dispel that myth when we come back. That and more is on the docket. Also, if you like what you're hearing, what you're seeing, some Karen Palacios-Jansen, log on. You could see the competition right there. Golfchannel.com is the website /InstructorSearch, and vote for Karen. We'll be back with much more. -I used to work at the David Leadbetter Golf Academy at Lake Nona. They said to me, "Dan Jansen's here. He's gonna take a lesson." So that's the first I had ever seen him. And then I spent a weekend with him giving him golf lessons. -For me, I just thought, "what a great person." I sent her a photo just saying, you know, "Thanks. It was pleasure." -I was working a lot. So, I didn't have time to decorate. So, my cleaning lady decided she's gonna decorate my apartment for me. So, she put Dan's picture right by the front door. Everyday when I would leave in the morning, I would say, "See you later, Dan Jansen." And then when I would come home, I would say, "Hey, what have you been doing all day, Dan Jansen?" never thinking I would ever meet him again. And that was in September. And then in March, we met at Gary Player's charity event and he came up to me and he said, "Hey, Karen, do you remember me? You gave me lessons." And I'm like, "Do I remember you? I've seen your picture everyday for the past 6 months." So that's how we re-met. And he came down to take lessons at the Jim McLean. -Then I came down for more lessons and-- -And I told him that-- -9 months later, we were married. -Right. I told him it was gonna take a while to work on his swing. So, we got married and we've been working on it ever since. -You know, we always joke it if there was a reality show on us, it would be the most boring show in the world because we get up, we figure out what exercise we're gonna do that day, and then we work, and we play golf. -And I completely beg to differ. A very exciting couple, and a power couple none the less, always on the go. Dan Jansen, Olympic golf medalist '94 back in Lillehammer, speed skater, and now you are just one of the busiest people in the world. How do you guys balance all of this and a good marriage at the same time? -You know, when we get together, it's fun 'cause we don't see each other for a while. So, you know, we just what we-- what we can and our family and our friends are really important to us. So, we always try to have some sort of get-together with our family or friends. -It seems like you have great balance in life. -Uh huh. -Now, let's talk about the game of golf again. That's what we're here for tonight and you are one of our 3 finalists in our instructor search. -Yeah. -This is a big show for Karen Palacios-Jansen. We are gonna dispel a myth right now that you believe does not exist in the short game. Let's talk about it. -Well, a lot of people think that it's important to be strong for power, to hit the ball long, and I think that's really important, of course. But strength for the short game is just as important. You know, in order to hit like a little pitch shot to a green, you need to control the-- the trajectory. You need to control the distance. You need to control the spin. And you do that with your fine motor control, and you get that from strength. And so, I always laugh when I hear golf announcers when, like a big [unk]. -Don't look at me when you say that. -What-- you know, one of the big, you know, big strapping pros hits like a little delicate shot to the pin, they're like, "Oh, he's got such delicate touch for such a big man." And I'm like, "He's got delicate touch because he's got a lot of strength." You-- when you have strength, you're able to control like the grip pressure. You can lighten it up or, if you're not strong, you know, we're just holding on for dear life trying to hit the ball, let alone trying to get the certain distance. So, strength for the short game is just as important, I really think. And also, you need to be flexible in your hands and your wrists. First of all, especially for like a little pitch shot or in the sand, you need to get wrist hinge. You need to get that club up in the air. So, your wrist needs to be super flexible. And then when you hit a pitch shot, it's very important to hold that angle in the back of your right wrist and keep your left wrist firm. So, you need to be strong in order to do that. And also, ladies, if you have a hard time in the sand, the sand wedge is the heaviest club in the back, and then you're hitting through heavy sand. And so, if you don't have a lot of power, it's impossible to get the ball out of the sand. So, you need to have strength. So, I always try to tell my ladies do anything that you can do to get your fingers, your forearms, and your wrists stronger. It's gonna really help your short game. -Let's talk a little bit more about ways to gain strength-- -Uh huh. -in around this area to really improve your chipping, your pitching skills coming out of the bunker. -Right. Well, first of all, it's important if you're gonna do any strength exercises that you make sure you warm up your muscles first of all. And so, just a couple of super easy exercises: you can hold the club like this and then just do some wrist flexion. What you do is you just pull your wrist back like this and hold if or a second, and then you wanna do wrist extensions and just do the opposite right like that. And those will help get all the muscles in your wrists and your forearms warmed up. You can also do it this way, just simply holding your hand back. So, this is wrist flexion and extension. So, you do that to warm up before you do any weights because you don't wanna injure yourself. And then a really easy exercise and I'll have you do it so you can see this. -Sure. -You hold this club, any club. This-- this happens to be the sand wedge. So, it's the heaviest one. So, if you're not too strong, maybe get a different golf club. -If you have a club. -Yeah. -Go ahead. -And men, you start-- you hold it lightly with 2 fingers here. And then what you're gonna do is you're gonna walk your fingers down the grip until you get to the metal part of the club. And you should feel that in your forearms and your fingers. -Oh, gosh, yes. -This exercise will also help with a little dexterity in your hands, too. -Uh huh. -So, now, go ahead, stop right there, and then work it back up again. -And if I'm struggling in this department, it's obvious-- -Yeah. -that I need a lot of work. Absolutely, yeah. If you're strong, this is one of the areas that you need to do it. And so, you wanna make sure you're balance in both hands. So, you wanna do it on the other hand, too. So, you simply walk your hand down. Let your fingers do the walking. And then go ahead and walk your fingers back up. -Yeah. I don't think we can coin that phrase. -Alright. -I think some else might own that. But still, this is great. -So, and it's just a simple exercise that you can do at home, and what you wanna do is maybe do it every other day for about 6 weeks, and you'll definitely develop some strength in your forearms and your wrists, and very important for all those ladies out there that wanna hit-- get out of the sand. -Everyone neglects-- -Uh huh. -the little muscles. -Absolutely. Except-- -They are very important in the game of golf, especially in and around the greens. There is much more to come as the show continues. When we come back, Karen Palacios-Jansen is gonna give us the best tip she has ever received, not given, maybe she's given it, but the best she's ever received, right there for you when we come back. -For the best in golf instruction, go to golfchannel.com. -Back with Karen Palacios-Jansen on this Golf Channel Academy, and it is time now for her to give you the best tip she has ever received. And you've been around a lot of greats in your day, Karen. -You know, the best tip I ever got, it actually came from two different people about 15 years apart. First of all, it was from my dad when I was young. We both took up the game of golf about the same time, and he was really busy. So, he would say, "Read these books, watch these video tapes, and then teach me what they say." And so, I would roll my eyes and think, "Oh, this guy's really lazy." But he was teaching me to teach myself. I would have to repeat that to him. And then years later, when I went to work for Jim McLean, one of my favorite golf mentors, he operated the same way. He used to make all the trainees do free clinics and demonstrations, and it was during those times I was given a free clinic that I really learned the game of golf. I would be in the bunker and I'd be talking about an open club face or something, and I think to myself, you know, a light bulb would go off in my head, "That's what I need to do in my swing." And I really learned how to play the game of golf by teaching it. And I try to instill that in my students. Now, at the end of the lesson, I may do a little wrap up and I'll say to the student, "Okay. Now, you go ahead and tell me what we did today," and I'll have them turn around and get in front of the camera and show me what they learned and I can really see if they've learned it or not. So, I think that's really a great way to learn a skill is to teach it to someone else. -And then, obviously, you have studied so many different realms of the game of golf. Fitness is a huge part of your message. You actually came up with your own concept called cardio golf. -Right. -Tell us about it. -Uh huh. Yeah, well, cardio golf is a way to combine some exercise and your swing together, and a lot of people don't have time. You know, they-- they wanna go hit balls and that's fine. But you need to have a little bit of movement in your body as well. So, I came up with this program. It helps develop strength and flexibility specific to golf, and it's a class that I teach at the DVD that I have. -Yeah, great. -Uh huh. -Okay. So let's get back to this concept of the short game and how you really have to have great touch to be someone that's effective in and around the greens. Well, Karen just told us just moments ago in chipping and putting that you have to have strength as well, even more so with the putting, and a lot of people would be surprised to hear that. -Right. Well, some of the buzz words that are going around in golf right now are core stability and strength. -Uh huh. -And everyone is trying to get their core stronger for a full swing, and-- and that's fine. But to me, core stability is probably even more important than putting. Now, first of all, your core is pretty much your trunk. It's from your hips all the way up to your-- your neck. And so, all movement starts from your core. But you need to be stable as well. And-- and the word stability is pretty much just your ability to hold the position for a certain amount of time. So, core stability is probably more important for putting because when you setup to hit a putt, you need to have very still lower body and you just wanna pendulum-motion your arms, and that way, that'll help keep the club face very square. Now, if you are-- if you have a lot of lower body motion because you're stable in your core, you're not flexible enough, then what's gonna happen is you're gonna move a lot and the club face will open and close, and it's gonna be like you're putting standing in a canoe. -And, you think it's easy at the start. -Uh huh. -Oh, how hard is it to sit over a golf shot, especially putting. -It's-- uh huh. -But when you're out there playing 18 holes or maybe 36 in a day, sooner or later, the muscles start to get weaker. -Right. And the other thing about core stability for putting, and why it's so important is that, you know, during the round of golf, you'll probably only hit about 14 drives. -Uh huh. -But in a round of golf, you'll probably hit about 30 or 35 putts. So, to me, core stability is more important for that. So, here's just a little exercise that you can do, Kelly. -Okay. -Just a little stretchy band right here. And so, you take it and you put-- you step on it like this. -Uh huh. -And then you setup as if you were putting, alright? And this is just gonna give you awareness of what you're using your swing. And then, what you're trying to do is pendulum-motion your arm. So, you've gotta keep your lower body very still. And if you do this, you'll feel this all in your core. You're getting a little bit of a core workout as you're feeling what's working in your-- your putting stroke. And if you do this a few minutes everyday, you'll really get the feeling of what is working in your putting stroke. You know, you don't wanna just use your arms and you definitely don't wanna go ahead and move all over the place with your lower body, so. -Very good. And these rubber bands are available at just about any sporting goods store in the market, right? -Yeah, you can get them anywhere. -Anywhere. -I call them stretchy bands. -Stretchy bands. Okay. So when we come back, Karen's gonna give us a final swing thought, one more drill for you at home, and of course, if you like what you're hearing from Karen Palacios-Jansen, if you think she's our next big instructor on Golf Channel, log on to golfchannel.com/InstructorSearch. Cast your vote and also watch the videos that our 3 finalists have provided there for you. A lot of exciting, fresh, young talent emerging on the PGA Tour stage; we cannot wait for the 2011 season to get started. It happens right here on Golf Channel, January 6th, on the island of Maui--spectacular views. Alright. A lot of people, our northern friends, trapped indoors in this off season. Can you give them a drill to get them through the time? -Yeah, absolutely. I have this little short practice club and I designed it short so that you can swing inside and not hit ceilings and walls, and this is a great practice tool to have in your house where you can just do a couple of practice swings a little bit everyday because you don't wanna go a long time without swinging a club. So, if you had something like this, you could check your club face, you could check your positions, you could do a few practice swings, and you'll be ready when you get to start to play. -Yup, and stay away from children, lamps-- -Right. -and windows, and anything else I might have left off. Karen Palacios-Jansen, one of our 3 finalists in our Instructor Search, looking for that next big star. Be sure to log on to golfchannel.com/InstructorSearch and cast your vote today. Karen, thank you so much and happy holidays to you and Dan. -Thanks so much for having me, Kelly. -Alright. Karen Palacios-Jansen. We'll see you next time.
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Tags:

Nick Price
Nick Faldo
PGA Tour
Karen Palacios-Jansen
Dan Jansen
David Leadbetter
Jim McLean
golf swing
Gary Player's
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