Harper Lin
George Gankas is a golf instructor who has become one of the most famous and influential golf teachers in the world. Gankas teaches at Westlake, a flat, unattractive patch of land outside Los Angeles, where players hit off rubber mats at the driving range. Gankas teaches in flip-flops and has over 100,000 followers on Instagram, who treat his ideas as holy scripture. Gankas teaches that there is more than one way to swing a golf club and that there is more to a swing than just its beauty. Gankas has worked with PGA Tour winners such as Matthew Wolff, Padraig Harrington, and Adam Scott, and charges $800 per hour for his lessons.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | George Gankas |
| Occupation | Golf coach |
| Teaching Style | Repudiates modern orthodoxy about what a golf swing should be; teaches that there is more than one way to swing |
| Notable Students | Padraig Harrington, Matt Wolff, Sung Kang, Akshay Bhatia, Adam Scott, Bobby Holden, Braden Thornberry |
| Social Media Presence | 100,000+ followers on Instagram (@georgegankasgolf), 50,000+ followers on YouTube |
| Coaching Fees | $800 per hour |
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What You'll Learn
George Gankas' teaching style
George Gankas is a golf instructor who teaches in a style that challenges the myths of how the golf swing should be taught. His mantra is that there is more than one way to get things done. Gankas teaches his students to think for themselves, rather than telling them what to think. He focuses on helping golfers learn to score and improve their technique.
Gankas teaches his students how to strategize and navigate their golf ball when playing, including how to choose the proper club off the tee, how to minimize damage, and how to leave their ball in the correct positions. He also teaches them how to hit specific categories of clubs, such as how to hit a driver or wedges compared to a normal full swing with an iron. Gankas breaks down the different ways to fix their set-up, backswing, and downswing, and provides drills and tips to help them improve. He also teaches them about the ground forces at play in their swing, such as torques, vertical forces, horizontal forces, and pressures in the feet.
Gankas's teaching style is described as honest and reassuring. He emphasizes that there is no downside to taking a lesson, which gives his students permission to hit bad shots without fear of judgment. Gankas is also known for his high energy and passion for helping people. He is always eager to share his knowledge and is invested in his students' improvement. His ideas are described as simple and radical, with a focus on speed above all else. Gankas teaches in flip-flops and is a burgeoning social media star with over 100,000 followers on Instagram.
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Gankas' students
George Gankas is a golf instructor who teaches students via his online course, George Gankas Golf, and in-person at the Westlake Golf Course outside Los Angeles. Gankas teaches his students how to strategize and navigate their golf game, including how to choose the right club, leave the ball in the correct positions, and minimize damage when things go wrong. He also teaches his students how to hit bunker and flop shots, how to read greens, and how to perform the proper technique with their stroke.
Gankas's teaching style is characterised by his belief that there is more than one way to get things done. He teaches his students to think for themselves, rather than telling them what to think. He also encourages his students to move like athletes, with a violent turn that begins around the hips and knees to generate more clubhead speed. Gankas monitors his students' swings with a Flightscope launch monitor and a video camera, and he provides video feedback to his online students.
Gankas has a large following on social media, with over 300,000 Instagram followers and 50,000 YouTube subscribers. He also has a subscription-based website with tips and insights. Gankas's in-person students include CEOs, gamers, pro skateboarders, celebrities, and PGA Tour stars. He charges between $600 and $1,000 per hour for his in-person lessons and is booked eight months in advance.
Gankas's students have praised him for his passion and enthusiasm for teaching, as well as his willingness to invest in his students' success. One of his students, Scott, said that Gankas "steered me in the right direction — I firmly believe that". Another student, Tim, who is a real estate developer and race car driver, worked with Gankas to improve his swing, with Gankas showing him video footage of his improved technique.
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Gankas' social media stardom
George Gankas is a swing coach in golf. He teaches in flip-flops and baggy shorts, and his pupils are addressed as "bro" or "dude", even if they're female. Gankas has more than 100,000 followers on Instagram, many of whom are infatuated with his unique teaching style. He has built his audience and business with a tech-savvy willingness to put his ideas on display for the world to see. Gankas has uploaded countless videos to YouTube and social media channels, turning his home base of Westlake Golf Course into some of golf's most hallowed ground.
Gankas's social media stardom is due in part to his unassuming vibe. He charges $350 an hour and is booked out months in advance. Gankas rarely travels on tour, but his ideas are at once simple and radical, and he preaches speed above all else. No one on the PGA Tour averages as much as 125 miles per hour of clubhead speed with their driver, but Gankas has 20 players in his stable of collegians and mini-tour warriors swinging it at 130 mph or above.
Gankas's social media presence has also led to him becoming a cult hero on the cusp of mainstream stardom. He is considering offering personalized video lessons for an additional fee and is training certified deputies to help keep up with demand. Gankas's phone never stops ringing, and he checks every message and takes every call, sometimes carrying on three conversations at once.
Gankas's social media stardom has also translated to real-world recognition. At the 2017 Canadian Open on the PGA Tour, Gankas's swing coach of five years flew north to caddie for Ruiz, and they were serenaded throughout the week. People were yelling out George's name on almost every hole, and he was getting more love than most of the actual players.
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Gankas' ranking on Golf Digest's list
George Gankas is a golf coach who inspires fervour in his followers, with more than 100,000 disciples on Instagram. He is known for his "odd" and "wacky" teaching style, which includes teaching in flip-flops and giving lessons on a mat outside his back door. Gankas's ideas are simple and radical, with a focus on speed above all else.
In 2019, Gankas was ranked No. 11 in Golf Digest's 50 Best Teachers in America list, the highest debut in the program's history. This ranking was voted on by 1,500 leading golf instructors nationwide, who recognised Gankas's ability to get results.
Gankas has worked with several notable golfers, including PGA Tour veteran Parker McLachlin, 2013 Masters champion Adam Scott, and Oklahoma State's Matt Wolff, whose quirky swing was the talk of the 2018 NCAAs. Gankas also advises top-ranked amateurs and juniors, such as Braden Thornberry and Akshay Bhatia.
Gankas's teaching style involves breaking down the terminology and concepts of the golf swing, examining the set-up position, posture, grip, alignment, and pressure. He also teaches how to strategize and navigate the golf ball when playing, including choosing the proper club and minimising damage when trouble strikes.
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Gankas' swing-coaching at the Canadian Open
George Gankas is a popular swing coach in the world of golf. Gankas teaches in flip-flops and is known for his eccentricities. However, he has over 100,000 disciples on Instagram, who treat his ideas as holy scripture. Gankas's pupils include dozens of top young players, such as Matt Wolff, whose quirky swing was the talk of the 2018 NCAAs, and Braden Thornberry, the top-ranked amateur in the world. Gankas also advises Akshay Bhatia, the top-ranked junior, and Bobby Holden.
Gankas's coaching methods are unique, and he is always eager to share his knowledge with his students. He uses a Flightscope launch monitor and a video camera to monitor every swing, and he emphasizes speed above all else. Gankas's passion for helping people and his investment in his students' success have earned him a dedicated following.
Gankas's swing-coaching at the 2017 Canadian Open is a testament to his popularity and the effectiveness of his methods. Gankas's pupil, Ruiz, qualified for the tournament, and Gankas flew north to caddie for him. Throughout the week, Gankas and Ruiz were serenaded, with people yelling out Gankas's name on almost every hole. Gankas's presence at the Canadian Open attracted more attention than most of the players, highlighting his fame and influence in the world of golf.
Gankas's swing-coaching philosophy focuses on several key aspects. Firstly, he emphasizes the importance of understanding the golf swing's setup position, including posture, grip, alignment, and pressure. He also teaches his students how to strategize and navigate their golf ball when playing, including choosing the proper club off the tee and minimizing damage when trouble arises. Gankas's program provides insights into the design of golf clubs and helps golfers find the right clubs to improve their game.
The George Gankas Golf program offers a comprehensive approach to improving one's golf game. Students can post full swing videos and receive customized responses from Gankas's certified assistant coaches, Brett Silvernail and Jake Gilmer. The program also includes Face on and down-the-line angle lesson vlogs, where students can watch Gankas teach real lessons. Additionally, the program covers the nitty-gritty of ball and club interaction, teaching about smash factor, backspin, spin axis tilt, and range of dispersion. Gankas's program goes beyond just swing coaching, as he provides insights into strategy, club selection, and understanding one's strengths and weaknesses.
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Frequently asked questions
George Gankas is a golf coach who teaches at Westlake Golf Course outside Los Angeles. He is known for his unorthodox approach to teaching golf swings. Gankas teaches in flip-flops and has become one of the most famous and influential golf instructors in the world.
Gankas challenges the myths about how the golf swing should be taught. His mantra is that there is more than one way to get things done. He teaches his students how to generate more clubhead speed through a violent turn that begins around the hips and knees.
Some of Gankas' notable students include Padraig Harrington, Matt Wolff, Sung Kang, Akshay Bhatia, and Bobby Holden. Wolff, in particular, is known for his unorthodox swing, which has helped him become a PGA Tour winner.
As of 2021, Gankas charges $800 per hour for his lessons and is booked eight months in advance. His students include top-ranked juniors, college players, CEOs, and PGA Tour stars.
