Meet PGA teaching professional - Mike Paukovits

Meet PGA teaching professional - Mike Paukovits

Get to know Mike Paukovits, a PGA teaching professional with 10 years of instructor experience and 30 of playing golf. If you want to book a lesson with Mike in Pennsylvania or submit a swing video for review follow the link at the bottom.

How long have you been golfing? What kind of playing and teaching experience do you have?

I have been playing golf for about 30 years, started young. My playing experience is extensive as I have been competing every year since high school and I still enjoy competing locally in the Philadelphia Section, PGA. My love for teaching began after spending a winter down in Miami, FL learning from Jim McLean and his exceptional staff of golf instructors. I have been teaching full-time for the last 10 years and continue to learn every day and get better at helping my students accomplish their golfing goals.

What's your favorite course you've played?

I have been lucky enough to play Merion Golf Club, a very tough test with a lot of historic moments!

What is your favorite club in your bag?

The driver, I believe that confidence in the driver is huge, and being able to hit it straight with a decent amount of distance off the tee is fun!

You get to golf with any 3 people dead or alive, at any course. Who are you picking and where are you teeing it up?

Definitely my Dad, he is 75 and has shot his age numerous times. He played golf at LaSalle College and taught me how to play the game. Tiger Woods, I’m a huge fan and he is the reason I started competing at a young age. The 3rd would be Gary Player, my Dad’s idol and a favorite old-school player of mine who was a pioneer in bringing fitness to the game of golf.

What's the craziest thing you have seen happen on a golf course?

Witnessing 7 hole-in-one’s (5 of them were mine), it never gets old!

Who is your favorite golfer on tour and why?

Rory McIlroy, I really love watching him hit the driver!

What's one part of your game you have improved over the last year and what did you do to improve it?

I increased my club head speed by about 10 mph on average. I trained religiously with SuperSpeed Golf’s set of 3 weighted training clubs. Their protocols for increasing speed with overspeed training have been a game changer for many professional golfers as well as my students.

What is the best piece of golf advice you have ever received?

My dad would always tell me to “die the ball at the hole” when putting. Speed is more important than having the perfect line, this is the best advice for reducing or trying to eliminate 3 putts during your round.

What's your favorite golf practice drill?

Back to Target Drill for fixing a slice:

Setup with an extremely closed stance and shoulder alignment. Square clubface to the target. Swing back and down along the stance line (inside to out). Release the club, trail arm over your lead arm (allow the arms to pass the body).

What do you like most about teaching the game of golf?

I really enjoy seeing my students improve and accomplish their goals. It is so rewarding when someone reaches out to tell me that they just shot the best round of their life, can’t beat that feeling.

Connect with Mike and book a lesson here.