Michael Stocking, PGA
Full-Time Golf Instructor
Encinitas Ranch G.C.
MJS Pic

1-On-1

Personalized Golf Instruction.

"What other people may find in poetry, I find in the flight of a good drive!"

Arnold Palmer

I've been teaching golf for 35+yrs and have expertly incorporated technology into my instruction. Your full swing session will include slow motion video and computer analysis. Upon conclusion of your lesson, you will receive a link to download a Summary Lesson Video. I can help you expedite your improvement and get you on the golf course shooting lower scores!
Call Me

MJS PicMy name is Michael Stocking. I am a Class "A" PGA "Life" Member and Golf Instructor at Encinitas Ranch GC. I have been helping golfers have more fun and play better golf since 1987. In that time, I estimate that I have given well over 30,000 golf lessons!

I give private individual lessons at the south end of the driving range at Enicinitas Ranch GC. Throughout my career, I have learned to expertly incorporate technology into my instruction. I use a State of the Art Computerized system that includes Multiple Video Analysis & Slow Motion stop frame video. I also use a Flightscope Launch monitor that allows us to see all important data points of the clubhead and the location of impact for each shot. Upon conclusion of your full swing session, I create a Summary Lesson video and email you a link for personal download. This allows the convenience of being able to review your golf lessons and really help to remember the key fundamentals of YOUR swing!

I make learning golf Simple and Fun. My personalized private instruction is designed to help you enjoy learning and to build a solid foundation and understanding for

YOUR INSIDE PATH TO A BETTER SWING!

My Left Handed Blog!


2021

Coming Soon

Hopefully, I will have something fun to talk about soon!


2020

UGH!

What needs to be said about the year 2020. YUCK. For the first 3 months I was recovering from my 2 Level back surgery. On February 12th, my surgeon gave me the OK to start practicing. Additionally, my surgeon stated that I could start playing golf as of March 1st. I played 2 rounds and then COVID-19! I was off work from March to June 5. In total, I probably played less than 10 rounds of golf in 2020. I am thankful to have been able to get back to work and teach. Thank you for allowing me to help you!


2019 Wrap up

The rest of the STORY!

On Tuesday 9/17 my shoulder surgeon gave me the OK to start hitting golf balls! YAY! As usual, he told me to take it easy. Weds the 18th I hit 5 balls. Fri the 20th I hit 10 balls. Mon the 23rd I hit 20 balls. You get the point! On Monday Sept 30 I hit 50 balls. My shoulder was feeling absolutely FANTASTIC! Unfortunately, Tuesday Oct 1st I woke up and couldn't get out of bed. I was in excruciating pain. Due to my scoliosis, the right side of L5 & S1 were finally bone to bone and the right side of L4 & L5 were almost bone to bone. The "bad" back that I had been dealing with for most of my life finally needed to be fixed. For those of you who remember, Oct was a tremendous struggle for me to get to work. By the middle of Oct I was scheduled for a 2 level fusion on L4-L5 & L5-S1. On November 12th, I had my back surgery. Initial results of the surgery were PHENOMENAL! Unfortunately, I won't be able to hit golf balls until possibly next March 2020. More to follow!


06/07/2019

OMG! You're not gonna believe this!

On Friday June 7th, one week after an RFA (radio frequency ablation) on my lower back (L5-S3) and 5 days before my right shoulder surgery, I went out and played golf with my boys! My friends and I had a great time and I shot a left-handed lowest score of 77! Also, I got a HOLE-IN-ONE on a 156 yrd par 3!!! I hit a 7 iron that never left the flag stick and bounced once and then landed right in the hole! My first LEFT-HANDED HOLE-IN-ONE. I can now say that I am probably one of very few golfers that have Holes-in-one on both the right and left side of the ball!
CRAZY RIGHT!


03/01/2019

Recap of 28 day challenge

Unfortunately, my right shoulder injury has prevented me from working much on my swing and speed. I was successful with my diet and got down to a solid wieght of 178lbs! I will need ot look into what I can do to repair my shoulder. I can't practice and improve without minimizing my pain!


02/01/2019

My 28 day challenge!

For the month of February, I will stop eating processed sugar, cut way down on carbs and start a Stretching and Strengthing program that will produce a better faster golfswing! I'm just ending 7 weeks of PT for a right rotator cuff tear, Impingement Syndrome, Frozen Shoulder and AC joint arthritis. Exactly! My shoulder is a mess! Because of this bad shoulder, I have to be smart and carefull with my program. I am currently 184.5 lbs and will try to get back to 175 lbs. (My PLAYING weight!)

This is all about being better at Left Handed golf! I have measured a starting point for the test!
My current driver stats with my best shot on my launch monitor are as follows:
Ball Speed: 143.9 mph
Total Carry: 231.4 yards
Total Distance: 247.1 yards
Spin Rate: 2488 rpm
Launch Angle: 14.4 Degrees

Here is a Face On video of my swing on February 01, 2019

Not bad for a guy with a bad right shoulder!

Stay tuned for my March 1st post. Let's see how I do!




04/04/2018

I am so EXCITED about my NEW Left Handed Cobra Equipment!

W.I.B.

Wedges: Cobra Tour Trusty, 50/08, 56/12, 60/10
Irons: Cobra KING MB Flow set: 4-Pw, Shaft: KBS C-Taper Tour 120S
3 Iron: Cobra KING Forged Tec, Shaft: OZIK MFS 65 Red Tie (S)
3 Metal: Cobra King Ltd, 14.5 degrees, Shaft: Aldila Tour Green ATX 65 3.9S
Driver: Cobra F8+, 11 Degrees, Shaft: Aldila Tour Green ATX 65 3.9S
Putter: PING Redwood Anser, 35 inch, Ping Etched Grip




01/12/2018

KING Forged TecOMG!I just got my new KING Forged Tec 3 Iron! I wish you could hear how solid it sounds! What a great club! I ordered it with the Matrix OZIK Red Tie 65 graphite shaft!




10/28/2016

If you didn't know, I have had multiple surgeries on my left wrist. My last surgery was in Oct of 2016. After cleaning out the debris and drilling a couple holes into my Lunate bone, the surgeon needed to do an additional surgery and shorten the Ulna of my left arm. At impact during my right handed swing, my Ulna was striking the Lunate bone in my wrist and creating damage to the Lunate. Unfortunately, the Lunate bone is no longer getting enough blood. As such, I have tremendous pain during my right handed impact. The SOLUTION! I have been learning to play left handed since August of this year. So far, while I do get frustrated on the course, I am happy with my progress. My low round is 95 playing at 6800yds. I have also shot 96 at just under 6900 yds. In order to bring these scores down, I will need to hit my tee shots more consistently solid and 30 - 50 yrds farther. This my arm 6 days after surgery! Ouch!