Leadbetter, David (1955– )

English golf teacher. He gained international cult status by radically changing the English player Nick Faldo's swing in 1985. Faldo won his first British Open with his revised style in 1987. Leadbetter designs training drills for the player to repeat a movement until it becomes instinctive. His teaching school is in Lake Nona, near Orlando, Florida.

Leadbetter was born in Worthing. He took up teaching when he realized he would never succeed as a touring professional. His early pupils included the US players Tom Watson and Curtis Strange, and the Spanish golfer Sevy Ballesteros.