Can Golf Instruction Work For You?

July 13, 2011 by admin
Filed under Golf Related Articles

Can Golf Instruction Work For You?

The golf ball flies 20 yards further than it did thirty years ago. The golf clubs have larger sweet spots, which make it easier to hit the ball straighter, and mis-hit shots will also fly further. There is an entire industry devoted to selling training aids, video lessons and even golf fitness ideas. We even have the Golf Channel on TV! Yet, the average handicap for both men and women has not changed over this period of time. Why?

The blame should be placed upon both teacher and student. In some cases, the teacher and student are simply not a good match. The teacher has difficulty communicating to the student, and the student just does not grasp the concepts being taught. Butch Harmon is one of the best instructors in the world because he knows how to communicate to his students.

On the other hand, much of the blame should be placed on the student. If the student has done their due diligence to find a good instructor, and sees immediate results, then obviously, the instructor has been able to communicate to the student. But, why does the student not see long term improvement?

The main reason is that the student does not take ownership of what they have learned. The second reason is that the teacher does not follow up well enough with the student. Let's address the first.

Golf is a very complicated game, and there is a substantial amount of information to learn. Not only does the student need to learn how to swing the golf club, they need to learn how to hit a variety of shots around the green, how to putt, how to read greens, etc. Then, they also need to learn the basic rules and etiquette. Yet, with all there is to learn, the vast majority of golfers do NOT take notes, nor do they keep track of their progress by keeping any statistics of their rounds. They will usually go to an instructor to first learn the basics, and many will not seek instruction again. Or, they simply want a quick fix, but they learn nothing about what makes their own swing work and not work at times.

Martial artists who study at a reputable school will often be required to keep a notebook and journal. Martial arts are similar to golf in that there is a significant amount of information to learn, from the basic punches and kicks, to strengthening and flexibility exercises, rules, etiquette, and then the various forms, or kata, themselves. It is simply impossible to keep all of that information in your head, but that is what most golfers try to do.

The second reason that I mentioned is that golf instructors typically do not do a good job of following up with the student. A good instructor will find a way to try and keep track of a student's progress. There are now websites where a student can input information from a round of golf and have it sent to the instructor. An instructor can simply have that set up for themselves in the form of a spreadsheet that a student can update.

A good instructor will also keep in touch with students through the use of newsletters, or a website offering videos to remind students of the important fundamentals, or tips to help cure certain swing faults. Instructors should also offer programs that are a bit less expensive than typical, individual golf instruction, so that the student can have more opportunity for at least some further instruction.

The bottom line is that golf is a difficult game, and there is simply no Holy Grail of a golf swing that will help every student out there become a scratch golfer. To improve at golf in the long run, it takes practice. Ben Hogan once said that if he missed a day of practice, it might take him a week to get back to where he was. Golf is a difficult game to play consistently well. But, golfers and instructors both need to take ownership of how much a student improves. If both do, then golf instruction can certainly benefit the student significantly.

Scott Cole is a Hank Haney Pro Associate Instructor who teaches golf at the Olney Golf Park in Olney, Maryland. He is also a 1st Degree blackbelt in the art of Pai Lum Kung Fu. For more information, visit www.scottcolegolf.com or www.onlinegolfswingcoach.com

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