Learning to Play

Learning to Play

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Are you a "rubber band man" when it comes to playing? Do you beat balls, seem to learn and then just go back to your old habits, never making any real progress? There is/are scientific explanation(s) for why. Basically, you didn't really learn. "Overlearning", a motor learning science term, is your real goal. This means mastery of a specific skill to the point where it becomes automatic which in turn means you don't have to try and you don't have to think about it! Almost everyone quits too soon. We highly encourage, plead, beg, trick and use every other known method to get you to practice the 60/21 program ... that's 60 correct repetitions for 21 consecutive days. Obviously practice, that's correct practice, is critical to learning. How to correctly practice is one of the most important concepts in motor learning science. Go to any busy driving range and simply observe. A lot of people may have a serious look on their face, but most are just wasting their time and possibly getting worse rather than better. Most are recreating, very, very few are engaged in correct practice!

Another issue is "fear of change". We have actually been asked to help and then told we could not "mess with my swing". Our response is very simple ... "what part of wrong do you want to keep?" Another issue is fear of "method instruction". This really translates into a fear of being turned into a "robot" and being forced to do unnatural movements that the learner's body just can't do. You must realize that fundamental instruction must involve some kind of systematic method in order to communicate concepts, techniques, checkpoints of correct performance and "feel" points relative to different positions and motions. Anything less is just a grab bag approach that is doomed to fail. Any good instructor will figure out how to get a client to be fundamentally sound AND work within the limits of the client's physical ability. This said, you must clearly understand ... golf is a cruel taskmaster requiring the correct execution of some well understood fundamentals!

There is a clear difference between the requirements for learning and for playing. You must be able to separate the two and then to integrate your learning into a performance plan. Learning is knowing and being able to do things, knowing how to practice those things and how to integrate the other various game skills into a total package. The ability to switch from the learning (process) to the performance (outcome) mode is critical. Your most important tools are your pre-play routine and your pre-shot routine. Like any other skill, your pre-shot routine must be correct, complete and practiced to the point where it is automatic. On the course, mechanical thoughts are death to your score. You need to be thinking about "where", not "how". Your mind must be disciplined enough to focus on a single, "trigger" swing que. You earn the privilege of having a loose attitude (confident and trusting in your skills and preparation). Going to the course with your head filled with mechanics is a sure ticket to frustration!

You will go through stages of learning. Sometimes you will feel bad! Sometimes, you might actually get worse before you get better. For less skilled players, large change is required. Change is revolutionary, like an engine overhaul! For better players, learning is about a never ending quest to further refine basic, fundamental skill. Your slowly evolve through more and more precise levels of control. There's a big monkey wrench in the middle of this finely tuned plan ... when you change one thing, it effects other things which in turn must be improved. Many of our clients tell us they are "uncomfortable" with the feeling associated with the fundamental positions and movements wee teach. This is music to our ears. Wrong is usually very comfortable. We are very concerned about the "C" word ... correct, not comfortable. Discomfort is a clear signal that you are doing something different and ... correct is far more important than comfortable!

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