An enlightened view of teaching/ learning golf?

[Alex1975]

Hi All,

http://www.golfwrx.com/201237/the-one-simple-reason-why-golfers-dont-get-better/

An interesting read and for sure something that has a place in the learning and teaching of golf in my opinion.

What are your thoughts on this?

Alex

 

[London mike 61]

Very interesting , I think that pros need to take on the new ways of teaching so that amateurs get more confidence in having lessons.
more lessons means more money for the pro and more confidence for the golfer, win, win all round.

 

[LIG]

This is exactly what I asked the pro at my local course - lessons every day but of variable length. I.e. 10mins per day for three days and then 45mins the next and 20mins another day.

His answer............."No. It's £20 for half an hour."

 

[Alex1975]

This is exactly what I asked the pro at my local course - lessons every day but of variable length. I.e. 10mins per day for three days and then 45mins the next and 20mins another day.

His answer............."No. It's £20 for half an hour."

Interesting. I wonder if it was because he thought that was the best way of learning or because he has his structure and that works best for him. Either way it's not a very commercial attitude....

 

[duncan mackie]

it's hard to argue with the general premise that the relationship needs to be a long term one - but beyond that it becomes increasingly difficult to understand what's new, if anything!

in my experience professional teaching staff spend huge amounts of effort trying to get people to enter into such relationships - it's the players that want instant, cheap, low commitment, fixes!

we have 4 staff who teach and through the year they run for members -
1. winter drop in sessions at a separate floodlit driving range a few miles away at 6-7.30 on a Wed evening where for £20 you get unlimited coffee, range balls and tuition according to how many attend (this can be 1:1 for an hour at times!)
2. various structured courses on short game, driving, iron play etc all of which can be tailored and include 9 hole playing.
3. an annual weeks coaching holiday in Cyprus
4. the usual stuff - but structured to needs and convenience.

basically anything goes!

this works in our environment; but equally I can see how it would be impossible when booking a driving range pro, or anyone who is 100% booking based.

 

[ManinBlack]

One important thing the Golf WRX piece mentioned was "self discovery" The pro needs to teach the golfer to help himself by explaining WHY a bad shot occurs. I met an acquaintance, who has not been playing long, at the range & he was flogging away hitting slice after slice with a typical beginner's over the top swing. He'd had lessons but still didn't understand what the club face & swing path were doing to produce the ball flight he was getting. He was effectively grooving his fault by aimlessly whacking balls. I explained the relationship between swing path & club face & I'm sure he was hearing it for the first time. Even rank beginners should be given this information at the very start. With the basics established I'm convinced there is a lot you can work out for yourself, provided you fully understand the basic physics of the golf swing.

 

[SocketRocket]

One important thing the Golf WRX piece mentioned was "self discovery" The pro needs to teach the golfer to help himself by explaining WHY a bad shot occurs. I met an acquaintance, who has not been playing long, at the range & he was flogging away hitting slice after slice with a typical beginner's over the top swing. He'd had lessons but still didn't understand what the club face & swing path were doing to produce the ball flight he was getting. He was effectively grooving his fault by aimlessly whacking balls. I explained the relationship between swing path & club face & I'm sure he was hearing it for the first time. Even rank beginners should be given this information at the very start. With the basics established I'm convinced there is a lot you can work out for yourself, provided you fully understand the basic physics of the golf swing.

Good post

I have never met a Golf Pro who teaches what needs to happen at impact and how the relationship between the clubface direction and swingpath affect ball flight. Why has the PGA not produced a simple booklet that explains this? Taking a cynical view I can only think its not done as it may reduce the number of lessons people would need.

The nearest thing I have come across to this is the book 'Nail It' and the 3 Skills method taught by Joe Hagen at the Hersham Golf Club.

 

[SGC001]

Hi All,

http://www.golfwrx.com/201237/the-one-simple-reason-why-golfers-dont-get-better/

An interesting read and for sure something that has a place in the learning and teaching of golf in my opinion.

What are your thoughts on this?

Alex

I've met Mike Hebron. it was a very interesting experience. He's a great coach and has a fantastic eye, 1 swing viewed from any angle and he's pretty much got you pegged. I like his books and would definitely recommend golf mind golf body golf swing to anyone interested in reading golf instruction books. He's into neuro learning or was at the time I met him and was more concerned with how to get the message across, but with technical knowledge as good as his it was made a lot easier (though he was not that interested in getting technical).

 

[ManinBlack]

Good post

I have never met a Golf Pro who teaches what needs to happen at impact and how the relationship between the clubface direction and swingpath affect ball flight. Why has the PGA not produced a simple booklet that explains this? Taking a cynical view I can only think its not done as it may reduce the number of lessons people would need.

The nearest thing I have come across to this is the book 'Nail It' and the 3 Skills method taught by Joe Hagen at the Hersham Golf Club.

I directed the person I talked about to an old John Jacobs book "Play Better Golf", long out of print but lots on EBay & he bought a copy. It explains simply the effect of swing path & face angle on ball flight. A really useful, easy to follow book by one of the best teachers ever.