How to Sustain Your Lesson Improvement

Well, well…I have been absent from my keyboard for a while due to ill health. I’m feeling much better, so let’s pick up where we left off, shall we? 

The most consistent comment I, and likely all teachers, hear is this: “When I’m here, I get it; when I go back to the course or practice tee, I lose it.” 

It is so common, so frequent, one must wonder, why this is so? There are several reasons just as there are with any dynamic this complex and varied. But clearly, the most critical reason is this: you are mired in detail and do not grasp the big picture!!! You are not recognizing the WHY of what you are being asked to do. 

Let’s look at a few examples. An instructor asks you to change your grip, or your stance, or ball position…WHY? He/she has you change your backswing…WHY? There are so many of these suggestions that you must understand why and how they relate to the complete picture of your swing. If you do not, you are quite likely to revert to old bad habits. Quickly. 

Another factor in this is time spent with the instructor. Realistically, you cannot expect dramatic results seeing your coach one to two times a month. Real change comes from a thorough understanding of what is needed, a good amount of time on the practice tee, and as much time with your teacher as possible. 

Next, we must give serious consideration to how long you have had the habits you currently have. The longer the habits have been there, the longer they will take to change. It’s as simple as that. 

Lastly, time spent working on swing changes vs. time spent playing golf. If you are serious about real change in your motion, the former must exceed the latter. We all want to play golf, after all that’s why we took up the game. But, if you’re unhappy with the way you are playing and want to change, learn your lessons and practice. 

We play a very difficult game. When you see a PGA Touring professional miss a green from right in the middle of the fairway with a middle to short iron, you get some idea of how difficult our game can be. Mere mortals make the mistake of thinking the game is as easy as it looks! It is not. Part of the satisfaction of golf is when you hit a shot well, you know what you’ve accomplished simply because the game is so difficult.