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Last lesson I
discussed the process of choosing an instructor. Today I offer
suggestions on getting the most out of a lesson.
To begin, a golf lesson is not 'fixing', it's 'learning'. The
instructors role is to point out the direction, and give you
some tools to help you get to the destination. It's the
student who has to do the work. As I say to the people I
teach, 'we're in this together!'
It is important that you go into the lesson with a definite
idea of your goals, what exactly do you want to get out of the
session. Just saying 'I want to play a little better' isn't
really clear enough. A more specific goal might be: 'I want to
get the ball airborne', or 'I would like to stop slicing', or
'I want more distance'.
Once the goal is decided upon, the more information about your
game you can give the instructor, the better. Any injuries or
pain, how often do you play, what are your ball flight
tendencies, and so on.
Once the starting point is established, and the goal is set,
only then can the path be laid out to get you there.
Another issue will come up at this point; how do you as an
individual, learn best? Some people need to see it, that's
where video and mirrors come in handy. Other people need to
'feel' the swing; for that there are training devices and
swing drills. Others need a more intellectual explanation,
words to describe the change needed.
And that word 'change' is critical. If you don't like what you
are doing, then you need to do something different. In other
words, you didn't go to the lesson to be the same! If it
doesn't feel different, you haven't made the change.
The last point is, to change a motor skill takes repetitions.
Studies show it takes 6 hours to change a habit. That shows up
if you go out the day after a lesson and don't see immediate
improvement. Be patient, do the drills and exercises, and
above all, keep your eyes on the prize!
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