Denis Pugh
To get the most out of a golf lesson, make sure you speak as well as listen
It always seems like a good idea at the time, asking for a set of golf lessons for a Christmas present. It certainly beats unwrapping a pair of socks for the umpteenth time, and makes far more sense than harassing me on Twitter for swing tips. But what many people don’t realise is that a successful student-coach relationship hinges on clarity of thought, message and feedback.
In the same way Sherlock Holmes relies on Dr Watson to clarify his thoughts before making any discoveries, a golf coach requires feedback (and lots of it) before they can help the student achieve what they want.
When I was going through a swing change as a teenager, one thing that made a big difference was taking the time to understand the method behind my coach’s apparent madness. I was never the most patient growing up, but being inquisitive and asking lots of questions gave me the reassurance I needed to stick at it. That’s often where my pupils come unstuck. They either don’t devote enough time outside of lessons or they are too proud to ask for a simpler explanation.
Pleading ignorance may seem embarrassing, but even the best coaches are susceptible to overwhelming their students with coaching jargon. Unless you say something, they will never know and you will never improve. That’s why I always ask my students to give me as much insight and feedback as possible. I don’t expect an essay or monologue, but it’s impossible to tailor the coaching experience for each pupil without understanding what works best and what doesn’t.
The quality of any lesson is measured not only by the tuition plan itself, but also by the manner in which the coach explains everything and how easy it is for the student to implement. That’s why the first five minutes of every lesson is so important. No coach is bothered about your own swing theories, nor do they need a history lesson relating to your last 28 swing thoughts. What they want to know is what you are looking for and what you have been working on. From there, they can use their eyes, ears and experience to form a new plan of action. So when your pro asks: ‘How does it feel’, don’t just resort to a one-word, non-committal answer like “fine”. That can mean anything from ‘yes, great’ to ‘I’m never coming back here again’. As with any relationship, honesty is the key to longevity. If something doesn’t feel right or you want another demonstration, don’t be afraid to say so. I guarantee your coach will thank you for it, and you’ll feel a lot better because of it. One of my biggest regrets in life is how I suffered in silence when I enrolled on a German language course. Since my wife and I have a home in her native city of Munich, I started out highly motivated. Sadly, my progress was slow due to my inability to grasp the basics. I wanted to see immediate results, but I got disheartened and ended up going through the motions until I convinced myself that I was too busy to attend. Ten years on and my German is the equivalent of an 18-handicapper... on a good day. My reaction was typical of a lot of golfers who seem to think all it takes is one, simple tip to get them flushing the ball like Rory. If that was the case, I’d be as rich as some think I am. As it is, I am at loggerheads with students who prefer to scan magazines and the internet looking for tips, in hope they can fast-track the learning process inbetween lessons. In golf, there is no quick fix. That’s why you need to commit fully before you can make a change for the better. If things don’t click at the start, ask yourself why and do something about it. The most important thing is that you are honest with yourself and your coach. Only then can you hope to achieve that eureka moment and start to see noticeable improvements in your game.