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Training

Back to List   Author: Doug Pike

This is the first of 3 components required to improve your game steadily and rapidly, and is certainly one that warrants clarification in the majority of the golf world. Effective training begins with creating desired movements that are based on an appropriate diagnosis. To train effectively, you the player must put an emphasis on the swing motion and not on the ball flight. A common mistake is prematurely using golf balls when trying to train. Your goal when training is to focus on making proper motion and not judging those motions based solely on ball contact or flight initially. It is only after the desired movements are made on a semi conscious level that a golf ball should be reintroduced. The challenge we face here is that once we understand "why" the change is necessary and then "how it is done" we are often too eager to rush into hitting golf balls. To further clarify, let me say that by rush I mean "oh you want me to do this? Okay, give me a ball and let me see if I can". I have found it amazingly consistent that when a player does this he or she simply reverts back to their prior technique yet they feel that since they thought about making the corrected motion, they must have done it. Believe me when I tell you that students are few and far, far between that have the body awareness that can transfer the newfound understanding into a swing with a ball there in the first few attempts. The golf ball takes the focus away from the motion and puts it on making contact with the ball. The approach I suggest that you have is to first physically demonstrate the ability to "model" during a 4 second swing. If the typical golf swing lasts between one and a half seconds to 2 seconds then by making a four second swing we are obviously moving slow enough to where we can consciously control our motion. This is where the in swing teacher/student dialog is most effective. It often requires mid swing alterations and since it is a "slow motion" swing and a ball is not present these most critical adjustments can be made and you can quickly begin to build the new adjustments into your swing. In a matter of a few more of these repetitions you the student is ready to make these motions on your own. Then after just a few more we are ready to get you reacquainted with the golf ball. Patience will be needed as you might not strike the ball as cleanly as you want initially. Don't be alarmed here, as this is the moment that you will either become discouraged or will learn to persevere and complete your swing change. In other words this moment makes or breaks your success for the day.

This is a very realistic process needed to make swing changes of all types and will take the frustration away from your mind.



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