Articles

June 2005— South Carolina Amateur Golfer Magazine

The trap of misinformation in golf instruction

Last month I posed the idea that perhaps golf is so challenging not only because of how we are taught, but also what it is we are taught, this is where I mentioned the alternative of Natural Golf.  Whether one is being taught the traditional manner of playing golf or the alternative of Natural Golf, it is of utmost importance to communicate knowledge in a "clear and precise" manner .  To once again quote the noted author and Athletic Trainer Chuck Hogan, "information comes in two forms: there is information that is valid and useful and there is also misinformation which is invalid and ranges from being innocuous to severely damaging for the consumer".  "Most of the misinformation appears to be exactly the same as information, both travel the same channels in the same form and spread through the community and culture of golf just like information." 

I think that the most unchallenged piece of misinformation out there is this: "KEEP YOUR HEAD DOWN!!". Misinformation is often mistakenly disseminated by golf instructors themselves. The teacher may say one thing, yet mean another.  As an example, I recently read a short instructional piece by one of America 's top 100 teachers, in which the suggestion was made for a right-handed player to "hinge" their left wrist earlier in their backswing. MISINFORMATION! The instructor meant to say "cock" your left wrist earlier in their backswing. The instructor knew what he meant, but the student...well that's another thing. An expert in body range of motion such as a Physical Therapist who is also a golfer would know that hinging that left wrist early would cause severe problems, their palm or the back of their hand would be towards the target, depending on which way he or she hinged their wrist. Either are destructive positions. Furthermore, if a new student were a Physical Therapist and took the mistaken term for what it actually meant, that person would have a very difficult time striking a golf ball to a target with any consistency.

How about this old saw, "The swing is the thing if you want lower scores." Armed with this piece of misinformation, Mr./Mrs. golfer spends almost all of their time working on the their swing, and simply forget that over 60% of all golfers' scores are the product of the short game strokes, under sixty yards  So change your practice habits and fall in love with the short game! Without a doubt you'll lower your scores immediately if you are practicing with good information, not misinformation.  Always remember this, "practice makes permanent, and only perfect practice makes perfect".  Always ask questions of the instructor to assist in your clear understanding of what's being communicated, ask “is this what you mean”, or “did you mean to say this…”  If questions like these  are met with any resistance you should seek out another instructor.

Perhaps you've recently taken a lesson from your local Pro and were given "homework", you've been doing what your were told and understood and yet it's not working.  Could it be that you received "misinformation" as I've been discussing or perhaps you misunderstood things ?  I regularly see golfers practicing something hoping to improve yet often they become frustrated.  It is most likely one or more of three things that cause the frustration; misinformation, misinterpretation, or the golfer has a conceptual  misunderstanding that they came to the lesson with or of what should happen by what's been communicated to them.

Now I'm not attempting to tell you what is true or false, I only mean to stimulate your thoughts. That can lead to examining alternatives such as being open-minded to new beliefs like Natural golf. Whichever way you play golf please have it be fun, after all, it's a game.  If the suggestions you've taken to date or alternatives you've chosen are not proving useful to you, then exchange your previous thinking for the new.  If you'd like to look at a fresh approach to instruction and to be assured of getting clear and precise information give me a call or look me up on my website:    www.carolinasmartswing.com    You can also e-mail me at steve@carolinasmartswing.com or call me at home at 843.556.0217 ; or on my cell at 843.708.2837 .

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