Why Golfers Struggle with Learning Golf

Let’s say you are a 20-handicap or some “average” golfer. You have hit some quality shots, good, long tee shots, flush irons. But the reason you are a 20-cap is that you don’t hit these shots very frequently. In fact, you’re likely to hit many more poor shots than good ones. But every so often, you “bump into the ball,” and there it goes. flying high and straight! Why? Because as the idiom goes, “Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while.” Therein lies the paradox of golf!

Why do so many golfers struggle with learning golf? There are several reasons, not the least of which is the inherent difficulty of the game itself. But in this article, I am going to discuss one of the least-known or mentioned reasons; this is the false feedback we get after hitting the golf ball.

I notice that very often, my students will hit a particularly good shot, turn to me and say: “that was better, right?” To which I reply, “Well, the result certainly was better.” The point is one can hit a better shot without changing anything about their current motion. As stated above, you have done it many times. In this case, the golf ball is giving you false feedback. Not every good shot is the result of a new motion - one that you are learning to make you more consistent!

Here is where video and an instructor come in quite useful. When your teacher reviews the video with you, you can see quite clearly if the swing motion has changed significantly or at all! We (teachers) are trying to create for you a swing that is “safer,” one which you can rely on to be more consistent. Let’s use a shallow or steep approach angle into the golf ball as an example. The more consistently you can learn to get a swing bottom closer to where it should be (three to four inches ahead of the ball for turf shots and an inch or so behind the ball for tee shots), the more confident you’ll be of solid impact. But this takes change! You are not going to be more consistent using the same old “once-in-a-while” swing!

Take a season where you dedicate more time to practice than play. Make a concerted effort to change the current swing motion that, for years, has caused you problems. Find out the real nature of the real problem and try to change it. See if, when you hit a better shot, you have actually changed anything.  

Reminder: Not every “quirky” swing is a bad swing, and not every great-looking swing is a correct one.  Think of the world’s number-one, Jon Rahm. Would any teacher in their right mind change that swing because it looks “odd”?  I doubt it. It is effective - that’s all it needs to be!