Do You Really Want To Learn How To Play Better Golf

Do You Really Want To Improve Your Golf Game?

Here is an excerpt from an article in the February 1998 issue of Golf Digest:

Hogan once said in disgust that he didn't teach because he "couldn't find anybody who wanted to learn." Two generations of golfers have proved Hogan wrong, and even he would probably agree it was the happiest mistake he ever made.

Boy, was this author off base—things haven't changed one iota! Oh sure, everyone would like to learn how to swing better, but that isn't what Ben Hogan meant. Hogan's point was that most golfers aren't willing to "go the distance"—they aren't willing to work through the frustration that is an inescapable result of improving a faulty swing. Instead, golfers try the band-aid approach to golf improvement, which is relatively painless, but is also ineffective because they aren't fixing their swing faults, they're just treating the symptoms.

A golf swing is not learned by throwing money at it, nor by practicing something for only a week or two. It doesn't come quickly and it doesn't come without effort, yet golfers seem to think (or maybe hope) that it will. If you want to improve, be prepared—you will hit the ball badly and your swing will feel very awkward and uncomfortable until you have practiced it enough to develop coordination with whatever part of the swing you were trying to improve.

Every golfer should have a goal to improve for every year they play, but most golfers reach a certain level and never improve beyond that point. One study found that the average golfer reached this level after only three years of playing. To me, the reasons seem simple enough: not practicing properly, not having a good instructor, and not sticking with the program through the frustration and awkwardness that initially result from making real swing improvements.

For most golfers, the road to real improvement is just as simple: practice properly—about one month for every swing motion you are trying to change (and be sure you're working on the right thing!), get the best instructor you can find, and understand that you will be frustrated for awhile—deal with it!!!

Next Page—Don't skip this, it's about why you're here

Contents—descriptions and links to the varied topics at CEgolf.com

CE Golf Schools—Casey Eberting's San Antonio CE Golf Schools and Private San Antonio CE Golf Schools