Monday, September 26, 2011

Being Trainable

With the internet, this generation of golfers would undoubtedly be more knowledgeable than that of golfer in the past - combined. Yet, it seems that this knowledge has yielded only very little in the way of results as evidenced by the stagnant handicap average.

The advancements in technology has produced vast improvements in equipment which theoretically lower the skill required to produce lower scores; yet this has not happened.

Why is this so?

I believe this can be understood once we grasp the difference between knowledge and application.

Its one thing to know and yet another to do.

Many golfers think that by knowing, they can do - far be it from the truth.
There is a gulf between mental assent and physical execution. What bridges the gap are proper drills that ingrain a feel to the look. Once that feel has been identified through repetitions, then repeating that feel will repeat the mechanics. Then the only thing left to do is to let the mechanics produce the shot.

We can put it in this manner:

- You may know all that an airline pilot needs to do to fly a plane, but that does not mean you can do it.

- You may know be able to describe the laws of physics in operation when a bicycle is being ridden, but that does not guarantee you will be able to balance yourself.

You cannot teach someone who knows everything. People I try to help who think they know everything often have a hard time improving - these are the guys who try to do what they think you are saying before full comprehension.