Swing tip: How to become a better student

by Harold Bluestein, PGA  

The only way you will improve is to practice - period.  Good students practice, poor students don't.  Poor students must imagine that the instructor simply waves a magic wand and they will improve. 

Sure I understand there are things that get in the way like: the kids, school, a job or you might be afraid of practicing the wrong things.  But I believe it's possible to slip a little time in the week for you.  After all isn't that why you wanted to learn this game?  As for practicing the wrong things I've learned, after watching students for more than 30 years, that any time you spend learning by yourself when coupled with my instruction is time well spent.  We have to learn to fall before we can learn to walk.

                So let's solve this "must practice-no time" dichotomy.  First, when you plan the length of your practice time it helps to recognize and accept that it is not the quantity of time you practice but the quality of the time you spend practicing.  Second, when you get to the range realize that your improvement will move at a pace equal to or slightly less than the time you practice, meaning there is a direct correlation between practice and improvement but it is not necessarily a quantitative one.  For example, if you hit ten better shots on the range it does not necessarily translate to ten better shots on the golf course and if you hit every drive straight on the range that doesn't mean you will avoid a big slice on the course.  Change and improvement takes time, has its ups and downs and is rarely recognized as it's happening.  Be patient with the learning experience and in time you will look back and say: "My bad shots are better than they were and my good shots happen much more often."  That defines improvement.

                 When you get to the range and/or putting green for your weekly practice session practice what you have learned in your lesson with me.  Don't be in a hurry and don't plan on any more than a small or at most medium bucket of range balls. Take your time, avoid distractions, take breaks, refer to your "lesson notes" and remember: learning (in golf as in life) is a journey not a destination.  Whether the ball is going where you want to go or not, just by being there you are training your body to make a golf swing.  You are learning!  Don't sweat the details; we'll do that together.  Be patient, the results will come.  

                Stay tuned for my next installment: "Tips on how to practice correctly and effectively".  See you on the range.

Be sure to tune into Sports Radio ESPN 1080 The Fan Saturday, 7 to 8 mornings for "Golf in the Northwest" radio show hosted by Jason Swygard and Green Mountain Teaching Professional Harold Bluestein, PGA