A Lesson in Learning

How can we look at the latest swing idea if we haven't got the faintest idea on HOW we put that information into our body as actual motion?
 

For those of you who have spent time with me before you will recognise the fact I firmly believe in good sound technique. I get very tired of people saying golf is ‘all in the head'. No, it isn't! A good swing will hit better shots than a bad swing and no amount of mental training can make up for a dreadful technique. As I have said over and over again, a good mental approach will get the best out of your swing but it won't make a bad swing a good one.

What is so exciting here is starting to look at the latest research on how your brain works to help speed up the process of making the swing changes you and your coach deem necessary to take your game to the next level.

In many ways, this article started to take shape in my mind through a passing comment that I read a few years ago made by the greatest ever British golfer, the six-time major champion Sir Nick Faldo.

WHAT DOES WORK? Internal v. External Focus
 

It seems it is not necessarily the number of shots you hit on the range that is key to changing your swing but rather the quality of your attention and, more importantly, where you place that attention.

As we delve a little deeper and begin to understand just how important the focus of our attention is, then it becomes appropriate to look at the incredible work done by Dr Gabriele Wulf at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Dr Wulf has spent a great deal of her life studying how people learn motor skills and she has come up with some startling research which will have a direct bearing on how quickly and efficiently you change your swing.

 

TAI CHI SWINGS

The other important suggestion I want to make for you to speed up the process of changing your golf swing will actually take us back thousands of years to the Far East.

I am sure you have heard of Tai Chi, an ancient Chinese martial arts discipline (see Jayne Storey's series of Tai Chi-based instruction).
 

Think of it this way:

• If we are unable to do a movement slowly there is little chance of us doing it quickly.

• As part of your programme to change your swing I want you to do 5 minutes of Tai Chi swings. That is, you make your movement but you do it ridiculously slowly.

• When I say slowly, I mean slowly.

• Take your set up.

• Be in balance.

• Then start to make your move and literally try to sense that your mind is ‘in your muscles' – i.e. sense exactly the feeling that you want to ingrain in your swing simply because you are making the movement so very slowly.

• The key thing is that you do this whilst actually going ahead and hitting the shot.

• Do this for just 5 minutes, which will only be a few balls, but you will find that whilst doing this exercise your quality of attention will be highly focused. You will be shining a torch of awareness into your movement, literally giving your brain/body system the imprint of the moves that you desire.

• You will find that after doing this for a few moments you can then return to ‘normal' speed with a much better chance of transferring the learning.

• This is not just my opinion – you have centuries of wisdom on your side!

• As well as helping you to change your golf swing I do strongly recommend that you look at Tai Chi as an adjunct to your golf.

• Anything that helps promote balance, grace of movement and calmness of mind has to be worth looking at.

• It is a fascinating as well as infinitely beneficial art.

When you start to combine all of the information I have provided in this article you really will be giving yourself an outstanding chance to make your golf swing as you want it to be and as permanent as it is possible to be.

Reproduced with kind permission of Golf International Magazine