Teacher-instructor versus golf 'coach'....

[SteveT]

A golf coach must be a teacher-instructor, but a teacher-instructor may not qualify as a coach. Coaching implies a long-term committed relationship whereas a teacher-instructor may just be a casual short-term association. Coaches mentor, while teacher-instructors only tutor. Both provide valuable services to the struggling golfer.

The PGA certified instructors may evolve into coaches of varying degrees and qualifications. So what should a golf coach know to properly teach and guide a golfer?

A complete golf coach should not only be an experienced teacher, but must also be knowledgeable in Sport Sciences to expand their knowledge and skills.

Sport Sciences involve four major areas of scientific study:

1. Biomechanics -- determines the forces that cause motion and even might cause injury, the efficiency and effectiveness of golfswing production and functional equipment design.

2. Motor Learning -- determines how skills are acquired and what teaching methods are most successful.

3. Exercise Physiology -- determines the need for conditioning, flexibility, training regimen and even nutrition.

4. Sport Psychology -- determining what goes on in the player's mind, how to handle stress, and the role of imagery.

Sport sciences are continually evolving, and the diligent coach must continuously study new research findings. Of course, the coach's own experience and judgment are important to interpret and utilize research findings. Empathy between the coach and golfer is paramount.

A wealth of experience and intuition is not enough to coach a tour pro golfer; a grounding in sport sciences is now required to be able to competently and authoritatively analyze and recommend changes. Guessing and hoping is not a legitimate coaching strategy; it leads to damage and failure.

Golf has been slow to utilize sport sciences because golf is steeped in tradition and orthodoxy... but times are changing.

 

[Damon Lucas]

Couple of points here...
I'd say that a teacher/instructor is more likely to be a golf coach as well, than a golf coach is any kind of capable instructor. Just the feedback I get from a lot of students and observation of what comes out of some coaches' mouths.

Also, before we all go chasing these sports sciences, on which point I totally agree with you, Steve, there needs to be some semblance of updated science. As 1.68 has uncovered, a lot of the science currently shoveled around as sound, is flawed, as I'm sure you'll attest. Sports psychology and motor learning in most golf circles are at least 30 years out of date!

 

[drewyallop]

Couple of points here...
I'd say that a teacher/instructor is more likely to be a golf coach as well, than a golf coach is any kind of capable instructor. Just the feedback I get from a lot of students and observation of what comes out of some coaches' mouths.

Also, before we all go chasing these sports sciences, on which point I totally agree with you, Steve, there needs to be some semblance of updated science. As 1.68 has uncovered, a lot of the science currently shoveled around as sound, is flawed, as I'm sure you'll attest. Sports psychology and motor learning in most golf circles are at least 30 years out of date!

Interesting Damon. Can you elaborate?

 

[SteveT]

I wonder what young golfers on college scholarships learn, and how they are trained in the game. Do they benefit from sport sciences, or do they just learn from older teachers who don't have any scientific qualifications? Anybody know?

 

[Damon Lucas]

Muscle memory....right brain/left brain.....emg scans....subconscious....myelin......positive/negative thinking

 

[Damon Lucas]

I wonder what young golfers on college scholarships learn, and how they are trained in the game. Do they benefit from sport sciences, or do they just learn from older teachers who don't have any scientific qualifications? Anybody know?

The golf side is passed down lore, with drills. The physical side is typically taken care of by trainers from other sports who might have gone to a TPI seminar. The psychology is by guys with degrees from Universities that haven't upgraded their material, much.

 

[trashpar]

I wonder what young golfers on college scholarships learn, and how they are trained in the game. Do they benefit from sport sciences, or do they just learn from older teachers who don't have any scientific qualifications? Anybody know?

As a former DII coach I can attest that at that level 90% act as van drivers and cart girls at tournaments/practices. There are few programs at that level that have the interest by the athletic department and/or alumni to support paying someone adequately qualified to be a golf coach / instructor. Can't speak to the rarified air of top 20 DI programs....

 

[SteveT]

Muscle memory....right brain/left brain.....emg scans....subconscious....myelin......positive/negative thinking

Superficial stuff of not much interest to good college golfers aspiring to make the tour? Are good college golfers just successful ball-beaters who only need to be trimmed up with more practical knowledge and tournament experience to advance their golf careers... and if they fail they fall back into teaching?

 

[bryan@nobackswing.com]

i'm really looking forward to a time where golf marketing $ and old-time teaching adages aren't the only things that trickle down to the average player.

 

[bluebird]

I'm game, teach me what is wrong with the "Muscle-memory" concept ?

 

[SteveT]

The memory is in the conscious and unconscious mind... at the brain level. However there are muscle reflexes originating only from the spinal cord, but that doesn't mean the muscles have a memory. Actually muscle are quite dumb, perhaps with an IQ of about 6... same as ball-beaters....

 

[Jim Kobylinski]

I never took the term muscle memory as just that, just more of a "saying" that means you repeat a motion and over time you'll remember the motion. Maybe even that's wrong i don't know.

 

[SteveT]

Yes, Jim ... now would you care to comment on the more significant "teacher-instructor versus golf coach" topic? Thanks.

 

[Nitro7]

I had a great golf team coach in high school. Didn't know enough about the golf swing to teach.

He handled all the responsibilities of a golf team coach in a first class manner. Nothing got past this
man when dealing with all the strategy that came into play when competing against other teams in
major events like the conference, regional, and state tournaments.

His extraordinary insight into each of our heads enabled him to motivate us when needed, to say
the right thing at the right time so we could play relaxed and at our best. We had a helluva team
and because of his coaching abilities we were extremely successful.

Probably rare for a top flight instructor who can teach at the highest levels taking a coaching job.
Might lend his expertise to a team on a part time basis. There are some former players who are
coaching like Casey Martin at Oregon, who can handle the coaching duties well and at the same
time competently instruct his players about their golf swings and how to compete.

As for muscle memory, I think Michael Jordan's muscles could be a member of Mensa and there's
no doubt his brain couldn't.

If the complete understanding of the science of golf is so important, how come the greatest players
in the game are basically oblivious to it? There must be something other than science that heavily
contributes to swinging a golf club well and becoming a champion golfer. Both teacher-instructors
and coaches can contribute to the development of good players IMO.

 

[Jim Kobylinski]

Yes, Jim ... now would you care to comment on the more significant "teacher-instructor versus golf coach" topic? Thanks.

Coach/Teacher are 2 different things with their own definitions; however any good "golf instructor" is a combination of both while most golf "coaches" (that i have personally been involved with) are more of a traditional coach. They may offer some tips and possibly some minor instruction but they are more of a coach.

 

[SteveT]

Jim, Nitro7.... I was equating "coaches" to those who worked with tour pros on an ongoing basis. It seems many here equate coaches as those who organize and lead a team of golfers.... and the instruction is just an aside.

Will a modern golf coach ever possess all the Sport Sciences mentioned to properly analyze and instruct pro golfers... or is it just egghead knowledge that cannot be effectively applied to golfers? Is golf to be forever, a neanderthal fun game?

 

[Damon Lucas]

Nitro, I think you're being very limited in what you're crediting the brain with. Intelligence transcends verbal capabilities. Whilst Jordan's muscles were obviously out of this world, his spatial intelligence, inter and intra-personal skills, his competitiveness, visualization skills, and many other types of 'intelligence' all contributed to his greatness.
Muscle memory and the study of it needs to include cognition, types of feedback, frequency of feedback, analysis of what skills are needed for each club/shot/situation, what one is grooving, etc.... A highly simplistic take on current thinking has muscle memory being replaced by individual problem solving on a mass scale.

 

[SteveT]

... and if he hadn't welched on his betting maybe his father would still be alive .....

 

[Nitro7]

Nitro, I think you're being very limited in what you're crediting the brain with.

My comment about Jordan was tongue in cheek. Forgot to put LOL at the end.
I get what you're saying though. Thanks.

is it just egghead knowledge that cannot be effectively applied to golfers? Is golf to be forever, a neanderthal fun game?

First part of my reply was OT for sure, but, was aimed at those that were talking about actual coaches,
which is a word, in my world, that has always described men/woman who coach players/teams at the
academic level.

As I said in my post above, great players today and in history don't concern themselves too much with
science. There must be other aspects of the human mind and body that contribute greatly to being a
champion golfer that is apart from scientific analysis. Do I think Butch Harmon knows how to teach a
tour player well. Yes I do. Nothing egghead or neanderthal about it.

 

[SteveT]

As I said in my post above, great players today and in history don't concern themselves too much with
science. There must be other aspects of the human mind and body that contribute greatly to being a
champion golfer that is apart from scientific analysis.

And conversely, can a coach-instructor-teacher versed in Sport Sciences create an improved golf athlete? It's been done in other sports, so why not archaic golf?

Do I think Butch Harmon knows how to teach a tour player well. Yes I do. Nothing egghead or neanderthal about it.

Since you bring up the topic of Butch Harmon, he now markets himself as the "World's Greatest Teacher!"

Recently caught this from a commercial on TGCh:

Link: Butch Harmon | Learn How To Golf

I know it's marketing hype, but it's rather impressive.... and available in 6 languages!!

At this point in time, perhaps nobody can challenge him because of his reputation, but times are changing, and changing fast due to scientific advancements within golf....!!