What is Golf Talent?

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tobell

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Golfing talent

I would argue that Nicklaus and Woods are great examples two competitors whose talent to focus exceed their talent for golf. Observing Nicklaus play many times I've come to accept his ability to shrug off indifferent shots and maintain focus on his desired outcome is what separated him from the field.

IMO Tom Wieskopf had more pure "Golf Talent" than Nicklaus, but he didn't compare in competitive talent.
 
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Festus

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This has been an interesting discussion. I remember an interview with Greg Norman maybe 15 years ago where he said he could tell the difference between wanting a 182 versus a 183 yard shot. I remember it well because at the time, I thought "yeah, right Greg, whatever". But his comment was "we just know our bodies so well...".

That just stuck with me all these years and I'm thinking if I just practice enough, maybe I'll get there some day. Well, short answer is that ain't gonna happen. I guess talent in this case is a greater awareness and control of one's body as it moves through space. A different perception. And as Brian and others have said, either you got it or you don't.
 
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holeout

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Festus said:
This has been an interesting discussion. I remember an interview with Greg Norman maybe 15 years ago where he said he could tell the difference between wanting a 182 versus a 183 yard shot. I remember it well because at the time, I thought "yeah, right Greg, whatever". But his comment was "we just know our bodies so well...".

That just stuck with me all these years and I'm thinking if I just practice enough, maybe I'll get there some day. Well, short answer is that ain't gonna happen. I guess talent in this case is a greater awareness and control of one's body as it moves through space. A different perception. And as Brian and others have said, either you got it or you don't.
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I think you've almost got it narrowed down. I think the working definition should be something like:

Talent - being able perform at a high level without knowing exactly how or why you do, and without having to dedicate a tremendous amount of time figuring out how to do it.

Put simply, you got it.
 
vjsinger

vjsinger

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I'll say one thing to end. I am a big believer that people use the word talent for the wrong reasons. If a student or parent asks me if they(student) have "talent", I never, ever tell them they do...ever. I don't because I know the word provides a crutch for SOME and allows people to be lazy and not realize their "talent". I tell them that I think we all have an opportunity to excel and realize our own talents, if and only if we do the right things. I was raised in a pretty old school home, with very intelligent people raising me. Nowadays, I think kids are raised differently and we all tend to shy away from hard work and like to find numerous excuses to do so, the "talent" crutch is one of them. I disagree wholehearedly with anyone that says there is an age limit to when you should begin to learn to practice correctly. If you don't believe me go to a good suzuki violin class. I've seen 4 year olds that know how to practice better than alot of adults. In order to get really good at something, "talent" aside, you must practice it the right way billions of times, it must be an obsession to be world class at anything. I really believe that we can all realize our dreams if we try hard enough and do it intelligently. Cheers.
 
self-mastery

self-mastery

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Pro's vs Us

We play golf swing, they play golf.

I've been on this forum for 5 years, and people are still stuck on the technicalities of putting the club face on the ball. I haven't played a single round of golf this year!!! And I bet that I will shoot my same 75-78 in a few weeks when I try this golf thing again.
 
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pm4610

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Brian Manzella said:
Jim Kobylinski understood ball flight and cause and effect very early on, and was a natural talent as a teacher.
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Perfect example...call it "no baloney" or "ain't no joke" or whatever. Seriously an amazing talent on understanding the golf swing and applying it to his students.
 
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GPM1985

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I watched that without sound last night. Sounds like mom is running the show.

He totally decels on his putting stroke.
 
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btp

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Take a bunch of kids and have them play golf and practice for a couple of hours per day and you will get much of the same.

Is Tiger talented or has he put more hours than anyone else? Would he have been this good had he started at age 12?

Some research study said that it takes 10,000 hours or 10 years to become an expert. Kids like the young fella in the video put in the hours early and are shooting par on regulation courses before they hit junior high.
 
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