Golf is a game where technique is extremely important. Yes, there are a few “funky” swings on the PGA and LPGA tours, but the majority of players have sound swing technique. Good golf technique is usually the result of good instruction by a good coach. In the following interview, Tim Cusick, Director of Instruction at the Four Seasons Dallas at Las Colinas talks about how to find a good coach and get the most out of every golf lesson you take.
Q: What should a player think about before choosing a coach – their own specific goals? Cost? Geography?
A: The first thing a player should think about is what they expect to get from the lesson. Is the player interested in better technique, an improved short game, a sound mental approach to the game or enhanced course management skills? The coach you choose should have a reputation for helping other players with similar needs.
Cost is certainly a consideration when choosing a coach, as is where the coach is located. Some players are willing to travel great distances to work with a coach that might help them get a college scholarship, win a city, regional or USGA event, or even go pro. The player must look at their own time, and money constraints as well as playing goals to determine how much they will spend and how far they’ll travel.
Q: What should you look for in a good coach? Referrals? Swing technique? Accreditation?
A: The most reliable criteria for judging a coach’s ability are the success of his/her students. Other players are also a great way to find a coach. Is that player improving? Do you like their swing? Do you like what the player tells you about the coach’s teaching style? How well does the coach communicate with the current student? Does the player have a hard time getting an appointment, or getting a response to an emailed question? A little research in the beginning will help players find the right coach to help them improve their game.
Q: How do you make sure you are getting your money’s worth at a lesson?
A: It’s important to be ready to go at lesson time. The student should be warmed up, stretched out and ready to watch and listen. It’s important to come prepared to talk about your game, what you’ve been working on and would like to improve.
The lesson should be about learning and understanding. Performance is important, but learning and understanding is paramount. The student must understand the message the coach is delivering. If you don’t understand, speak up. I believe that given the proper information and understanding that information, the student should have decent performance during the lesson. Very seldom do my lessons end when the student is confused or hasn’t comprehended my message. I try to keep it short, simple, and exactly geared toward the area(s) that need to improve.
Q: What is the best way to practice the things you’ve learned?
A: A coach should teach or train you in three ways: visual, verbal, and through feel. You must understand the message in the best way for you. You must be able to see what you’re trying to correct and feel the correction. Once you’ve been to the lesson, allow one of these two ways to take over. If you’re visual, stand in front of a mirror to practice the change. If you’re a feel player, then use a practice motion to feel the change. If you’re a thinker, be careful not to let thoughts take over. You need a small thought to get through the process, but don’t over analyze.
Q: How often should the average player, accomplished amateur, or professional take a lesson?
A: There are a number of criteria that determine lesson frequency. The amount of practice and play the student has time for often dictates lesson frequency. I like to see my students have time to practice and play with the new information before they take another lesson. Often it’s important to translate the coach’s information into your own way of thinking or feeling to make it part of your swing.
Another factor is financing. A good coach isn’t cheap, but remember the old saying “you get what you pay for.” When you take a lesson, you’re paying for that coach’s expertise and teaching experience. I would suggest that students figure out a yearly lesson budget. Then spread those dollars out evenly over the course of the year. Don’t take a bunch of lessons at the beginning of the year and then never go back until the following January.
The level of the golfer isn’t significant. What I do know is that improvement is based on repetitions. You must find the things that are going to make you a better player and then be very deliberate in how you practice those improvements. I read a wonderful quote by Muhammad Ali. He said “It’s repetition of affirmations that leads to belief. Once that belief becomes a deep conviction, things begin to happen.” That’s all you need to know about golf.
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