Golf Schools Speed up Learning

New golf skills can be learned when expert feedback is present. Insight into swing problems and potential remedies can be identified by taking one lesson. However a single lesson rarely results in long lasting change. Repetitive feed back is necessary for optimal learning. Lasting results take place under the watchful eye of a professional expert providing ingoing feedback.

PGA Master Professional Dave Cahill, at Cahill Golf Schools in Palm Springs Ca, instructed students on how to perform a specific hip rotation during the golf swing. The students received a demonstration, performed the rotation with the instructor present, and were able to verbally describe the correct hip rotation. Next, students where instructed to perform the motion on their own until they were certain they could perform it correctly. Students were then recorded performing the motion on a high speed video camera.The videos subsequently revealed that none of the students performed the motion correctly. However, additional instruction with specific, skill related feedback from the instructor and interactive feedback utilizing a video camera resulted in mastering of the skill over time. Research shows that instructors who provide specific, skill related feedback on a regular basis help students in learn at a faster rate.

A common form of feedback is the golf training aid. Research points out that these training aids have limited benefits. These studies compare groups of students learning with and without the aid. Each group learns at the same rate. Training aids do provide proven benefits during the introduction phase of skill learning. Auditory feedback has been shown to speed up the learning process when a skill is first introduced. Beyond the introductory phase no benefits have been indicated by studies.

Two companies have recently introduced auditory feed back devices for learning. They are Kvest and Advanced Motion Measuremnt. Each has developed wireless biofeedback sensors. Scientific research has not been performed using these specific devices as they relate to golf. Exisitng motor skills research would indicate that initial skill learnig may be ehanced using these tools.

Well informed expert professional instructors use feedback to speed up and solidify the learning process. The informed expert instructor Understands the learning process: accurately identify the starting point, guide by demonstrating and describing, frequently assess the performance of the skill providing feedback. Knowledgeable consistent feedback is imperative in all forms including visual demonstrations, high speed video feedback, or spoken descriptions.