Your Golf Lessons - Are They Developmental? Or Correctional?

Historically, 95% of golf lessons are Correctional. The student and/or instructor try to correct a perceived problem. They want to "fix it".

More words that describe this scenario could be: reactive, corrective, hindsight, past-oriented, grading, critical, dwelling, negative, remorseful, unenjoyable, work, destructive.

A much more rare type of golf lesson is Developmental.

In this case - the instructor helps the student initiate/develop/create new skills or knowledge into their game.

Other words to describe this situation could be: creating, building, initiating, forward-looking, future-oriented, hopeful, pleasurable, teaching, positive, constructive.

This certainly - and definitely - includes "Lessons" you give yourself.

Do you always just seek to correct/adjust for your old, past mistakes?

Or doyoutry to bite off new challenges, attempt to learn new skills, methods or shots?

In my experience, while Correctional lessons are needed - (at times) - the vast majority of golfers (students and instructors) are WAY too interested in them, and participate in them too often. This harms the student's game, year after year.

A steady diet of Developmental lessons, on the other hand, often creates hope, excitement and energy to keep progressing in the game. They also create much more long-term improvement.

So where are you?

Properly maintaining the tenuous balance between these two types of lessons often assures a player of long-term improvement. It takes an experienced, soulful, clever, genuine, intuitive and caring instructor to continually maintain this balance.

So, again, where are you?

If you are your instructor - it'd be good for "both of you" to have this conversation.

If another person gives you lessons - ask yourself and that person - Are most of our "Lessons" Correctional or Developmental - why?  Should we change that, or keep it the same.

Here's to the future "Development" of your game...All The Best!