10 Questions From Stan

My first thought for a title to this article was “10 Dumb Questions From Stan”, but as I thought about it I realized that when it comes to golf there really aren’t any “dumb” questions, mainly because the subject matter is so innately counter-intuitive.  It is much more likely that the average person will, on his or her own, develop wrong or flawed concepts about the game and the way to play and practice it than to come up with correct or reasonable ideas.  Thus, questions that seem stupid are actually sincere and borne out of an understandable lack of knowledge. I have always considered it my job to attempt to educate the reader regarding the true nature of the game. I have never claimed to hold the key to the best way to swing the club, or to know a fool-proof way to think about playing the game, nor do I propose that I can make the game easier than it is.  I have, on the other hand, tried to apply my experiences in teaching and high-level competition to develop answers to any and all questions I might face during the course of a day of instruction.  I teach all levels of students: the questions that come from Stan are not just the questions of a beginner, or of a student totally bereft of common sense, but indeed could (and do) come from any level of aspiring golfer.  That being said, there is something unique and special about my time with Stan, as the following exchange will prove.

Stan is not in the habit of taking lessons in the winter, so you can imagine my surprise when I got his call the other day:

Stan (in his semi-New York / New Jersey accent): “Hey, Wayne, how you doing?”

Wayne: Great, Stan. What’s up?

Stan: I need to come and see you. You got any time?

Wayne: I got nothing but time, Stan, especially for you.

Stan: Great. I need to get started early this year. It’s gonna be MY year. I just gotta clear up a few things. I don’t think I need to hit a bunch of balls. Besides, it’s cold as a witch’s tit. You won’t mind answering some questions?

Wayne: Not at all. We’ll do whatever you want. When do you want to come?

Stan: I’ll see you tomorrow.

Wayne: You got it.

So Stan rolls in the next day, plants himself in the chair next to me, and looks me in the eye:

Stan: All right. You’re gonna be completely honest with me, right?

Wayne: Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?

Stan: Yeah, I know, I know. Listen, I just gotta be sure you’re leveling with me. I don’t need to be stroked. No BS, you know what I mean?

Wayne: Absolutely. You ask: I’ll give it my best shot.

Stan: All right. First question: If I was hopeless, I mean if you thought there was no way I would ever get this game, if I were destined to stink forever, would you tell me?

Wayne: No, I would never tell anyone that, because I don’t believe anyone is truly hopeless. You use the phrase “get this game”, and it is important to understand that if that is your goal, you are guaranteed to be disappointed. No one “gets” the game. The world’s best players (at least most of them) practice incessantly. The idea is to improve, and it takes time and effort, not to mention some help, to do that. I think anyone is capable of improving, including you. Just listen to Tiger when he speaks of his approach to the game. He says that his one goal is to get better every year, and he does everything he can think of to that end. That’s exactly the way every golfer should be thinking.

Stan: OK, so how long is it going to take?

Wayne: How long is what going to take?

Stan: How long before I’m good?

Wayne: What does “good” mean? Do you mean good enough to be happy about how you’re playing? Or good enough to be Club Champion? Go back to the answer to your first question. If your goal is simply to improve then you don’t have to entertain thoughts of whether or not you are “good enough”. Remember, you’ll never “get it”, and you’re only as good as you are at any given moment. Try not to waste time worrying about the end result. You’ll be playing golf until you can’t move anymore. You’ll never stop trying to improve. That’s the fun and the challenge of the game. Enjoy the practice and the struggle and you’ll have some moments of satisfaction along the way.

Stan: Yeah, but have you ever taught anyone as slow to get this as me?

Wayne: (Laughing) Are you kidding? You really need to sit in here and watch me teach for a day. You would see right away that you are definitely not alone in your difficulties. I teach a lady who took months to get the ball consistently out of the room. You see those marks on the wall? (Round dents with faint dimple patterns pock the far right wall). And she would even come out to practice. Now she’s joined the 9- holers and is having great fun, even though she is still not very good at all. But, the point is that she’s better than when she started, and she persevered even though it seemed like she would never be able to do it at all.

Stan: I have this feeling that I’m making everything too hard, that somehow it should be easier. Do you think I’m thinking too much?

Wayne: Thinking too much? Where did you get that idea?

Stan: Well, I was reading one of the magazines and a guy was talking about “keeping it simple”. He said that if you cleared your mind and just got up and hit it you would get out of your own way and do much better. It sounded like a good idea.

Wayne: First of all, be careful not to give thinking a bad name. I suppose that what he was talking about might be a good idea if you could hit the ball exactly the way you wanted to without any conscious thought. The vast majority of golfers, yourself included, have multiple technique issues, with the swing and all the short game shots, which keep you from being a better player. The objective behind cleansing the mind of thought is to allow proper technique to work without mental hindrance. In other words, if you have exceptional technique then you might be able to just aim and swing and things will work out. The problem is that the only people at that level are on television playing for lots of money, and even most of them use conscious swing thoughts to trigger their swings or counter bad habits. If you have errors in your swing that preclude you from hitting good shots on a consistent basis how in the world is not thinking about anything going to help? If you don’t think, how can you ever do anything different?

Stan: Yeah, but I always seem to have too many thoughts running around in my head.

Wayne: You see, now you’re asking a better question. Rather than wondering if you should think or not, take it for granted that you definitely should think and that the real issue is what to think about. How many thoughts are best? Which ones help the most? Do thoughts have to be words or can they be images, or feelings? These are the questions you are trying to answer when you practice and prepare to play for real. Every player is trying to formulate a way to approach each shot that gives him the best chance for success. I have found that using two thoughts, one going back and one coming through impact are best for me. If I can combine multiple thoughts, and then turn them into images, that is even better. Trying to go through a list of items before hitting a ball is not a good idea. I always try to get you to understand the things you are working on and prioritize them so that you can utilize them on the course.

Stan: We’re always talking about the swing and hitting the ball, or pitching and putting. What about the mental game? Shouldn’t we be spending time on that, too?

Wayne: What do you mean by “the mental game”?

Stan: I don’t know. I guess I mean the way you think and act on the course.

Wayne: Eventually that might be important, but not until you learn to hit all the shots you need to hit. The “mental” game consists of one thing: it is the ability to concentrate for 18 holes and approach each shot individually with full attention. The pros talk obsessively about playing “one shot at a time”. You hear it so much because it’s true. The mental part of the game comes into play when pressure is introduced through competition. Learning to compete is wholly different from learning how to play. If you are at a stage where your technique does not allow you to compete without a handicap, you would be well advised not to worry too much about the mental aspects of the game. Spend your time working on learning how to hit all the shots better and more consistently. When you are good enough the other stuff is worth your focus.

Stan: I think I know where I stand as far as that goes. So, look, I really want to get better. How often should I come to take a lesson?

Wayne: I don’t know. I never tell anyone how often is the right amount. It’s different for everybody. First, it’s expensive. I understand that some people are able to come more often, and some aren’t. I have taught players who came 3 times a week for hours at a time, and I have taught others who came once or twice a year. I think that it is important to come on a consistent basis, and not leave too much time in between lessons, especially if I am your only outlet for video. You need to see what the new ideas you are incorporating are actually causing when you swing at the ball. Most of us do not possess the heightened awareness necessary to distinguish between what we think, what we feel, and what we actually do. I use video in almost 100% of my lessons because the most important elements of the swing (what happens in the impact area) are too fast to see with the naked eye. Even something as seemingly simple as making a shorter swing, or taking the club back less behind the hands, can be incredibly stubborn to fix, and only through constant use of video will the strange feeling of the proper movements be recognized as the ones you want to use.

Stan: Do I need to practice in between lessons?

Wayne: Are you serious?

Stan: No, I don’t mean should I practice at all, I just mean that if I don’t get a chance to practice is it worth it to come?

Wayne: If the lesson is the only way you can get yourself out to practice then you should come. Obviously, it is desirable for you to practice as much as you can, and play as well, in between lessons. That gives you a chance to assess what is working and what isn’t, and that makes it much easier for us to move forward.

Stan: So, do you give series of lessons?

Wayne: All lessons are “series”. If you’re looking for a discount, the answer is no. You shouldn’t need to sign up for more than one at a time, or pay for more than one at a time, to motivate you to keep coming. I should be able to do that for you by giving you a good lesson.

Stan: What about clubs? Do you think I need new ones?

Wayne: When did you get these?

Stan: I’ve had them for about a year and a half.

Wayne: Then you probably don’t need new ones. You can spend your money however you wish. If you don’t like what you have, by all means buy something you’ll like better. If you’re fine with what you have, the set is not too old, and you’re thinking that maybe this year’s model will make a huge difference, I would say don’t change. Having said that, it’s always fun to try a new driver or a new putter, and it may be a good idea to have a club-fitter look at the loft and lie angles of your irons and wedges. Speaking of wedges, your grooves look a bit worn: you will get a real benefit from new grooves as far as spin and distance control goes.

Stan: All right. You know, this has been really good. I have one more question, though.

Wayne: Be careful. All of your questions so far have been good ones. Don’t ruin it.

Stan: No, no, this is a good one, I promise. I have this great practice swing. I mean, it’s so smooth and powerful: it’s perfect. I just want to know why I can’t take that out onto the course with me.

Wayne: I knew you would ruin it.

Stan: What? That’s not a dumb question, is it?

Wayne: Have you ever hit a ball with your practice swing?

Stan: Of course not. If I did it wouldn’t be a practice swing.

Wayne: Exactly. So what makes you think it’s so great?

Stan: I don’t know: it just feels so easy to do. I figured it must be good.

Wayne: And why is it so easy to do?

Stan: Uh, because I don’t have to hit a ball with it?

Wayne: You got it. Now, promise never to ask me that again.

Stan: I promise.

Wayne: Great. Look, I enjoyed it. See you next time.