My Coaching Philosophy Explained

Philosophies seems to be all the rage when it comes to football and to an extent golf also. Every coach seems to have a different or similar one to the next. 

Over the last 27 years I’ve had a great opportunity to work hard and develop my own philosophies when it comes to coaching. After many changes in direction, with various methodologies being tried/tested and having been very fortunate to coach many great players. It remains an interesting learning curve. Every player I’ve coached, good or not so good has helped my development hugely as I’ve been lucky enough to coach with an open mind and a reflective attitude to what went well and what could have gone better. 

After a lot of learning I really do feel I’m getting there as a coach. I seem to be helping far more people to improve than in years gone by. My success rate feels better, good feedback rolls in and more returning lessons are booked. 

So I thought I would share it as simply as I could with you. That’s the great thing about having an enewsletter.

My coaching has changed considerably even in the 15 years I’ve been at Ladybank and certainly since my Gleneagles days. Gone is the over technical approach. Gone are many of the teaching aids with the exception of my camera and launch monitor when required and a couple of props when needed. Gone is the telling and ‘this is what you have to do’ approach. 

I’ve come to realise that the best way to coach is understand the individual and how they go about learning. I also like to find out what ‘concepts’ my pupils have of the golf skill at hand as quite often people have huge abilities but apply these in a wrong direction as their ‘concept’ of the skill is misunderstood, confused or is simply poor after some iffy advice from a pal or magazine.  I also now love getting out on the course probably more than spending my time on the practice ground however I realise there is a need for both at times. It’s often easier to improve specific skills on the range however we can definitely help improve your approach, mental skills and scoring out on the course. 

So for a simple learning approach based on how to move the club more effectively as opposed to how to move or restrict individual bodyparts, I'm the man to see. By focussing more on external factors and having a clear task at hand you will play far better golf than cluttering the brain with too much detail and theory.

Hopefully, with a bit of fun and a few questions along the way,  I’m here and happy to help if you need steering in the right direction.

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