Learning and Performance

“Tomorrow’s performance and enjoyment rests on today’s learning.”
-Fred Shoemaker, Extraordinary Putting
In golf, understanding the stages of learning can remarkably accelerate the growth process. Let’s use the dreaded slice as an example for revisiting the four stages of learning:
- Unconscious incompetence: “I just hit a slice, but I don’t know why?” The golfer is not able to be consistent, and they have no idea what they need to do to correct the mistake.
- Conscious incompetence: “I hit another slice. I see my divot is pointing left of target, my swing path must be incorrect again, and my grip pressure was too tight at impact.” During this stage, lots of practice and quality feedback is vital to transition to the next phase. Drills, drills, drills!
- Conscious competence: “My slice is less severe. The new downswing drill is creating a better divot pattern while my grip pressure drills are improving my awareness at impact.” In this stage, the golfer sees the improvements and the quality practice is paying off.
- Unconscious competence: “My target is the left side of the green, and I’m committing to sensing freedom in my swing.” At this stage, to think about the performance will make it worse. After enough quality repetitions, the golfer is now able to enter the “zone”/flow state. The skill is only truly learned when the golfer has the ability to do it without thinking about it.
Most golfers find themselves caught in between levels 2 and 3, where they have a clear idea of what needs to be improved and catch glimpses of the new skill. However, they tend to oscillate between the two levels, feeling as though they still need to consciously think about the new swing for it to happen. Letting go of the “thinking” part of golf can be a daunting leap, and it takes a considerable amount of courage to do so.
What stage is your game currently in?
What do you need to do to get to the next level?
Remember, when in doubt, aim at the ball and L.F.F.!
Dodie Mazzuca is the author of “Seamless Golf,” “Golf SÅ«tras,” “Daily Golf Tap-Ins,” and is the founder of Golf PROformance LLC. She teaches golf lessons, golf schools, and performance coaching for in Santa Cruz, CA and Reno, NV.