The Great use of Golf Instruction Videos

Golf instruction videos have many advantages over face-to-face classes or other learning methods such as books or audiotapes. You can both see and hear the instructions as you perform the task. The instructor on the video becomes your personal teacher taking you step-by-step through each skill. You can set your own pace and repeat the video over and over as needed. You can watch certain sections at any time of the day or night. If you are embarrassed about the weaknesses of your golf game, you can work on improving them in the privacy of your own home.

We’re all different and we all like to learn in our own way. Research has found that two major categories of preferred learning styles exist visual and auditory. In other words, when it comes to learning new information we prefer to use either our eyes or our ears, depending on how our brain works. About 65 percent of us are visual learners. The rest are auditory or balanced learners. People prefer to see a technique or a specific shot executed, enhancing the learning process. Instructional videos provide an excellent learning experience, given our preference for learning visually. Many of us tend to learn new information faster and retain it longer when the information is taken in through our eyes, making videos highly effective teaching tools. In addition, videos can provide two or three times the amount of information in a visual setting than other methods. Thus, golfers not only receive information in their preferred learning style but also in greater quantities, reinforced by the latest visual techniques.

In comparison to a typical hourly lesson rate of anywhere from $50-$150 for a PGA Pro, a golf instructio
DVD can provide that same information at a fraction of the cost. You can watch it over and over again without getting charged hourly. This technological capability must be singled out for its unique communication capabilities. Unlike a personal presentation, the instructional video allows the viewer to stop and rewind the tape, either from the beginning or from a certain point in the script. In other words, it lets us replay the tape again and again, helping us learn through repetition. The capability also helps with complicated golf techniques. We can rewind the tape over and over again and watch how a shot was made, imprinting it in our minds. It’s especially helpful with difficult shots. Once we have this visual representation in our minds, making the shot when we face it becomes much easier.

While some video ads make outrageous claims about its ability to improve your game, take it with a grain of salt. Look at your golf instruction video as a guide, not a guarantee. A golf instruction video will not magically transform your game. Watch the video several times, however, to make sure you have extracted all the tips and advice offered. Several small pieces of advice can add up to a big difference and big improvement. A golf instruction video visually presents methods to improve your golf. Compare the visual examples provided with what you do yourself. Get someone to videotape your swing, putt or whatever you are working on with the video so you can see where you differ from the advice in the video. Look at posture and stance, backswing and follow through, and look for differences. It's not easy to see and correct your faults without taking a very close look.

A golf instruction video will not magically transform your game. Watch the video several times, however, to make sure you have extracted all the tips and advice offered. Several small pieces of advice can add up to a big difference and big improvement.