7 Reasons Why Listening to Golf Podcasts Can Improve Your Game
By Bradley Turner Keiser University College of Golf Director of Online Golf Instruction – MBA, PGA
When I was learning about the game of golf as a teenager in the 1970s, it wasn’t easy to find information that could help me improve my game. I would go to the local public library to find golf instruction books, but few captured my interest. Some of the books I read, such as Golf My Way by Jack Nicklaus and Go for Broke by Arnold Palmer, provided enough information as I reread them multiple times. My favorite source of golf instruction was the monthly Golf Digest magazines delivered to our home. Jack Nicklaus wrote a monthly illustrated article on his thoughts on playing the game and the techniques he used to become the greatest champion in the history of golf. Anything Jack wrote was considered “the law” in my young golfing mind.
Today, accessing information has become the opposite of my teenage experience. Many golf coaches ask students to stop looking at all the YouTube and Instagram videos! Too much information can confuse many golfers and get them off track with the game improvement plans that a coach has established. Knowledge does NOT equate to skill acquisition and can end up confusing and frustrating a golfer. However, as a professional educator for over thirty years, building knowledge and skill for the learner is exactly the task of a coach or teacher. An experienced golf coach will know when to share vital information with a student and when too much information is detrimental to the learner.
A current source of information on almost any topic under the sun is podcasts. A myriad of golf podcasts available to subscribers can provide valuable content and information to help golfers improve their golf game. This article will highlight seven reasons golf podcasts can help improve your game and a few critical pitfalls to avoid while listening.
#1 KNOWLEDGE
Knowledge and understanding often motivate a listener to tune in to any podcast. Listeners seek new information, and every podcast is designed to deliver that content to their audience. It is essential to remember that there is a difference between knowledge of a topic and motor skills to demonstrate competency. Would you rather be knowledgeable about hitting good bunker shots or be highly skilled at executing them? Most of you would choose the latter. Golf knowledge without application to your game is not very beneficial information. The best solution for your knowledge quest is to team up with a good golf coach who can guide you through the minefield of content available on the Internet.
#2 ENCOURAGEMENT
Listening to your favorite golf podcast is one of the primary benefits. Hopefully, the podcast host provides content that excites and encourages your golf improvement journey. We all need encouragement along the way, and plenty of options can meet your podcast-listening needs!
#3 CREDIBILITY
This is one of the minefields that can frustrate golf coaches. Some podcasts are designed to entertain listeners with fun or silly content, while others focus on educating listeners on quality golf instruction content. How do you know the difference? That is a difficult question, but we know that it is not the number of subscribers of a podcast. The Rick Shiels Golf Show, Athletic Motion Golf, and Golf Science Lab are three of my favorites. All three podcasts present credible information from experienced golf coaches.
#4 APPLICATION OF TECHNOLOGY
Technology has improved golf instruction by giving coaches evidence-based content to guide their student’s improvement. There are plenty of podcasts that can share this information with listeners. I would suggest discovering podcasts that discuss launch monitor technology like TrackMan and FlightScope, as well as pressure plate technology like Swing Catalyst and BodiTrak. Video technology is a normal starting point in assessing a golf student’s current status as a golfer. It is similar to a doctor ordering an x-ray for a patient’s ailment. The use of FlightScope or a Swing Catalyst is like the doctor ordering an MRI for their patient. With video analysis, launch monitor data, and pressure plate readings, any quality golf coach will know with 99% certainty what a player needs to work on to improve their golf game.
#5 PRACTICE SOLUTIONS
Application of knowledge will result in a student practicing efficiently and effectively. Focus on experienced golf coaches with podcasts designed for the average golfer, not the typical PGA Tour stars. Rory McIlory has the time and motivation to work on his golf game, and you probably do not have that same luxury. Average golfers should not try to think and practice like the world’s best golfers. The goal in your practice sessions is to progress from average to slightly above average and one day become an above-average player. The stair-step approach to improvement is practical and realistic. The elevator approach to golf expertise does not exist.
#6 MENTAL ASPECTS
This is another benefit of listening to golf podcasts. The mental side of the game is much different from skill acquisition. Every golfer can benefit from improving their mental approach to golf. Learning to get the most out of the performance is something that I advocate for all my students, regardless of skill level. Podcasts dedicated to improving your mental approach to the game of golf, such as Chasing Scratch, are great resources. A Golf Podcast can be very helpful to any golfer seeking performance improvement.
#7 FITNESS PERFORMANCE
Golf requires hand-eye acuity and finely tuned motor skills to produce the desired ball flight. It also requires a well-developed athletic motion. Some podcasts provide listeners with information to improve their golf strength and flexibility. The benefit for subscribers who apply the knowledge acquired during a podcast will not only enhance their potential to hit a golf ball with higher swing speeds, but they will also be able to increase the probability of playing the game for the rest of their life.
The College of Golf at Keiser University can help. With PGA professionals on staff and state-of-the-practice technology available to our students, we can prepare you for the golf career of your dreams. Contact us today for more information.
