Hit, Achieve, Leave: The Art of Progressing in Golf
Keiser University College of Golf leaders are saddened to announce the passing of their colleague, Dr. T. J. Tomasi.
Recognized as one of Golf Magazine’s Top 100 Teachers, Dr. Tomasi had previously served as Director of the PGA National Academy of Golf Players School, which was voted one of Golf Magazine’s Top 25 Golf Schools in the country.
One of the most widely published golf instructors in the world, Dr. Tomasi’s prolific writings reached thousands globally through his syndicated weekly Insider Golf column and his regular contributions to Golf Magazine, Golf Tips, Golf, Golf Illustrated, PGA Magazine, Golfing, and Senior Golfer. He also co-hosted CNN golf instruction segments that appeared on airport television monitors and in-flight videos for Continental Airlines.
As a Class A PGA Professional whose Ph.D. in Education focused on learning theory, Tomasi continued to channel his love for golf education and teaching when he accepted the position of Senior Faculty and Director of Research for Keiser University College of Golf in 2010. As a tribute to Dr. Tomasi, Keiser University’s College of Golf is publishing his weekly blogs as Legacy Posts going forward.
A Legacy Post by Keiser University College of Golf Senior Faculty and Director of Research Dr. T. J. Tomasi (1940-2023)
Here is some advice: Do not practice for a time; practice for an accomplishment. Don’t leave the learning tee simply because your time is up; leave because you have accomplished your goals. Set goals before you begin, then break each goal into mini-goals, manageable chunks that can be learned either one at a time or in groups, depending on your practice plan.
Thus, the key to productive practice is to always ‘learn to completion’ and ‘achieve then leave.’ You may not have time in one session to learn a completely new takeaway, but if you break it down into its three components, you can learn to complete one, two, or all — given your time frames. The point is that if you take the learning of the chunk to completion, your brain will store each chunk of the sequence so it will be in-house, ready to build on when you start the next session.
Here is an example:
Let’s say the perfect takeaway has three mini-tasks: (1) When the hands are just past the back foot, (2) the hands and clubhead are the same height, (3) the shaft is parallel to the target line and the toe points skyward. Practice each of these mini-goals separately until learned, then combine them into one seamless motion.
Note that the efficacy of your learning is your responsibility — it’s up to you to structure your practice so learning the mini-goals is modular and fits the time frames of each session. This allows you to take your learning to completion every time so that previous sessions serve as a base for the current session. Instead of being an empty vessel looking to be filled up by some outsider, you are the arbiter of your success, and your intervention defines a proactive learner. Only by taking responsibility for your learning does it become ‘your learning.’
Learn more!
Want more tips? If you want to take your game to the next level, contact our team at Keiser University’s College of Golf & Sport Management today. With our dedication and experience, together, we can elevate your game to new heights. Give us a call today at 888-644-4964.
