79. A youngster and an adult taking their first swings on the range together. The adult hits 100 balls, 99 badly. The youngster hits 100 balls, also 99 badly. The adult takes the 99 shots home with him, the youngster takes just 1

Have you ever wondered why your progress at golf is nil or at best, very slow. This week we will look at the psychology of learning by drawing on comparisons how children learn golf skills compared to adults. How often do we see youngsters who start at around 10 years old and reach category one handicap (0 - 5) by the time they are 16? Every adult beginner wishes they had started when they were young believing, and rightly so, that this is the best time to start if you want to be good.

So what have kids got going for them that adults have not? Obviously they have not got strength nor maturity. Nor have they got advanced analytical reasoning plus they do not know how serious a business this difficult game is, or should I say how difficult adults would have them believe it is.

Quite simply, kids greatest assets are their vivid imagination coupled to a desire to have fun along with no inhibitions. They also have a very high threshold for disappointment. When they start, it is usually because they have seen golf on T.V. and latch on to a hero. Tiger Woods is perfect for kids at the moment because he is so young himself, they can identify with him easier. When given a club and a ball on a practice field, children's imagination switches on. Adults forget how powerful a child’s imagination is. The youngster instantly plays the part of his idol and begins to physically express the swing he holds in his minds eye. They are not embarrassed to play this part because to a young mind, it is reality.

They may hit loads of poor shots but the one they catch right is the one they remember. They can live a long time in that one exciting moment. They are under no pressure because they are to busy having exciting fun been their hero. Adults learning the game do not find it easy hitting a lot of poor shots because they have too much pride riding on every shot. In an attempt to save face and force results they try to control the swing through an overly analytical approach. Not for them the child’s "frivolous" approach. Sadly, imagination (our greatest asset) in the form of  "play acting" dies, with the birth of adulthood and with it comes the expectation that we should be both competent and able. The adult learner’s golf ball is weighed down by this unrealistic expectation.

The New golf swing is a totally unique action that we are not prepared for and in its early life it struggles to co- ordinate just as an infant struggles to take its first steps. We would not expect a baby to run just one minute after it stands up yet mature students expect the infant swing to "run" within a short time scale.   The first few disastrous attempts leave’s them with a serious breach to their self esteem, pride and confidence. They are now living in a world of reaction as they continually try and try again. That is trying harder, but going in the wrong direction. It is not all doom and gloom though if you are a mature starter if you would only try adopting more of the childlike approach to learning. Express and live your swing by which I mean the swing you see in your minds eye, not the one you have constructed piece by piece from a manual, and above all enjoy it.