Golf is a game with an innumerable number of variables — all of which could go wrong at a moment’s notice. Often, the challenge isn’t isn’t fixing what’s going wrong, it’s knowing what to fix in the first place.
And that’s where so many golfers struggle, host Claude Harmon III explained on his most recent episode of his GOLF.com podcast “Off Course” (which you can subscribe to on iTunes right here). Joined by his longtime colleague Justin Parsons, Harmon explained the trap that so many golfers fall into, which often leads to them dismissing golf instruction altogether.
“My dad and Tiger were a big part of the reason why people think: ‘I need to change my golf swing.’ You get people now who want to make these giant, massive shifts to the way they hit the golf ball,” Harmon said.
“I always say to golfers there are two things you need to worry about: Is it a technique issue? Or is it an execution issue?” he continued. “So many golfers are predisposed to thinking everything they’re doing is technique issue.”
The difference between a technique issue and an execution issue
The distinction Harmon makes is an interesting one, and something worth underlining for those of us at home. A technical issue is something in your swing that is causing you to be inconsistent, or hampering your potential to hit good shots. A grip that’s too weak and causes you to slice the golf ball, for instance.
Technical issues do exist, but higher and mid-handicaps often make the mistake of thinking they’re the only things that exist, when they’re not. When it comes to mid- and low-handicaps, it’s their inability to manage their misses and play smart that holds them back more than their technique.
Golf is a game of misses — the old cliche goes — no matter what level you’re playing at. Remember that, learn to play them, and you’ll be better off.
Listen to the full episode of “Off Course” on Spotify below: