Why Golfers Suck and How to Unlock Their Potential with Coach Erik Schjolberg

The Myth of Getting Worse Before Getting Better: Unveiling the Truth

The myth that golfers must get worse before they get better has long permeated the world of golf instruction. Have you ever heard that notion at a piano lesson?    How about when getting tutored in some subject?   Baseball pitcher?   All you have to do is think about it for a second and you can see through this false statement. As a leading golf coach with over 25 years of experience, I have always been adamant that this notion is not only false but detrimental to a golfer's development.

Understanding the Myth

To think that a change in grip can't cause a struggle for a bit during our lesson is completely possible.   We are retraining the way a golfer moves.  Yes. they will most likely walk out of the lesson still feeling uncomfortable.  That is ok because that is not a golfer getting worse.  My goal has always been that no golfer walks away from a lesson worse or the same as they came in.   The belief that a golfer must deteriorate before improving stems from the notion that changes in the swing or technique may initially feel uncomfortable or unnatural. This transitional phase is mistakenly associated with a decline in performance. However, this understanding is fundamentally flawed for several reasons.

Immediate Application of Correct Principles: When correct principles are taught and understood within the realm of golf, immediate improvement is not only possible but expected, and indeed, it becomes a fundamental expectation. The golfer, whether a seasoned professional or an enthusiastic beginner, is guided by accurate information and relevant feedback. This guidance makes the change logical and attainable, transforming abstract concepts into tangible results.  This is the duty of the Professional Golf Instructor.

The best golf coaches, such as myself, have mastered the art of conversation. This mastery goes beyond mere communication; it's a profound understanding of the golfer's mindset, physical capabilities, and aspirations. It's about translating the complex biomechanics of golf into understandable and actionable insights.  This isn't about looking for a flaw and then finding a YouTube video to fix it. 

The process begins with a comprehensive analysis of the golfer's current abilities, identifying areas that require improvement. This is followed by the application of scientifically proven principles tailored to the individual's unique needs. The principles are not mere theories; they are the result of years of research, observation, and practical application in the field of golf.

The immediate application of these principles is what sets apart the approach at EJS Golf. It's not about making temporary adjustments; it's about instilling lasting changes that align with the natural physics and anatomy of the golfer's body. The golfer is not left to struggle with abstract concepts but is provided with clear, concise, and relevant feedback that makes the change logical and attainable.  I would never ask a student to do something they physically can't do.  To be able to do that I must know and understand the history of the golfer in front of me, have tests that can be performed to check for movement difficulties, have a high level understanding of anatomy, biomechanics and cause and effect. If I have the golfer move this way, what does that do to their movement patterns overall.

This approach has been honed and perfected over my 25 years as a Professional Golf Coach, teaching PGA Tour Players, advanced Juniors, college athletes, and all other golfers willing to commit to daily practice around 15 minutes per day using assigned feedback. It's a method that has led to me being overwhelmingly voted the no. 1 golf coach in the golf mecca of Scottsdale, AZ.

The success of this method is not accidental; it's the result of a deep understanding of golf theory, mindset, anatomy, physics, and the biomechanics of golf. It's about recognizing that changing motor patterns isn't impossible unless you have no idea how to do it. It's about a commitment to ensuring that every golfer should get better from their very first lesson, a philosophy that I firmly uphold.

The Truth: Immediate Improvement is Achievable

• Correct Guidance and Coaching: With proper golf instruction, coaching and guidance, tailored to an individual's needs, immediate improvement is not only achievable but should be the expected outcome. I believe in this so much that if you go to my homepage, EJSGolf.com, you will see that I will refund any golfers money if they didn't improve during out lesson time. My work with PGA Tour Players, college athletes, high level juniors and others attests to this truth.

• The Importance of Anatomy and Physics in Golf: Understanding the biomechanics of golf helps in creating a logical and efficient swing pattern. When these principles are applied, there's no reason for a golfer's game to decline before it improves.  With a correct diagnosis of the swing faults a coach has a starting point to make a decision from on how to help this student in front of them.   The really good coaches know what to do with that diagnosis, the implementation of the fix.  Every golfer is different in so many ways and that is why we must understand the golfer and their swing on a very high level.  If you don't know anatomy how can you tell someone to move a certain way?   You can't.  If you don't fully understand the laws that govern the ball flight laws you will not be able to work backwards from ball flight to produce a better move from the golfer.   

• The Mindset Shift: Changing the belief system from expecting to get worse to expecting immediate improvement can be transformative. This positive expectation propels progress.  Golf carries around with it such negativity.  Where else in any endeavor would you find someone that paid $350 to play a round of golf at  a nice golf course and they are upset the whole time.   You will find golfers cussing themselves out over some missed putt and you will hear how stupid they, how bad they suck, how they can't do anything right, etc.  I do everything I can to change those attitudes.   Most of the anger on the course is all around our expectations as to what the day would be like in the golf course.   Learning to set proper expectations can change the golfers attitude completely. 

Throughout my career, all of my students have debunked the myth that you have to get worse before you get better by achieving immediate improvement. Whether it is through the utilization of my Trackman 4 Launch monitor, 3D Pressure Plates, or 3D Video, the technological advancement at EJS Golf has aided in providing clear, actionable feedback.  This may sound like a bold claim but when you think about it there is no reason any golfer can't improve immediately. 

Conclusion

The myth that golfers must get worse before getting better is a fallacy that has hindered the growth of many players. With the right approach, guidance, mindset, and technology, immediate improvement is not only achievable but should be the standard.  By debunking this myth, we pave the way for golfers to reach their true potential, without unnecessary setbacks and frustrations.  Let's take the pressure off the golfer and put it back on the golf coach where it should be.  It is NOT the golfers fault for getting worse. 

Colby's Real Life Story of Struggles with Lessons in the Past that Never Made him a Better Golfer

The adage "you have to get worse before you get better" has been a longstanding mantra in the golf teaching community. This saying is often used by golf coaches to put a barrier between themselves and the information they give out.  The student doesn't know that this is a false statement and in the end when they don't improve, sadly, they blame themselves.  This is not a universal truth and to me is very misleading. In fact, according to an article by the United States Golf Teachers Federation, if a student is not seeing improvement despite following the instruction correctly, it could mean that the instruction itself is incorrect.  I don't even need to know that fact because I see it in my lessons and other golf coaches that I would trust with my golf swing.

Colby had been stuck at a 22-handicap for 15 years, despite taking lessons from multiple instructors. The common theme among all his previous coaches was the misleading assurance that he had to get worse before getting better. Then, Colby heard about my unique approach from one of my students that had gone from a 10 handicap to a scratch golfer at EJS Golf Academy, where I guarantee that my students will improve from the very first lesson without the need to get worse initially.

Intrigued and a bit skeptical after everything he had been through and all the money he felt that had been wasted over the years, Colby decided to give me a try. During our first session, I used advanced technologies like the Trackman 4 Launch monitor, 3D Pressure Plates, and 3D Video to analyze his swing and identify areas for improvement. I then provided him with specific, actionable feedback that he could practice for just 15 minutes per day.  I told him that this work can be done at home but that it has to be done with some. form of feedback. 

Colby was astonished by the immediate improvements he saw in his game. My 15 minutes per day practice model, based on targeted, feedback-driven exercises, made all the difference in the world for him.  Within six months, Colby's handicap dropped from 22 to 13, a feat he had never achieved in the last 15 years of taking lessons elsewhere.  Colby had some resentment for his past lessons and I tried to tell him that it was a learning experience and that maybe he can help others that he golfs with not fall for the same kind of lessons that do not help 

The key to Colby's rapid improvement was the feedback-driven approach that I use at EJS Golf Academy. I focus on building a foundation for a player to work with.  There can be no consistency without a foundation.  We start there if needed and move on after they can address the ball with a good posture, have a grip that is functional and have learned to rotate properly.  This sets the stage for the really fun parts where we learn to focus on impact and making it sound like that beautiful sound you hear at a golf tournament or my teaching bay here in Scottsdale, AZ.  I direct the student to continually play golf and focus on scoring when on the course and not all the changes except the ones that are easier to empoly.  This approach not only boosts the player's confidence but also provides a clear path for continuous improvement.

THE PREPOSTEROUS MYTH

The myth that you have to get worse before getting better can be detrimental to a golfer's progress and  confidence. At EJS Golf Academy, I debunk this myth every day by providing my students with the tools and techniques they need to improve from day one. In fact, I believe this kind of coaching is causing sever harm to the game of golf.  I want every golfer to go to any coach and get the kind of improvement they get from me and other high level coaches.  If you're tired of stagnant progress and are looking for Scottsdale's best golf coach, I invite you to experience the EJS Golf Academy difference. Commit to just 15 minutes of targeted practice per day, and I guarantee you'll see results.

The pervasive belief that deterioration is a necessary precursor to improvement is not only unfounded but can severely impede a golfer's development and shake their confidence to its core. At EJS Golf Academy, my daily mission is to dismantle this harmful myth. I equip my students with effective tools and methodologies designed to foster enhancement from the very beginning. I am firmly of the opinion that such negative coaching philosophies inflict considerable damage on the essence of golf as a sport.

Each golfer should have the opportunity to experience the kind of advancement in their game that clients report from working with me and other elite coaches. The true sense of progress should be immediate and tangible, not a distant promise after a series of failures. I understand the challenges and frustrations that come with feeling like you're not moving forward, which is why I opened EJS Golf Academy – to provide a beacon of hope for those stuck in the rut of ineffectiveness.

As Scottsdale's premier golf coach, I offer a unique and transformative approach to the game. Besides individualized coaching, I encourage golfers at every level to devote a mere 15 minutes a day to focused, purposeful practice. This is not just a hollow suggestion, but a tried and tested formula for success – a commitment that breeds consistency and skill enhancement. At EJS Golf Academy, I don't just promise results, I guarantee them. If you're ready to break free from the cycle of stagnation and unleash your true potential in golf, it's time to taste the difference at EJS Golf Academy. Embark on your journey to golfing excellence with us today and witness the immediate upswing in your game.

Coach Erik Schjolberg

The Science of Better Golf

EJS Golf

Scottsdale Golf Lessons

Online Golf Lessons

(480) 861-9370