The three stages of learning and how they relate to the golf swing.
by PGA Teaching Professional Marc L. White

The learning of any new skill takes place in three distinct stages. To learn a new skill in the most efficient way, all three levels must be reached:

1) Concept formation: In this stage, the student must fully understand what it is he or she is trying to do. At the same time, they must develop a rudimentary feel for the appropriate movement.

2) Fixation: In this stage, the student is changing form to achieve a style that is efficient and repeatable. Gross errors are gradually eliminated. Such factors as prior experience with similar tasks, complexity of the skill, practice schedules, teaching methods, knowledge of results, and the motivation of the learner will determine the length of this stage.

3) Automation: This stage comes when the appropriate form has been achieved and the student is now attempting to commit it to motor memory so that it can be repeated without conscious control. Practice, practice, practice!!!

The first step in attaining proficiency at any task or skill is to gather knowledge on the subject. The more knowledge you possess, the better understanding you have of the task. People learn differently, and one of the traits of a good instructor is the ability to communicate his/her message through various forms. There are three forms of learning: verbal, visual and kinesthetic.

Verbal: Although the verbal form of learning is probably the most common, in golf it is the least effective of the three forms. Unfortunately, the game of golf does not have a precise language. Telling a student that they are "taking the club back too far" or that they are "swinging too fast" gives a very faint and murky picture to the student. Words have different meanings to different people.

Visual: People learn better and faster if visual cues assist verbal communication. With the use of video, still photos, mirrors, demonstration or visual imagery, learning can be enhanced. The best visual aid in golf instruction is the computer/video system which shows the student's swing in a split screen image from two views: from the front and also down the target line. This system also has the capability to place the student's swing on one side of the screen and compare it with that of another golfer (say a tour player or the teaching professional) on the other side of the screen. Frame by frame analysis affords exceptional feedback. Even cutout photographs of golf professionals from various golf publications can be helpful in showing the correct movements.

Kinesthetic: This form of learning is a tremendous method because it involves communicating information to assist the learning of motor skills. To hear that you are "taking the club back too far" or to see yourself actually "taking the club back too far" is one thing. However, to have the instructor physically put you in the correct position and have you "feel" the difference between correct and incorrect is the ideal form of learning. "Hear it, see it, feel it." The correct use of all three of these senses will best translate information to the student.
As instructors, it is our responsibility that you understand our message in the most concise method possible. The best instructors are the best communicators. Our lesson concept must be presented clearly in a very supportive, enthusiastic manner. It is our goal to teach you the “how’s” and “why’s” and not just the “do’s” and “don’ts” of the golf swing.

People learn new tasks differently. As instructors, it is our responsibility that you understand our message in the most concise method possible. As humans, we learn new tasks by three different methods: verbal, kinesthetic and visual. As the lesson progresses, we as instructors remind ourselves, “HEAR IT, FEEL IT, SEE IT.” I think you would agree and remember back in high school and college, we learned that our brain retains less than 20% of what we hear. That’s not good. However, in learning a new golf swing concept, if you can have the move explained by an instructor and then have that instructor physically put you in the correct position to “feel” what it is like, you are then able grasp that concept much easier and retain that feeling much longer. Let’s take the learning process one step further. What if you are able to “hear” the concept explained by the instructor, then “feel” the correct position the instructor puts you in followed by “seeing” that swing or position on video. That is the fastest way to learn the golf swing and most successful way to retain the correct move. Golf instructors who don’t teach with video are not giving their student the most efficient way and best chance of learning the complicated process of hitting a golf ball.