We, at Tarun Sardesai Golf (TSG) Academy, are committed to developing players who are not just technically proficient but also athletes who are aware of their game. Senior Coach Madhusudan recently led a crucial conversation about a subject that affects all of the academy’s players: the thin-line distinction between practice and learning.
Most players attend the program for 5 to 7 hours a day at TSG. They practise short game, technique, course play and pressure drills. The facilities are of the highest caliber and strong training help and guidance is provided. However, many players still continue to perform below expectations in competitions.
What causes this to occur?
Madhusudan asserts that awareness holds the key. Although they practise a lot, are players actually learning? This session forced players to reconsider their strategy and go from merely “doing the work” to truly comprehending and taking it in.
Does Learning Really Differ from Practice?
Repetition is an exercise. Awareness is learning.
“I practised today” usually refers to hitting balls, honing technique, or finishing drills. A lot of players find it difficult to respond when asked, “What did you learn today?”
Learning is the process of understanding what went wrong, why it happened, and how to respond in the future.
Coach Madhu provided a straightforward illustration. Consider asking two children, ages four and five, to toss a ball into a bucket. The correct technique involving a strong grip, the correct amount of force, alignment, and focus towards the target is taught to one child; the other tosses at random. Both might get the ball in after three months. But who adjusts more quickly when the goal shifts?
Not the person who practised, but the one who actually gained the talent.
The message was clear!
The same is true in golf. On the course, every shot is unique. Repetition alone can never improve performance under pressure if you don’t can’t adapt.
Why Do Players Underperform Despite Practising More?
Despite having access the to the best technology, unlimited time on the course and range plus the backing of a full team that is armed with the best knowledge out there, why then on occasion do players who have a lot less do better in tournaments?
Because restricted access makes you pay attention, every ball counts when there are only 50 balls available to hit. The mindset is what makes all the difference. They are conscious of the resources they have!
When time is limitless, it’s simple to become distracted. Eventually, practice may become monotonous or even tedious. Coach Madhu made it clear: if practice feels like a chore, something is wrong with the mindset. When you step on the course, there must be a purpose behind every drill, repetition, and pressure circumstance if the objective is to become the best golfer possible.
Technique is crucial. It isn’t the entire game, though.
Swing checkpoints, and video analysis are factors that many players pay close attention to. Under pressure, swing positions can change by 2 to 5 degrees, though. And that’s normal. What’s more important though is whether you can still play.
- If a ball goes five yards to the right or left, can you control it?
- Is it possible to commit to a shot even if it isn’t flawless?
- Are you able to make decisions on the course?
Learning happens when such questions cross the mind of a golfer and they use their practice time to effectively answer them. Cycling is an excellent example to quote here. You don’t consider which foot to push down on the pedal when cycling. You don’t doubt your equilibrium. The ability is acquired. It’s where the subconscious mind takes over the movement of your foot. Working on the direction of your game should also be the same.
Do You Perform Pressure Drills?
During the lesson, a compelling point was made regarding pressure drills. Take a basic putting routine that is 3–4–5 feet long; players normally finish it with ease. However, how many of them remember how that drill felt when they faced a 5-footer in a tournament?
That was a moment of thinking for the players in the session about how they were merely practising, not learning. The underlying message behind this small example was that if you are unable to translate that emotion to competition, the entire notion of practising goes in vain!
To learn is to:
- Recognising the drill’s objective
- Sensing the strain
- Keeping that experience in mind
- Remembering it when under pressure to compete
Drills become ordinary duties if they are not noticed. They turn into tournament tools when players are aware of the true meaning behind it.
Awareness: The Basis for Education
Awareness is the first step towards learning. Curious questions like-
Do you watch the ball fly when you hit a shot?
Are you aware of the starting line?
Can you see why it curved?
develop a sense of conscious thinking in the minds of players. But is it enough?
Your subconscious brain continuously gathers data. However, accurate information is required. The subconscious brain cannot learn correctly if you are not paying attention. Coach Madhu highlighted that it is ineffective to just hit balls aimlessly for five to six hours. It turns into “donkey work” which is effort devoid of development.
Rather, players need to ask themselves every day:
What did I discover today?
What error did I realise today?
What am I going to do differently next time?
Putting this in writing every day improves accountability and clarity.
Learning in Psychology and Nutrition Beyond Golf
TSG Academy teaches players psychological tactics, dietary habits, and breathing techniques. However, the real question is- how many students use them regularly on the course?
There is a difference between knowing and learning something. When players are given structured guidance and ignore it, that is not a lack of information; it is a lack of learning mindset. Average players are distinguished from excellent ones by their way and understanding of game execution.
Changing the Mindset
This was one of the session’s most important takeaways:
Don’t follow the coach’s instructions to complete drills, instead, do them because they will help you improve. Every action a golfer takes must be in line with their aim of being the best golfer they can be.
Before practice, one must enquire about:
What am I trying to accomplish today?
What will I discover today?
What did I discover?
Even if it’s not very big, even if the same lesson is being taught again, one must remember that mastery comes from awareness.
For months or even years, players frequently make the same blunders. Why? Because the mentality is: “I need to practise more because I made a mistake.” The better question to ask is, “I made a mistake, what do I need to learn from it?”
In conclusion
Senior Coach Madhu did not focus on technique during the session. Instead, it was all about the mindset.
Players at TSG have everyday opportunities to improve, access to top-notch facilities, and organised coaching. Hours alone, however, do not bring about improvement. It results from knowledge, awareness, and purpose.
It is essential to practise. It is essential to improve on technique. As golfers, you need pressure drills. But they are still unfinished without learning. When practice becomes learning; performance improves, confidence increases, errors lessen and the pressure of the tournament feels bearable.
The objective at TSG is more than just increasing practice. The aim is to learn more effectively. And that’s the distinction between playing golf and knowing the rules.
Happy golfing!
