The thrill of witnessing a student’s success is a teacher’s greatest reward. It’s incredibly fulfilling to see them experience the same joy of accomplishment that fuels my own passion for golf. Teaching is a continuous learning process, an experiment in observing which instructions resonate and which fall flat. Like cultivating a Petri dish, you watch and wait to see what flourishes.
While celebrating achievements is important, I don’t take credit for my students’ successes. Just as I learned from the legendary Moe Norman, who showed me the path to a great golf swing, ultimately, the hard work was my own. Moe didn’t wake me at dawn or drive me to the range to hit hundreds of balls; I did. He offered guidance and encouragement, but the dedication was mine.
Recently, while working with my student Reed Howard, a promising talent on the verge of a professional tour, another student remarked on Reed’s luck in having me as a coach. I acknowledged the compliment but quickly shifted the focus. “Reed is doing the work,” I explained, “I’m just shining a light on the subject.”
That’s the essence of teaching: illuminating the path and guiding students toward efficient progress. When they stray, we redirect them towards the light. The student’s responsibility is to keep moving forward.
However, staying on track can be challenging. The path is often strewn with obstacles, sometimes even boulders. During a recent practice session in Phoenix, Reed hit an astonishing 1600 swings – 1200 practice swings and 400 balls. My other students were struck by the sheer volume of rehearsal swings compared to actual shots.
Reed’s perspective on practice is insightful: “Practice is like pounding a rock…a boulder. You keep hitting it, and seemingly nothing happens. Then, one swing shatters the entire boulder. You must keep hitting until it breaks. Sometimes you’re so close, and you stop. You can never stop Pounding The Rock.” He attributes this “Pounding the Rock” analogy to Gregg Popovich, but I credit Reed for sharing it with me. It perfectly encapsulates the essence of both learning and teaching.
We can extend this analogy further. Sometimes, a student tries to do too much at once, carrying an overwhelming load. They might be overexerting, focusing on the wrong aspects, or simply distracted. A teacher’s role is to lighten that burden, to lift the metaphorical rock from their back and guide them back to the path. This might involve simplifying the task, refining their focus, or addressing underlying distractions.
Moe Norman undoubtedly pounded rocks while honing his legendary swing. When I first met him and asked about the secret to his remarkable technique, his answer was simple: “Hard work, you can’t buy it.”
No one can pound the rock for you. Everyone faces unique challenges, and within that rock lies each individual’s goal. As Moe knew, the journey is personal. You must pound your own rock, break through your limitations, and unlock your potential. The path to mastery requires unwavering dedication, persistent effort, and the courage to keep swinging until the breakthrough comes.
