3 Tenets for Better Student Learning w/ Christopher Smith

In this episode we’re talking about effective learning and what our guest, Christopher Smith has learned as a long time coach and Guinness World Record Holder in Speedgolf (a round of 65 played in 44 minutes with just six clubs at the Chicago Speedgolf Open in 2005).

As a golf instructor and coach helping your students learn more effectively and have more fun should always be a priority and this conversation will definitely help you on that journey.

Kids are expert learners, let’s look at their example of how they acquire new skills and the environment in which they best learn. We’ve made learning boring, it’s time to bring the engagement back, the fun back and that doesn’t mean making things “easy” it simple means setting up a better learning environment.

Golf is the most chaotic and random game of any sport, yet we practice like it’s a free throw in basketball

Is your practice hard enough? We cover desirable difficulties and challenge point to help you understand it with this quote from Russian Military Commander Alexander Suvorov. He never lost a battle. Makes Napoleon look like an 18-handicapper. “Hard training, easy combat. Easy training, hard combat.”

Make sure to listen to the end as Christopher quickly covers the 10,000 hour rule concept and if it’s true or not in golf.

Check out this INCREDIBLE video he’s put together sharing his philosophy and teaching. Something to definitely model!

Links / Resources

train2trust.com
Info on Challenge Point
Past podcast about Operation36

About Christopher Smith

Christopher Smith is an award-winning PGA Teaching Professional based at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club outside of Portland, OR, a consultant with Nike, Inc. and Nike Golf, and the Guinness World Record Holder in Speedgolf (a round of 65 played in 44 minutes with just six clubs at the Chicago Speedgolf Open in 2005). He is an adjunct faculty member with the PGA of America, and has been featured in articles in Golf Digest, GOLF Magazine, The Wall Street Journal and GolfWeek. Christopher authored “I’ve Got 99 Swing Thoughts but ‘Hit the Ball’ Ain’t One” (Crown, 2007), and created the neuroscience-based “Better Golf” audio CD.

Christopher has instructed professionally since 1988 in a wide variety of environments, both domestically and abroad. His list of students includes Tour players, professional athletes, CEO’s, top-ranked juniors – and recreational hackers. His coaching blends tools, technology and vast experience, all geared to create a learning experience that is both enjoyable and performance-based. Christopher played collegiate golf at the University of California at Santa Barbara, and later on the European Challenge Tour, before pursuing his passion for coaching and instruction. He is a graduate of the University of Utah where he holds a bachelor’s degree in French and Russian.

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