Great post and congratulations on reaching 2500 hours.

“Investment in Loss” doesn’t just apply to golf. It has analogies in math, physics and even hiking. You have to be willing to lose ground (head downhill) to move yourself to a place from which you can hike to greater heights. Simply heading downhill doesn’t necessarily do the trick – you also need to head in the right direction.

In golf, direction is best provided by instructors. I sometimes lose sight of that and my attempts to alter my swing on my own can head off in the wrong direction. I think it is important to get an instructor involved when making a change so that you don’t “Invest in a Permanent Loss” (see Charles Barkley).

Ed

You going through a big swing transition right now or was that a while ago? How is your game? Sorry I never asked before.

Talk with you soon,

Dan

I agree and think you are right on with this comment.

Thanks for chiming in,

Dan

I’m glad you’ve been following along and please feel free to comment whenever you have a thought or question.

Cheers again for the support!

Dan

Keep on the good work, I really admire you for your daily commitment. I have been following for quite some time and I am always amazed by your strong will. Remember that this is not the goal that matters, this is your journey.

I truly believe that with this will you will be able to move mountains.

Cheers,
Alain

It shows there are intelligent golfers out there. Sometimes, at my club, I have begun to doubt that.

So many bad players seem to (want to) believe that their score reflects their technique. Good score equals good technique. Good players, though, know that you can scramble a good score with an off-swing. Good players are contantly trying to modify their swings. It’s in their nature to chase perfection.

As I told you, Dan, when I wrote my (admittedly somewhat flippant) golf book ‘Hacked Off’, I understood both deliberate practice and this key point – investment in loss, as you call it. I just was not able to make the necessary improvements to my swing, that’s all. I did not have the ability. I was not good enough (or, if I’m feeling kind to myself, the time).

I managed a best round of 4- over after a year of part-time practice, but – and I was very well aware of this – my swing was still poor. I just got good at scrambling, I learnt how to play my home course and, that particluar day, I got lucky.

Guys who get down from 28 to 10 with one swing (which is what I achieved, which sounds a lot cleverer than it really is) have to understand that they then have to have the courage to tear up that blueprint.

Each swing, if it still contains faults, will only take you so far before it hits a brick wall. Only geniuses get down to 5 and lower with faulty swings.

And, let’s face it, most of us are not geniuses. I’m certainly not, nor never will be.