What does 'Golf is a Game of Habits' mean?

[Alex1]

A former pro told that 'golf is a game of habits'. This sounds like good advice, except I don't know exactly what it means. What are your thoughts?

[bradpet]

A former pro told that 'golf is a game of habits'. This sounds like good advice, except I don't know exactly what it means. What are your thoughts?

I'm sure the pro had in mind what he meant. But as a bare statement, with it liable to be misinterpreted, it could do more harm than good.

I'm sure he wanted the development of good habits & the eradication of bad habits. So many golfers ingrain bad habits, with devastating effect.

[PEZGolf]

A former pro told that 'golf is a game of habits'. This sounds like good advice, except I don't know exactly what it means. What are your thoughts?

Golf involves a repeated motion and you have to train yourself to do that. The repetitions may be good or bad, but you will repeat your swing motion. If you develop good habits, you will play well and be consistent. If you develop bad habits, on the other hand, you will hit "missed shots", get into trouble, and NOT enjoy the game. Has your pro taught you good habits, starting with the preshot routine through the swing and ending in the follow through?

[Alex1]

Has your pro taught you good habits, starting with the preshot routine through the swing and ending in the follow through?

Yes, though not so much with the preshot routine. He mentioned that pros like to teach beginners b/c they don't have all the bad habits that self-taught players have.

I was watching Golf Channel and they had actor Joe Pesci on. I'm a real novice, but his swing made me cringe. I can imagine how hard it would be to undo years of bad habits.

[PEZGolf]

Yes, though not so much with the preshot routine. He mentioned that pros like to teach beginners b/c they don't have all the bad habits that self-taught players have.

You are right. I have been a golf instructor for over 20 years, and I would rather teach a beginner, and have him or her get started right. Old habits are hard to break, and when a student is "in between the old swing and the new one", he or she can get very frustrated because his or her scores may actually go UP rather than down. They have to understand that "unlearning" can be much more difficult than learning.