Technique First, Fun Later: The Secret to High-Level Success
/It’s fascinating how, in golf, the idea of learning technique seems to have developed a bad reputation. I was discussing this with a player yesterday: individuality and freedom are emphasized more than ever. But coming from soccer and hockey, I learned that technique and strategy were foundational. Only after mastering those could we truly express ourselves with fluid, creative movements during games.
I believe technique sets the ceiling for skill. Practice isn’t about fun—it’s about hard work, often focusing on areas where you struggle most. That’s the essence of improvement. Playing the game or competing, however, should be fun—that’s what it’s all about. But is it really fun if you aren’t playing well?
I often notice players who don’t enjoy tournaments are the ones who have too much fun during practice. Personally, I never loved practice because it exposed my weaknesses. The best coaches I had—the ones I disliked at the time—pushed me beyond my limits. Looking back now, approaching 50, I realize they were exactly what I needed.
This thought hit me while cleaning my phone and finding a 2015 quote from skier Mikaela Shiffrin, who might make history today:
“All work and no play.”
Shiffrin explained how, as a child, she focused on drills and technical free skiing while her friends jumped off cliffs and skied powder. She mastered carving turns on groomed snow and proper technique first.
“Coach after coach followed the same program—technique first, tactics second. Speed will come if I’m solid on my skis.”
TRULY A GREAT QOUTE THAT MOST DON’T UNDERSTAND.
Junior golfers aiming for high-level success need to embrace this mindset. Be open-minded and willing to do the boring work of mastering technique—it pays off in the end.
At the Dennis Sales Golf Academy, we specialize in identifying and correcting swing faults using advanced tools like GEARS Golf and TrackMan. These technologies allow us to analyze every aspect of your swing in incredible detail, while our personalized coaching programs help you achieve lasting improvements.