Words You'll Hear in My Lessons (That Your Coach Might Never Say)

Forget swing tips. This isn’t a list of drills or quick fixes. These are words — loaded ones. And if your coach isn’t using them, you should ask why.

This list isn’t about sounding smart. It’s about revealing how deep the learning process really goes. Golf isn’t about doing something once — it’s about integrating it so deeply it becomes you. And that doesn’t happen when you’re just standing there being told what to do.

"Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn." — Benjamin Franklin

These are the words that show up in almost every lesson I teach. They’re part of the language of development. Of curiosity. Of self-awareness. And they matter more than most people realize.

If your coach isn’t saying them — maybe they’re not thinking about them. And if *you’re* not saying them, then maybe you’re not actually learning — just mimicking.

Vertical Contact

Not just did you hit it thin or fat — but where, exactly, did the club contact the ball?

Low Point Control

Did you actually control the bottom of your swing arc, or did you guess and hope?

Concept Reps

Are you just swinging? Or are you repping a specific concept to build skill?

Trust Swings

Do you know how to turn off your training brain and just perform when it counts?

Matchups

Are your movements working *with* each other, or are they fighting for control?

Swing Systems

Random swing thoughts don’t build mastery. Systems do.

Transfer Training

Are you practicing in a way that actually transfers to the course?

Train vs Trust

Two different modes. Most players blur them together and stall progress.

Perceived Pressure

You can’t simulate a tournament — but you can learn to feel pressure on purpose.

Identity Over Outcome

Do you play to protect your score… or to become the kind of golfer you want to be?

What Language Do You Use In Your Own Game?

Journaling your practice and play is the fastest way to spot your patterns — and your blind spots. Ask yourself:
- What words do I repeat when I play well?
- What do I say when I miss?
- Do I even have the language to describe what’s happening in my swing?
- If my coach never said another word, could I still self-diagnose and self-correct?

Are You Stuck in an Identity Trap?

Most golfers define themselves by their last round. Or their swing flaws. Or their scores.

But identity isn’t built by accident — it’s built with intention.

That’s what coaching should do: help you build an identity worth protecting. A pre-shot routine isn’t just about rhythm — it’s about reconnecting to the version of yourself you want to show up as.

The goal is not to fix you. The goal is to help you *learn* how to fix yourself.

If your coach sounds like every other coach, maybe it’s time to stop swinging in circles.

When you’re ready to go deeper — we’re here.

Understanding is the foundation of lasting improvement.