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But do you not think it possible that your perspective (as a golfer from a young age) is skewing the reality of your statement? I specifically state this becaus

But do you not think it possible that your perspective (as a golfer from a young age) is skewing the reality of your statement? I specifically state this because you talk in such absolutes. One's brain will typically dismiss a "n00b" trying to become good at something that one is good at without the experience that one has. I believe this is possible because if they do succeed it will invalidate ones own experience which can be a reality our brain wishes to shelter us from. To make this more relevant to our industry I occasionally bump into the same problem when applying for coding jobs due to my lack of degree and the possession of a degree by the person advertising for the position.

roel_v 16y ago
Exactly - look at TV shows like MTV's 'Made' and similar, where people 'focus' (in the case of 'Made', not even very hard) and get to a respectable level, just by having a coach and putting in some time. There are other TV shows where people actually take 10 weeks or so to do something full time - things that the 'pros' say of that it's so hard to learn (like dancing, or hairdressing, or whatever). They usually compete with serious amateurs or pros at the end, and often cannot be picked out as the 'amateurs'. People want to believe that what they do is so hard that it requires many years of practice, but in reality it's often just not true.
- enjo 16y ago
  That made me think of a show that was on the golf channel where they tried to make Charles Barkley into a respectable golfer. Despite a highly competent coach and many hours of practice, it ended badly IIRC.
  - kenjackson 16y ago
    With Barkeley there was something else going on. Barkeley is an extreme example, read this: http://www.golf.com/golf/tours_news/article/0,28136,2056371,00.html http://www.golf.com/golf/tours_news/article/0,28136,2056371,... This in particular was useful to read: "That was the weird thing about Barkley. You did fix him. On the range and on the simulator, he had 300-yard drives. He couldn't take it to the course. He had the mental full-swing yips, and you had him killing it. Yeah, the change was that before he couldn't do it on the range. Now he can do it on the range, but still can't do it on the course. So he's playing left-handed now. He's actually pretty good. It's bizarre that a professional athlete wouldn't be physically able to do it. He is physically able to, he isn't mentally able to. It's bizarre when somebody shoots less than 50 percent from the foul line, it's bizarre when Chuck Knobloch can't throw it to first base, it's bizarre when Rick Ankiel throws 18 pitches in a row to the backstop. But it happens." I had to look up Rick Ankiel. Interesting story of what sounds like a complete mental breakdown of a skill. Tiger Woods seems to be going through a minor form of this now.

roel_v 16y ago

Exactly - look at TV shows like MTV's 'Made' and similar, where people 'focus' (in the case of 'Made', not even very hard) and get to a respectable level, just by having a coach and putting in some time. There are other TV shows where people actually take 10 weeks or so to do something full time - things that the 'pros' say of that it's so hard to learn (like dancing, or hairdressing, or whatever). They usually compete with serious amateurs or pros at the end, and often cannot be picked out as the 'amateurs'. People want to believe that what they do is so hard that it requires many years of practice, but in reality it's often just not true.

enjo 16y ago
That made me think of a show that was on the golf channel where they tried to make Charles Barkley into a respectable golfer. Despite a highly competent coach and many hours of practice, it ended badly IIRC.
- kenjackson 16y ago
  With Barkeley there was something else going on. Barkeley is an extreme example, read this: http://www.golf.com/golf/tours_news/article/0,28136,2056371,00.html http://www.golf.com/golf/tours_news/article/0,28136,2056371,... This in particular was useful to read: "That was the weird thing about Barkley. You did fix him. On the range and on the simulator, he had 300-yard drives. He couldn't take it to the course. He had the mental full-swing yips, and you had him killing it. Yeah, the change was that before he couldn't do it on the range. Now he can do it on the range, but still can't do it on the course. So he's playing left-handed now. He's actually pretty good. It's bizarre that a professional athlete wouldn't be physically able to do it. He is physically able to, he isn't mentally able to. It's bizarre when somebody shoots less than 50 percent from the foul line, it's bizarre when Chuck Knobloch can't throw it to first base, it's bizarre when Rick Ankiel throws 18 pitches in a row to the backstop. But it happens." I had to look up Rick Ankiel. Interesting story of what sounds like a complete mental breakdown of a skill. Tiger Woods seems to be going through a minor form of this now.