LEARNING THEORY: INTERVIEW WITH PRO ADAM YOUNG

This article was first published on 19/4/15 on my own blog: www.meandmiblog.com

Welcome to the latest interview in our series designed to highlight and showcase some of the most interesting people in the golf industry.

This week we are delighted to introduce to you, Adam Young, Director of Instruction at the David Leadbetter Academy in La Manga, Spain. I was introduced to Adam’s insightful work through the golf science Facebook group, a place for intense debate among the professional community.

Adam’s work in linking the mental and training processes required to achieve results sets a different tone and is highly engaging for both amateur and professional.

He has just launched hit first book, The Practice Manual — details of which are highlighted at the end of the interview. Enjoy and as always we would love to hear your thoughts!

MEANDMI: To introduce yourself to our blogs readers could you provide a little biographical summary of your career so far?

ADAM YOUNG: After finishing the PGA training and getting a degree in AGMS, I started working for Scott Cranfield Golf Academies where I was lucky to train under some of the best coaches I have met. They really combined the mental and physical. I then moved to Leadbetter and have worked in Austria, Gran Canaria and now am the Director of Instruction at Spain — at the La Manga resort. I have also had a one year stint at the famous Turnberry resort as a teaching professional.

So, not a bad life so far

First off, congratulations on the release of your first book, ‘The Practice Manual’. You must be excited that it is ranking very well on Amazon? Why did you decide to write it?

As cheesy as it sounds, I wrote it for the love of writing — the fact it is selling well on Amazon is a great bonus. I have had some really good reviews and messages from some pretty cool people saying they love it, so that is motivating for me. I have a blog, and if I get any spare time I will write a post for that. I live by the philosophy of Alan Watts — do what you love to do, and there is nothing I love more than sharing my views on golf.

I decided to write it because I know that some of my views are very different to the industry. I know there are a lot of people out there (coaches especially) who are thinking the same or have felt the same way as me for a while, but perhaps have been unable to express themselves or find the scientific backing for their beliefs.

I thought I could do a decent job of putting some really complicated motor learning concepts into easy to understand ways, and offer practical solutions for that new knowledge. So far people who have read it agree.

All in all, it is a very different way to thinking about improving your golf, and looks at some of the deeper connections between mind and body which fits in with what the science of learning is finding. It will give coaches another tool to their armory, and will give players a way of training which will actually make them better.

What makes this book different than a lot of others on the market currently for those looking to lower their handicap?

I approach golf from a perspective of 1. understand the task (which most golfers have no clue what the task actually is), 2. get feedback as to whether you are achieving the task, 3. Train it like a skill.

This is opposed to most instruction which tries to engineer a swing technique. I opt for reverse engineering — using skill development to get technique for free. It’s a revolutionary new way of learning, which isn’t actually new. Biological organisms have been learning this way for millenia — it’s only humans who try and learn techniques the way we do.

A nice blend of engineering (direct technique work) and reverse engineering (self-organizing) is cool too, and I discuss that in the book.

What part of your research and approach surprises students the most?

That the conclusions are actually very simple, easy to understand and implement. when people hear the words “Motor learning”, or “uncontrolled manifold hypothesis” they might get a little freaked out. But when they read the book, they are surprised at how simple, easy to understand and relate-able to normal life it is.

Real life pupils are often shocked by how simple my instruction is. I often get surprised remarks such as “It can’t be that simple”, but I say “sure it is — look, you re doing it”.

What was the toughest part of putting the book together?

I knew a lot of coaches would be reading it, as well as a lot of amateur players. I wanted to make it readable and relateable for both. I don’t think that all of it will be applicable to everyone, but there is enough info in the book to make sure everyone gets a lot out of it.

It is obviously daunting to put your thoughts out there for the world to critique. But I am confident in saying that everyone who reads the book, coaches and players, will walk away with more new/fresh ideas and things they can implement in their own games or coaching programs than they would get from any other book.

Some of the idea’s can also be a little controversial as they go against much of the way mainstream golf is taught. Ten years ago, I may even have resisted some of the information. But I’m ok with that. I have seen that it works, my pupils tell me that my approach is very different and they like it. And the science is coming out to confirm it all.

Do you intend to write another book?

Sure, I have already written a few more, but I want to put more time into editing them and will release them when the time is right. But currently I am re-vamping my blog and have a ton of posts which I am excited to release. I give away a lot of free info and don’t hold back.

The problem for me is not finding something to write about (I always have topics running around my head), but finding the time to put it all on paper.

Have you noticed any difference in the ability to learn and improve between those receiving individual coaching versus group environments? Sometimes the group environments can be more enjoyable for the golfer.

There are advantages and disadvantages to both approaches. I love some of the group classes and even do some indoor classroom work with people. I have a lot of great visuals I use which really get the message across to people in a way they have never seen before. People really like the classroom stuff too, and I have made it all as entertaining as I can. People really seem to lap the info up and remember it much better.

Individual lessons are great too. You can obviously tailor the lesson more to what they need, and go a little deeper in helping them self-discover, as you have more one-on-one time to guide them to the right answers.

What do you make of the widespread criticism of those in the industry that are deemed too scientific in their approach, such as Chris Como.

I have chatted to Chris and he is a real smart cookie. There is nothing wrong with knowing a ton of info — I myself seek some real deep technical knowledge even though I wouldn’t consider myself a technical teacher. At the end of the day, just because Chris has a ton of knowledge doesn’t mean he is spewing it all to Tiger. He will know how much to give him and what amounts to give it in.

Sometimes the coaches who hold the most information in their heads are the ones who make the game the simplest. And, by the way, I love how Tiger’s swing looks right now — so whatever they have been working on I am all for it. Once he can figure out his short game woes, injuries permitting, he will be back to winning ways I am sure.

What do you find most frustrating in your work as a coach?

Two things — matching people’s expectations to what is realistic, and undoing a lot of myths they hold in their heads. I think golfers would be a lot better if they had learned on a desert island, away from their buddies telling them to keep their heads down and left arms straight.

And if you practice once a week, you are probably not going to be consistent at this game. In fact, they guys who practice 40 hours a week are still not consistent. People don’t realize the pro’s only hit 60% greens and fairways, and that number can fluctuate wildly from round to round.

If one of our subscribers is heading to the range tomorrow morning with one token, how should he use those 30 balls?

After a brief warm up, hit one ball with a certain club, then change the club and the target each time. If you are an elite golfer, even change the shot type (fade/draw/punch etc).

Golfers are always doing block practice (same target, same club, same position etc) which has been shown time and time again to be one of the worst ways to practice for retention of learning. You get ‘fake performance’, just as you would if you asked the question “what is 5×8” over and over.

Mix it up, and do a full routine like you would on the course. You might not hit the ball as well on the range with this approach, but the long term benefits to improvement are huge. Invest now for returns later.

Thanks Adam!

We hope you enjoyed the interview and perhaps have changed or solidified your views on the best way to practice!

This interview coincides with Adam’s re-launched website:www.AdamYoungGolf.com

As well as information on his book it contains a blog discussing many aspects of our great game.

It’s aesthetically pleasing and rather informative as you might expect. If you visit you will also have the opportunity to download Adam’s second book for free — Golf Hacks — it’s on the homepage.

His highly acclaimed first book is called The Practice Manual — The Ultimate Guide for Golfers, available on Amazon.com,Amazon.co.uk and all the European Amazon’s.