In this presentation from Open Forum 10, Dr. Will Wu, co-founder of the Skilled Coaching Alliance and Director of the Center of Sport Training and Research at Long Beach State, explores the science of swing changes. Dr. Wu bridges the gap between academic motor learning research and practical application on the lesson tee, offering coaches a framework for moving from "despair" to "hope" in skill acquisition.
Dr. Wu discusses why most learning actually happens outside of the lesson and how coaches can structure their sessions to maximize long-term retention. He covers the critical roles of practice variability, feedback timing, and the "awkward silence" hack. The talk culminates in a fascinating case study involving Team Perez and Viktor Hovland at the DP World Tour Championship, illustrating how motor control principles like open and closed-loop systems dictate when a player can—and cannot—make a conscious adjustment during the swing.