Why don't ex top players become coaches?

[Trap Junior]

In Tennis ex players become coaches to the top players of today. Why don't the likes of Gary Player, Nicklaus, Watson , Trevino, Faldo become coaches? They know how to win at the top level and coaching is more about performance than swing technique. Just seems strange that they dont actually coach intensively as opposed to an odd word of encouragement here and there when asked.

[jut111]

They have easier, less stressful ways to make more money.

[SNIPERBBB]

Great players seldom become good coaches. Especially if its something that that is more intuitive than something that can be taught.

[Cwing]

Watson still plays. The others you list and making far more money doing tv, course design, etc... than they would working as a swing coach.

[Rusty1885]

Not everyone can teach. They may not have good eyes for swing flaws and/or can verbalized their thought and what they do.

 

Some great players I played with can't tell me how they execute a shot when asked. They just say I dunno I just do it.

[Mr. Jimmy]

Great players seldom become good coaches. Especially if its something that that is more intuitive than something that can be taught.

 

Yep, and this is probably true in most sports (though I don't follow tennis so it might be different). The fundamentals just come naturally to the truly great ones and they take it to another level from there. Coaching is a whole different skill set.

 

And as mentioned, the stress is probably not worth it when they're already likely to be set for life from their playing days and/or have endorsement or commentator positions available to them.

 

Perhaps a better question is why don't top coaches become tour players?

[Trap Junior]

If I was on tour I'd have a swing coach and a performance coach in the form of an ex tour player. They would pass down advice on playing under pressure, practice regimes etc..

 

Padraig Harrington and Luke Donald had Dave Alred who they say toughened them up mentally and made their practice better. He's not a golfer and never was. He was a rugby kicking coach.

[TheInfidel]

Even some of the very elite players can't translate the minute detail of what they do so well to others. Teaching others, much like a 1 iron off a sandy bare downhill lie is a very unique skill. Maybe the more realistic answer is that it doesn't laterally pay the same $$$.

[Moonlightgrm]

They have easier, less stressful ways to make more money.

There is a lot of truth in this statement. One former top professional who did share his knowledge with other Tour players was Byron Nelson. He mentored Ken Venturi and Tom Watson to name two.

[Santiago Golf]

I know some tour players have seen treevino for short advice. Stricker gives Tiger putting instruction

[Petunia Sprinkle]

They have easier, less stressful ways to make more money.

 

You forgot 'less annoying'.

[dbleag]

They have easier, less stressful ways to make more money.

There is a lot of truth in this statement. One former top professional who did share his knowledge with other Tour players was Byron Nelson. He mentored Ken Venturi and Tom Watson to name two.

 

additionally:

 

Hogan taught John Schlee, Gardner Dickinson, Tom Byrum and Kris Tschetter.

 

Palmer taught Sam Saunders.

 

Old Tom Morris taught Young Tom Morris.

 

Butch Harmon teaches a bunch of players.

 

Claude Harmon, Sr. taught all of his sons and Dave Marr.

 

....probably many more obscure examples.

 

 

It also takes an enormous amount of patience to be a teacher/instructor and top players don't always have that for others.

[RichieHunt]

Why take a pay cut?

 

 

 

 

 

RH

[raynorfan1]

Tennis is different from golf because the former players who are coaching aren't "coaching" the fundamentals so much as breaking down opponents and playing effectively as a "scout team" for matches. The element of head-to-head competition doesn't exist in golf, so there's less value in having an ex-player as a coach.

[jecarnl]

Teaching is different from playing....

[Z1ggy16]

Player does do some teaching, I've seen multiple youtube videos of him doing seminars, etc.

 

As far as the rest... because they can make more money doing other things like course design, making TV appearances, etc. Plus... Don't you want to retire and just do nothing some day?

[Doppelganger]

In Tennis ex players become coaches to the top players of today. Why don't the likes of Gary Player, Nicklaus, Watson , Trevino, Faldo become coaches? They know how to win at the top level and coaching is more about performance than swing technique. Just seems strange that they dont actually coach intensively as opposed to an odd word of encouragement here and there when asked.

 

Why would you want to coach instead of playing golf on the champions tour?

 

Tennis I imagine is much harder on the body. Much harder to stay in shape and keep competitive. We've got our John Daly's drinking beer and smoking into their 70s and 80s, sounds like a good life to me.

[Thrillhouse]

If I was on tour I'd have a swing coach and a performance coach in the form of an ex tour player. They would pass down advice on playing under pressure, practice regimes etc..

 

What you're talking about is mentorship, not coaching, and the older guys do that for free for you younger guys who are hanging around where they play and practice, or the younger guys who played at their college, that sort of thing.

 

So yeah, it's really valuable, it's just not something that is charged for.

[TB07]

What already have already mentioned. Coaching is hard work, they can make money easier. Also, Nicklaus and Faldo own golf academies (or atleast have their name on it). So they get paid for lessons without actually having to coach.

[ferrispgm]

Full-time players out there spend their whole careers focusing on what works for them and them alone. They don't spend years helping other people, learning what works and what doesn't work for most people. They only know what their swing feels are and what they can and can't do. An instructor spends time with 100s of different people and ideally learning what types of people can perform certain movements, adapting their own ideas to fit a certain players limitations or how to match certain parts of the swing. Every single person is different.

 

I will say there are some guys out there that are very knowledgeable about the swing but most of the world class upper tier guys got there because they have spend hours focusing on their own swing and 100% dedication to making themselves better.

[BrianMcG]

This is how a top player would teach:

 

[bobcat]

There is simply not enough money to entice the great players them to coach others as a job... :no2:

 

However, famous players have been known to write golf instruction books, and in the modern era, release video instruction guides. I remember the Jack Nicklaus' Video, 'Golf My Way; so very well. It was my 'bible' for golf instruction back in the day.. :tongue: .

 

Jack gave considerable credit to his Coach, (Jack Grout), for much of the instruction material in his 'Golf My Way' video... :yes:

 

:golfer:

[gogolf]

A lot of them are coaches - look at Faldos golf schools. He's built a system and certified teachers to pass on his knowledge

[starsail85]

Just because they do so many great things in their golf swing does not mean that they know what the golf swing is all about . Most of the great stuff they do comes naturally to them

[AndyC]

Just because they do so many great things in their golf swing does not mean that they know what the golf swing is all about . Most of the great stuff they do comes naturally to them

 

Nonsense. The tour pros have spent a lifetime learning from the best teachers and playing with the best players. They have all fought through slumps and swing changes and are a wealth of knowledge. To suggest any top player got to where they are without learning what the golf swing is all about defies logic. Whether or not they could teach their knowledge is a function of teaching skills.

[Pepperturbo]

Just because someone is good at a certain endeavor doesn't necessary mean they have the temperament for teaching or coaching. Reason its commonly heard, can't do, so teach.

[PutterKilledTheDream]

Just because they do so many great things in their golf swing does not mean that they know what the golf swing is all about . Most of the great stuff they do comes naturally to them

 

Nonsense. The tour pros have spent a lifetime learning from the best teachers and playing with the best players. They have all fought through slumps and swing changes and are a wealth of knowledge. To suggest any top player got to where they are without learning what the golf swing is all about defies logic. Whether or not they could teach their knowledge is a function of teaching skills.

Completely agree with this.

[Muddler]

In Tennis ex players become coaches to the top players of today. Why don't the likes of Gary Player, Nicklaus, Watson , Trevino, Faldo become coaches? They know how to win at the top level and coaching is more about performance than swing technique. Just seems strange that they dont actually coach intensively as opposed to an odd word of encouragement here and there when asked.

 

Why would you want to coach instead of playing golf on the champions tour?

 

Tennis I imagine is much harder on the body. Much harder to stay in shape and keep competitive. We've got our John Daly's drinking beer and smoking into their 70s and 80s, sounds like a good life to me.

 

Exactly. Great players make a great deal more money playing the champions tour. Bernhard Langer made $2.3 million playing 14 events on he Champions tour last year. He would be lucky to make $50k coaching. Didn't tiger only pay Haney like $5k a month? (Plus one Popsicle)