Pongo
Medal Winner
£43.50???????? Did you get a 4 course meal and a go his wife chucked in? Seems too much money, I get a 45 minute for £25 and they are usually great value. Go somewhere else perhaps?
Are lessons really worth it?
- Thread starter leaney
- Start date
Airlie_Andy
Challenge Tour Pro
My lessons are also £25 for 45 mins. I was also completely self taught until recently and used the Internet for info etc but after my first lesson I quickly realised how important lessons are and particularly if you get a good teacher. It wasn't just a case of teaching the theory of the swing it was explaining it in such a way that I actually understood what I needed to do and the feeling of how the swing should be done. My advice to the OP would be to maybe look for a different pro and ideally get some recommendations.
Phil2511
Global Moderator
I watch quite alot of the YouTube videos myself but they are only reliable for giving a cure if you actually know the exact symptoms. I have myself had good and bad experiences with pros. 1 guy who has worked wonders with some of my mates spent an hour with me trying to correct a hook and went through a hole manner of things in his attempt to fix it. End result was I turned into a shanking machine.
My normal pro(the other guys boss) had it sorted after I hit 3 balls on the range. For him he can see very quickly faults in people's swings and see things you may not even realise you are doing.
My hook was being caused by me tilting my head to the left a bit which then led to me collapsing and subsequently getting trapped and unable to turn causing me to swing the club around my body.
From YouTube videos and seeing the other pro I got nowhere as all their answers were for basic causes not more technical issues. So therefore you can end up doing damage rather than repair.
But as has been said by others you need to get the bond with your coach, then practice what you are taught. Otherwise it's a waste of money and time.
Another thing is my pro doesn't do more than 30 minute lessons and believes that 1 alteration at a time is plenty unless it is the simple basics. Anymore and you will have too many swing thoughts. The reason he doesn't do more than 30 minutes is that he says that a lesson for him takes between 10-15 minutes and the remainder is him just watching you hit balls.
He also believes that each person has their own individual swing and he just adapts each person to make the best of what is natural to them. Not trying to replicate someone else exactly as some pros do.
My normal pro(the other guys boss) had it sorted after I hit 3 balls on the range. For him he can see very quickly faults in people's swings and see things you may not even realise you are doing.
My hook was being caused by me tilting my head to the left a bit which then led to me collapsing and subsequently getting trapped and unable to turn causing me to swing the club around my body.
From YouTube videos and seeing the other pro I got nowhere as all their answers were for basic causes not more technical issues. So therefore you can end up doing damage rather than repair.
But as has been said by others you need to get the bond with your coach, then practice what you are taught. Otherwise it's a waste of money and time.
Another thing is my pro doesn't do more than 30 minute lessons and believes that 1 alteration at a time is plenty unless it is the simple basics. Anymore and you will have too many swing thoughts. The reason he doesn't do more than 30 minutes is that he says that a lesson for him takes between 10-15 minutes and the remainder is him just watching you hit balls.
He also believes that each person has their own individual swing and he just adapts each person to make the best of what is natural to them. Not trying to replicate someone else exactly as some pros do.
USER1999
Grand Slam Winner
Do you think I would be better off with a fly, or a mackerel spinner?
Smiffy
Grand Slam Winner
Big lump of luncheon meat
Smiffy
Grand Slam Winner
I beg to differ.
S
Snelly
Guest
Are lessons really worth it? It depends.
If you have the time to play a lot of golf on the course (teenager, unmarried, retired, unemployed etc.) then I would say if you have a couple of lessons on grip, stance and etiquette etc then the best approach would be to play as often as you can.
If you are on the other hand, a late starter in golf with a busy life then I would suggest that a lesson every two weeks with a good teacher that you can relate to are a very good idea.
Personally, I don't get much out of lessons and can't ever really recall having a lesson that transformed my game.
In essence my view is that lessons are worth it for some people and a waste of time for others (like me!).
If you have the time to play a lot of golf on the course (teenager, unmarried, retired, unemployed etc.) then I would say if you have a couple of lessons on grip, stance and etiquette etc then the best approach would be to play as often as you can.
If you are on the other hand, a late starter in golf with a busy life then I would suggest that a lesson every two weeks with a good teacher that you can relate to are a very good idea.
Personally, I don't get much out of lessons and can't ever really recall having a lesson that transformed my game.
In essence my view is that lessons are worth it for some people and a waste of time for others (like me!).
sweatysock41
Q-School Graduate
I would say it depends what you are prepared to put into the practice and what you want to get from them. If you are not prepared to practice what is being taught then lessons are a complete waste of money. You have to trust the Pro implicitly and if you don't understand something don't be afraid to ask.
I'm lucky as I have a pro that I can relate to and understands my outlook on golf. I do practice regularly and that has seen my handicap drop from 18 to 12 since I started lessons with him about 12 months ago, so for me the course of 7 x 30 mins for £90 over the winter and 2 lessons through the summer have been worth it. £43 seems ridiculously expensive by the way.
I'm lucky as I have a pro that I can relate to and understands my outlook on golf. I do practice regularly and that has seen my handicap drop from 18 to 12 since I started lessons with him about 12 months ago, so for me the course of 7 x 30 mins for £90 over the winter and 2 lessons through the summer have been worth it. £43 seems ridiculously expensive by the way.
mc73
Club Champion
Lessons are worth but only if you put what you are taught into practice (which can be a nightmare) and persist with it. I'm currently taking lessons having played for 8 years without any and I have a desire to play off single figures and don't have the natural talent to do it on my own.
If the top pros need coaching to get better what makes us amateurs think we don't but do agree you need a coach you can connect with, I seem to have found one that works for me.
If the top pros need coaching to get better what makes us amateurs think we don't but do agree you need a coach you can connect with, I seem to have found one that works for me.
