I used to be indecisive....now....

[RGuk]

I just can't make up my mind.

I came into some used "readies" this week, a gift of cash to spend on something for me.

So, this morning, I ventured across town to go and see the range pro about a course of lessons. I got snarled up in terrible traffic and started questioning the whole idea.

Shoule I book one (the expensive method), for how long? and see how it goes?
Should I book a course (my preferred choice) of one every two weeks until March-ish?
Will I have time to practice? Will I have the mojo to actually go out in this cold and wet? Am I right to give up on my club pro? All sorts?

As it was, I never made it and had to turn around to make a meeting. I don't know what to do.

Does anyone have any words of wisdom for me? Should I just sink a ton into a course and see how I go.....

Cheers

 

[TonyN]

Where are you at Dave?

Is your game suffering somewhere you dont have a drill for to fix?

Are you looking to knock a few shots off you cap quickly?

If your can't decide then maybe just the one lesson to see if its what you want, you can always book the rest of them if you feel you need to.

 

[andycap]

Go for it. You have nothing to lose and can only gain. There must be something with your game that you could focus on to work on .
I'm very tempted to have a block of four for xmas , perhaps one every two weeks with solo work between in the hope that i can have a better came come the spring time

 

[medwayjon]

I never have been able to do a course of lessons because of my varying schedule.

If you can fit it in though I would take a course because of the cost-effectivness.

I can see where you are coming from with your club pro, I have never been taught by mine as I have a separate teaching pro who is a friend of mine.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I am in a similar boat. I have gone so far down the road with my pro in revamping my swing but HID is being made redundant at the end of the month so money will be tight. I've said to hime that as the ball striking is now adequate we need to really leave the long game as a work in progress and move onto the scoring shots particularly my chipping and putting.

To be be fair he has done me a really good deal on a block of 5 lessons. In response to Dave's points from my own persepctive I'd rather practice at the moment than play (other than competitions) in unrewarding conditions. I always enjoy practicing and I love the challnege of my lessons. It is only work getting in the way of me practicing every day.

Dave, I know you have a pretty solid swing and have a multitude of practice regimes for when you are out of sorts. I guess the question should be is your game that out of sorts you need to rebuild the swing totally or is it a case of brushing up each aspect?

If it is a total rebuild then you will need a block to get everything together. If it is a wash and go on your overall game why not start with the weakest aspects and maybe book one lesson and see how you feel after that.

 

[Herbie]

This is a difficult one as I wouldnt advise anyone to play golf or take lessons if they are completely peed off or frustrated about a whole set of issues like those you mentioned.

You really want to be enthusiastic about it, keen to do it, and get loads of pleasure that overshadows any of the negative factors you mentioned.

I feel for you, but the best frame of mind yields the best results, you could waste your money.

However I will always advocate lessons for people, but you seem to be fed up (due to circumstances) before the onset so its difficult. Give it a go and see, good luck in your choice.

 

[RGuk]

Dave, I know you have a pretty solid swing and have a multitude of practice regimes for when you are out of sorts. I guess the question should be is your game that out of sorts you need to rebuild the swing totally or is it a case of brushing up each aspect?

I'm not looking to rebuild much....last years lessons (with a different pro) reversed all the problems I was having, so I went from pushing and hooking to pulling and slicing. I went from being great (although not long) with my woods but poor with my irons to the reverse.

I've been swinging the speed stik every day 2 sessions x 10 mins. I've played ok, but depressingly inconsistent with woods (and almost none of the fairway, just too dodgy).

I think I might just go and chat to the guy/pro and explain what I'd like. Maybe the best thing would be to book a double lesson, explain that I'd rather he took a long look rather than offer a couple of quick ideas/drills. I will have some serious free time in the next few days and weeks, I guess I want to take the opportunity to do the stuff that got sidelined last year when I was ill for 2 months right in the middle of my last course of lessons. I might sound odd, but I'm worried I never see him teaching good players.....only ever beginners etc.....

 

[HomerJSimpson]

There is a guy at Maidenhead like that. Actually thats unfair he actually the owner but I only ever see him with beginners. Perhaps he just likes the challenge or just enjoys teaching the basics without having to get too technical.

My coach and the other main guy there have taught at a number of different places (Leadbetter Acadamies etc) and have all taught up to professional level so I think they actually enjoy teaching better players every so often as it gives them something to get their teeth into.

Dave, I'm not sure if you keep stats (SS2 etc) but if you do maybe look back over the last 3 months and see if it s GIR or fairways your are missing or how well you scramble to see if that gives you any ideas

 

[AlchemyGolf]

I have had lessons off everybody from my local pro to county and national coaches.
I first had to get on with the guy and completely trust what he was saying before taking on his advice in earnest.
If you book a course and then think actually this guy is not right for me then your stuffed.
I would try a few out,when you find 1 with the right mojo book a course of lessons.
It was a bit different for me because I had free county coaching but I never felt the need to be loyal to my pro with COACHING,buying yes if his price was within tolerance but not COACHING

 

[TWM]

Dave,
I recently wasted money on a course of lessons from a young pro at a nearby club. He did not have any drills for me to take away and practice and I made no progress. The pro at my own club is a very experienced old tour player who in the past has sorted out my swing and I will return to him in the Spring.
So my opinion is find out how good the pro is before committing to a course of lessons.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

If you want to know what I think about what makes a good coach there was an article on the forum page a few weeks ago.

 

[AliB]

I don't think someone who already has a decent swing (I guess that's you!)should have a whole course unless you're already comfortable with the pro. I'd go for one or two as a try out then see how you feel.
Best of luck!

AliB

 

[RGuk]

OK,

I really appreciate your replies.

I think I will just go for an initial lesson. I suspect that this pro is actually very good and will know his stuff. If he doesn't offer me much in the way of help (which I doubt) I'll not be tied in. I would imagine that teaching someone who can hit the ball (and fairly consistently) would probably be a good stimulus for getting the best out of him.

I don't use a system for checking the way things are. I know pretty accurately where things are costing me shots. If I could putt better, I'd save 2 or 3 more shots and if I could get over the "double-bogey" disasters, I think 10 or less would be possible. I still hit plenty of greens so I feel that the no.1 priority is to find out where the problems with the longer clubs are.....I've not been great off the tee (still straight-ish) but my game is more-or-less at the stage where it's always been, I guess it's the shots lost out to the right when I don't seem to be able to get the face square are the culprit. I definately need to cure the small out-in, that's the thing the gets me down.

Thanks