Instruction from golf pros...how was it for you?

[hopeful]

At various times I've taken instruction from at least half-a-dozen pros, from a single lesson to "six lessons for the price of five" and only ever felt I made any real progress with one of 'em. He sorted out my basic swing methodically and effectively...then buggered off owing me the final on-course lesson! (The biggest laugh is he said at the start "I'll commit myself to you if you'll commit yourself to me." I don't think he was proposing marriage...well he didn't seem like that, anyway.) I rather feel that I can do just as well picking out a specific practise tip from a book (or a good mag like GM... crawl, crawl!) and concentrating on that on the range or during a casual game. Trouble is I think you really need someone to be watching you to pick up the faults as you swing.
So what's been your experience with pro instruction. Is it worth the money? Did they get you playing better therefore more enjoyable golf?

 

[John_Findlay]

Hi Hopeful,

I think it's a matter of finding a guy you trust.

When I picked up the game again just over 3 years ago I went to a pro for some lessons to get the basics back. No improvement whatsoever after 6 months.... so changed to my current pro. Have since had probably 9 out of the ten best scores of my life, including my first hole in one, medal win etc and am enjoying the game again at last.

I have to say that I did tell my pro that I was happy to spend the next 5 years developing a swing that I could rely on into my dotage. Many would say that that's a bit like asking a car salesman if I need a new car, but I trust the chap to help me improve.

I would never rely on tips in magazines again. I think you need the one to one view to really improve.

 

[RGuk]

I've had one or two "duff" lessons.....worst of all was with a pro at a well known London club who spent the whole lesson talking about his brilliant swing and "reputation".

I was lucky to meet a guy training up who learned with Denis Pugh and taught straight from the Leadbetter school.
He got me from 24 to 8 in 20? lessons over 2-3 years. He was such a great guy, a brilliant teacher, let me sit in on all sorts of stuff at the course (including video analysis of other beginners (with permission)), fixed up my clubs, taught me how to pitch.

He got a top teaching job overseas and I never found out what happened to him.

Most of the others were a bit dodgy......starting a series next week with my home course pro......it'll be interesting to see how seriously he takes me and if he knows his stuff. He's a really good guy and ought to sort me out.....finger's crossed.

I don't beleive it is possible to sort yourself out without a good pro......the only thing I do (now) is video my swing and re-vist the drills that the 1st pro taught me and are applicable to the Leadbetter videos. I have fixes/drills for most things, but it's important to understand the swing and what to look for to have any chance.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I am in the same boat I think. My pro (Grant Swayer at Blue Mountain in Bracknell) has completed remodelled my swing over the last 8 months from a very Montyesque upright swing with a huge reverse pivot to a much more rounded and compacted swing.

He doesn't go in for a lot of tehnical jargon but relies more in getting and FEELING set positions (one = halfway back 2= top of swing 3= impact and 4 = end of follow through).

He has done a great job and I was looking forward to booking a couple of pre-season refreshers. Stone me he has gone and moved to another course 2 junctions (and about 45 minutes) down the motorway. I've got one lesson booked for a week Sunday to see what the new facility is like and how the journey goes but I'm not hopeful.

I have a voucher for winning the December medal to spend so if the journey etc is too much I might use them for lessons with my own pro. His teaching style can only be described as marmite. Some swear by him and others think his style etc is very hard to follow. We shall see. I'll report back in due course

 

[MVP]

Ive had about 6 lessons with my pro. he's sorted me out a gooden. Same as homer reverse pivot, now i got a hell of a lot better with the weight transfer. im hitting a ton more fairways now. i just gotta sort my second shots out. Im hitting bugger all greens but im getting up n down a bit more to compensate.

 

[Lloydy84]

I agree with both of you, you need a good teaching pro to improve, i can never take any of the tips in magazines seriously, since reading "with a fairway wood off the fairway, address it as you would with a driver, this will help you hit it on the UP SWING" !!!! how on earth can you hit a ball on the ground on the upswing without digging a crater out of the ground before the ball.

My pro is a real enthusiast, he's transformed my swing over winter, from an unreliable, reverse pivoting instinctive swish, into what is now a solid, predictable, and i hope repeatable swing. if you book a half hour lesson, he'll always stay with you until he's got everything sorted and explained, often a full hour. he also spends time showing me the swings of pro's, compares the positions to those of my own swing, this has helped me believe in what i am doing, even if it feels wrong at first.

A few times hes had a spare minute, and shown me how best to play a certain type of chip, or when i was slicing unexplainably, he took me up to the range to explain simply, i was moving into it too much therefore leaving the face open and not releasing my hands. I think it's best to find a pro who, not only tells you to do something this way or that, but who explains how and why it needs to be done this way.

 

[fairmorn308]

am planning on starting golf again after 3/4 yrs not playing and was a handicap of 4 when i stopped and still the same pro at my club and he is also the district coach aswell which does help. I hope he can take me serious and commit to me tho. will let you know how i get on.

 

[BlackDot]

Hi John,

Read your post on golf lessons which i totally agreed with then noticed your link at bottom to youtube, the video of you playing craigelaw reminded me of the visit i made there last year whilst working at the senior masters muirfield.

Well only had 1 day free for golf so my mate and me decided to play Gullane3 instead because it was cheaper(was this a mistake?), later on we were back up for the dunhill managed to play 3 games 1 of which was the magnificent Craighead at Crail i will be back up again this season and wondered if you could point me in the direction of anymore scottish gems.

Thanks for any info

 

[John_Findlay]

Hi Blackdot,

Gullane 3 is a perfectly nice wee course but no.2 is better. Play both often but personally think you would have preferred Craigielaw or others in the area.

The hidden gem around here is Glen Golf Club in North Berwick

http://www.glengolfclub.co.uk/

Spectacular views and some lovely holes. It's not links turf but there's a new clubhouse now and even on a blowy wet day you can't help but wonder at the views. The best of any course I've played, including Turnberry. The West Links at North Berwick is my favourite, though, golf-wise. You wouldn't be disappointed.

http://www.northberwickgolfclub.com/

A little pricier but you'd expect that for a classic links with the tradition it has. Dunbar Golf Club is great, too.

What were you doing by way of work at the Senior's qualifying? I popped down to Muirfield to watch the Friday's play. Always wanted to watch my all time hero, Mr Watson. Chuffed to bits that he won.

 

[Mr_Top_Shot]

Ive had about 6 lessons with my pro. he's sorted me out a gooden. Same as homer reverse pivot, now i got a hell of a lot better with the weight transfer. im hitting a ton more fairways now. i just gotta sort my second shots out. Im hitting bugger all greens but im getting up n down a bit more to compensate.

Had my first lesson with MVP recommended pro, he is top, he listens and actually cares that he is making an improvement for the game. I have heard of some pro's that seem to be in it for the £££. This is not true in my case, hopefully will continue to be as good as the first lesson

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Had a chipping lesson with a pro I have known for years at the driving range I use. Not used him regularly as I have found his methods not conducive. He is a fantastic teacher but there wasn't that "spark".

However I desperately need help with my short game so we went onto the pitch and putt course and set up about 20 paces from the flag. We went through what I perceived the problem to be and he watched me hit a couple.


He told me what was wrong and we set about fixing it. Not very easy when a fault is as ingrained as mine but he stuck with it. I understood exactly what he was saying and what he wanted me to do but I couldn't feel the shot. This made it very difficult to put into practice.

In the end I got there by focusing more on what my right knee was doing (too much body movement when I chipped particularly in the legs - worked on keeping the right knee quiet) and at least have something to get to work on.

However he also taught me the correct way to set up and play the flop shot - something I always wanted in my armoury but could never pull off. Because this shot requires a more committed swing I actually found it easier and it really helped when I went back to chipping normally.

He also had a quick look at my full swing and has given me his thoughts on my posture (he wants me more upright at address) and it is something I am going to work on in the next few range sessions.

At the end of the day he has got me hitting better more controlled chip shots and so from that perspective it was a success but I'm not sure I could use hime to make major swing changes.

The search for a replacement teacher continues. Next stop my home club pro!