Lesson early this morning.

[G_Mulligan]

Had a 1 hour lesson booked at 8am this morning. Stiff back and sunburned neck from playing yesterday but other than that felt great. I have been working on my set up and posture since last lesson and this is how the conversation went.

Coach: Ok lets see where we are.

Me: Ok

Coach: That is great, you look like a tour player! I have scratch players that don't have as good posture at set up as you.

Me: Wow er ok. Then why am I still hitting the ball like a complete knob?

Coach: Not sure lets see the swi...what the hell is that?

Me: What?

Coach: That thing attached to the club?

Me: Errrr my grip?

Coach: If that's a grip thats the ugliest fecking grip I have ever seen in my life. I thought we worked on that last year? That should be sorted by now I can't teach you a proper swing with that grip.

So we worked on the grip for a while and it felt really really uncomfortable but I am going to have to be really committed to changing it to what it should be. I did not hit a single ball in the whole lesson we just worked the grip and then the takeaway.

He is right though he showed me the grip months ago but I stopped working on it and it slipped back to the way it was trying to counteract my slice with a weak grip. In one respect I wasted an hours lesson by not working on my grip constantly since the last time he showed me but on the other hand at least now I know why I have been playing so badly recently and I know what I have to change.

Lots of work ahead.

 

[trevor]

Very easy to do is that. Happens to me all the time, as soon as you stop thinking about something it goes back to the old easy way. Nothing about golf comes naturally.

 

[bobmac]

Your lesson was an hour long and you didn't hit one ball?

 

[G_Mulligan]

Your lesson was an hour long and you didn't hit one ball?

Yeah not one. We spent a lot of time on Pete Cowen's spiral staircase takeaway to create coil and power. I like the look of it and going to work on that along with my grip while not letting my posture slip back to where it was.

 

[quinn]

thats like a driving lesson without getting into the car

 

[G_Mulligan]

thats like a driving lesson without getting into the car

Not quite as I did have a club in my hand and I was swinging it but he is my coach and I trust his judgment.

To use your analogy I guess it would be like someone who can drive but wants to learn rally driving. The teacher would probably spend some time in the car sat still talking about cornering, gear changes, and braking points then practice one at a time, before sending you pelting down a dirt road at 100 mph.

 

[chrisd]

before sending you pelting down a dirt road at 100 mph.

Or, if your Timgolfy 175 mph

 

[G_Mulligan]

before sending you pelting down a dirt road at 100 mph.

Or, if your Timgolfy 175 mph

With a caravan

 

[ScienceBoy]

before sending you pelting down a dirt road at 100 mph.

Or, if your Timgolfy 175 mph

With a caravan

that is usually called a "static"

 

[drawboy]

Who do you use and is he any good? I'm looking for a new teacher.

 

[bobmac]

I guess each has their own teaching methods, but if I had paid for an hours lesson and I didn't hit one ball, I would be looking for a new pro.

 

[chris661]

I guess each has their own teaching methods, but if I had paid for an hours lesson and I didn't hit one ball, I would be looking for a new pro.

My lessons last around an hour and sometimes I might only hit 15 - 20 balls as long as I felt I was getting benefit from it, and trusted the pro, it wouldnt bother me. The important thing is to stick with it and I would suggest that you get a refresher lesson in a week of so, even ten minutes, as I had started slipping back to my old habits I might happen to you.

 

[john0]

I guess each has their own teaching methods, but if I had paid for an hours lesson and I didn't hit one ball, I would be looking for a new pro.

Which pro are you currently using now bob? Is he any good?

 

[G_Mulligan]

I guess each has their own teaching methods, but if I had paid for an hours lesson and I didn't hit one ball, I would be looking for a new pro.

I think you are being unfair there Bob we had so much other stuff to work on I did not even notice. In fact towards the end when he said ok now hit a few balls I asked some more questions and we went back to some technique work.

I have had several lessons and this was the first that I did not hit any balls so not the usual just worked out that way this time.

 

[timgolfy]

thats like a driving lesson without getting into the car

Sitting in the car: brum brum. Bruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuumm. Screeeeeeeeeeeeeeeecccccccccccccccch. Oops.

 

[quinn]

agree with bob on this one, ive seen loads of great practice swings but as soon as that little white ball is put on the floor it all changes,

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Not sure how you can get any positive/negative feedback to the changes you've been made unless you hit some balls so the pro can see the swing in action. Like you say though you trust the bloke and so if you are happy then fine. Personally I'd want him to see me hitting it and to give me some comments. Have you thought about getting one of those grip reminders and putting it on an old club to take to the range as a reminder http://gamolagolf.co.uk/acatalog/Leadbetter_Training_Grips.html

 

[G_Mulligan]

Hank Johnson came up with several drills his students could do at home because they did not have time to get to the range. He thought it was a poor substitute until he found they made better progress than his students who hit balls.

Not saying I would go in for this totally but I think that hitting a ball with poor mechanics ingrains bad habits. I also think you give up on a major swing change sooner if you can see the haphazard results that will inevitably occur until you get it.

As I said most lessons we do hit balls but today was grip and a new takeaway neither of which include hitting balls.

 

[G1BB0]

my last lesson was mostly about taking a divot, no balls at 1st and I was swinging great, put a ball there I was pants, tried again, 3 swings without then hit a ball, after a while it was getting better. Now one of my drills is just to draw a line and take a divot infront of the line, I try to do 100 swings, I know when I havent swung right by feel through the club. I then do it with balls, 3 swings then ball.

so yes it uses a ball but the actual mechanics is just to ingrain the swing, hitting the ball is just cos its in the way as opposed to trying to hit the ball

not sure if that makes sense but it seems to be working... albeit very slowly haha