lessons or natural

[marinemac]

Started playing about 18 months ago and although i played many different sports in my youth i never got around to golf. I have had a very good first year achieving a 14 handicap However over the last few months the god of golf is reminding me who is boss. Several different views from club members about whether i should carry on in my own natural way or seek lessons to take me to that elusive 12 club. what do you guys think?

 

[Toby_LeRhone]

Lessons.

 

[marinemac]

why?

 

[Toby_LeRhone]

Practice is the best investment I have ever made in sport. Lessons give my practice focus and relevance.

 

[Alex1975]

Lessons

Stops you compounding errors

 

[marinemac]

thanks how do you know a good teacher/ pro vs a bad one. My club i hear such mixed reviews from brillinat to cr*p

 

[PhilTheFragger]

Err, I think you know the answer

you have reached a plateau.

there is only one way over it

But be aware, after the lessons, you will get worse for a few days/ weeks until it starts to get better

Cheers

Fragger

 

[bluewolf]

it's a personal thing. I've never had a lesson and managed to play to 12 when I first played. I then took 3 years off due to a shoulder injury followed by taking time to spend with my young family. I started again in March and have just received a new handicap of 11.5. However...I will be taking lessons later in the year as I can feel some swing problems developing and if I want to drop to single figures then I need to sort them out.
On a side note, make sure that you gel with your coach. I know players who have paid large amounts for pro coaching and have achieved precisely nothing due to a clash of personalities...

 

[Toby_LeRhone]

thanks how do you know a good teacher/ pro vs a bad one. My club i hear such mixed reviews from brillinat to cr*p

Tricky one this. One thing to add though; one should remember that it is often the student that is bad and not the teacher. PGA pros are qualified to teach, students are not necessarily qualified to be taught.

 

[chris661]

thanks how do you know a good teacher/ pro vs a bad one. My club i hear such mixed reviews from brillinat to cr*p

Tricky one this. One thing to add though; one should remember that it is often the student that is bad and not the teacher. PGA pros are qualified to teach, students are not necessarily qualified to be taught.

I dont agree with this it is nothing to do with who is bad/good, sometimes people just cant relate to a particular method of teaching.

As to finding a pro that suits you go and speak to them find out what they are like what do they prefer teaching I know a pro who would gladly only teach short game as he is VERY good at it and enjoys it but another one that prefers full swing. But as Fragger says be prepared to go back a few steps for a while.

 

[granters]

I'd say lessons only if you are prepared to commit to them as they will inevitably destroy your game for a while.

In saying that i've only ever had a couple of lessons when i was younger and managed to get down to 5 without them. but i did start playing very young and think i built up a good understanding of what should be what over the years.

Definitely give them an open minded go as a PGA pro will know his stuff inside out and could really get you flying

 

[Toby_LeRhone]

thanks how do you know a good teacher/ pro vs a bad one. My club i hear such mixed reviews from brillinat to cr*p

Tricky one this. One thing to add though; one should remember that it is often the student that is bad and not the teacher. PGA pros are qualified to teach, students are not necessarily qualified to be taught.

I dont agree with this it is nothing to do with who is bad/good, sometimes people just cant relate to a particular method of teaching.

As to finding a pro that suits you go and speak to them find out what they are like what do they prefer teaching I know a pro who would gladly only teach short game as he is VERY good at it and enjoys it but another one that prefers full swing. But as Fragger says be prepared to go back a few steps for a while.

I'd agree with that. My point was that many students do not practice enough, see no/limited results from their lessons and are turned off to lessons/their pro as a consequence. A pro can only show a student the path; it is up to the student to take it. Wax on, wax off.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Lessons if you have the time to invest in the drills and are prepared to go backwards to move forwards. If you don't work at what you're shown then its money down the drain in my humble opinion.

My club pro is a little like yours I think. Some rate him and others don't. I don't like his methods so don't use him and I'm very happy with the guy I use from N1 Golf at Maidenhead as he shows me in a way that is simple and I can understand. His drills are specific and as I'm a feel type player he gives me ones where I can feel the club/body being in the right place so it is easy for me to correlate when I've hit a bad one where it didn't feel right.

I would also advise on a few lessons maybe spread over the course of the summer as one 30/45 minute session may only be a sticking plaster over any number of faults. If you've got to 14 on your own there is obviously a degree of talent and maybe there are just a few faults creeping in holding you back or you just need a pointer to let you kick on again

 

[Imurg]

I got to 8 without any real lessons.
I had a break, restarted on 13 and got back to 8 without any lessons.
I don't have the time or patience to practice enough to make lessons worthwhile.
Could I have been better with lessons?
Probably, possibly, hard to tell.
Try some lessons - if they don't work for you then go it alone.

 

[CrapHacker]

thanks how do you know a good teacher/ pro vs a bad one. My club i hear such mixed reviews from brillinat to cr*p

You talk to several local pros, tell them how you want to go about improving, and work out who can help you most.

Then you have a sample lesson with them to see if it feels right.

If a pro tries to get you to pay up front for a course of lessons, then go elsewhere.

Once you have found a guy ( or gal ) that is on the same wavelength as you, then stick with them.

Anyone who wants to be the best they possibly can, in any sport, has to have some kind of coaching.

If you are happy at the level you can reach on your own, then great, lessons aren't for everyone. But to be the best you can you need to find a coach who can help you when you start getting into bad habits.

 

[Smiffy]

My club pro is a little like yours I think. I don't like his methods so don't use him

I go to my pro as the first port of call. He reciprocates and may give me a 10 minute freebie bit of advice on the practice ground and so it it's about give and take.

Don't you think this could all add to the confusion Homer???

 

[Piece]

Depending on the individual natural talent, golfers will get down to 20, 15, 10, 6, or rarely, lower, without lessons. Then you get to a sticking point; you won't get better on your own.

If the individual really wants to get better, then commit to having a set lessons from a decent pro. By decent pro, I mean a pro that you feel is suited to what you want to achieve and teaching methods that you feel you can relate to. It greatly helps if the pro understands your swing in this context in order to give you the information and drills to help you understand your swing. Part of the improvement process is if you really understand your swing and what causes a certain type of shot, this can help you fix it whilst you're on the course. e.g. when I thin a shot, I know it's because I pick the club up on the backswing.

There's no real point in getting one lesson here or there initially, if the overall objective is to really cut your h/c and maintain that level.

Good luck!