Tips from a Pro

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My best friend is a very experienced pro. Unfortunately I decided to take up golf shortly before moving home, so my only contact is now via the phone, and can no longer benefit from free lessons and use of his course. I had a long chat with him today, and thought it would be nice if I shared some of his wisdom with you all. Beware though, you may not like everything you hear.

1) If you are taking lessons, find a pro you trust and stick with them. Changing pros will only confuse you, and they may have contradicting opinions.
2) Once you find a set of clubs you like work with them, and don't change them for a long time. Buying new shiny equipment on a regular basis may give you a buzz, but will rarely improve your golf. He has played off of scratch since 1984 and hasn't changed his clubs for over 8 years.
3) Find a ball you are happy with and always use it. The feel of any ball around the green varies incredibly.

The more experienced of you may well be aware of these three tips, but I would hope the rest may benefit from his experience.
 
My best friend is a very experienced pro. Unfortunately I decided to take up golf shortly before moving home, so my only contact is now via the phone, and can no longer benefit from free lessons and use of his course. I had a long chat with him today, and thought it would be nice if I shared some of his wisdom with you all. Beware though, you may not like everything you hear.1) If you are taking lessons, find a pro you trust and stick with them. Changing pros will only confuse you, and they may have contradicting opinions.2) Once you find a set of clubs you like work with them, and don't change them for a long time. Buying new shiny equipment on a regular basis may give you a buzz, but will rarely improve your golf. He has played off of scratch since 1984 and hasn't changed his clubs for over 8 years.3) Find a ball you are happy with and always use it. The feel of any ball around the green varies incredibly. The more experienced of you may well be aware of these three tips, but I would hope the rest may benefit from his experience.
Not sure about your Pro, why ?Well you are using a set of old Dunlops you got for £60.00, first bit of advice any Pro would give you is to ditch them clubs & get a half decent set of clubs. How can any one play the game seriously without a set of clubs that they have been fitted for ?My advise, sack your Pro even if he is your mate
 
I play the game seriously and my clubs are not fitted. It just so happens that golfers have different budgets I'm afraid.
 
I know a guy off three who lost everything in a devorce. He rallied £50 to got a set of Dunlop 65i irons from sports direct. 4-w with two of their wobbly copper wedges. Someone found a cally 5w in their garage and also gave him a cally driver from about 6 years ago. - he shot -2 around my track off the blocks in terrible conditions with regular shafts against he's normal hard stepped x100's
 
My sources tell me that the Dunlop clubs are similar in performance to John Letters, Jaxx and Progen as well as many other boxed sets. And if they get people into the game, then does it matter what they play?

My previous teaching pro told me that I should have kept my old Hippo irons, McGregor fairways and Wilson putter before I started lessons with him in 2011. His logic was that the cash I spent on the John Letters T9's to replace them would have been better spent on lessons. With the benefit of hindsight, I totally agree with his comment.
 
Isn't it funny how pro's suggest lessons yet shops suggest clubs. There has to be a middle ground

Just like there has to be a middle ground between ultra cheap beginners clubs and the most expensive.

In reality, coaching will improve golfers far more than a new set of clubs, but the allure of the shiny new set never leaves us.
 
Good advice generally. 2 out of 3 for me. Been having lessons with same pro exclusively for 30 plus years. Kept my first set of Mizuno's (TP21) for 12 plus years. Had my MX25s for 5 years and not planning on any changes from my MP53s.

Unfortunately though, I ran out of Maxfli XS Tours some years ago :D. Now I find that I don't really notice much, if any, difference between premium balls from different brands. Would definitely agree tough that you should stick with one type of ball. Went out once with a more distance orientated ball in a summer comp after using a spinnier "feel" ball and couldn't chip or putt with any consistency. Taught me a lesson.

PS just for a laugh I did a quick search and found these. May have to make a bid.:D

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Maxfli-XS...982699?hash=item43e93e4b6b:g:aggAAOSwCypWpLwW
 
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