To change or show loyalty

[HomerJSimpson]

As you may be aware I have been having a course of lessons from a PGA pro who was originally based at my local range but has now moved a 45 minute journey two junctions down the motorway. The guy has been really good and my handicap tumbled last year from 20 to 13 in the space of 4 months.

However I went to my club pro for a lesson yesterday as my game is still in disarray and I couldn't get a booking with my normal coach. I have shied away from my home pro, partly through vanity (didn't want to admit to a problem and letting other members seeing me having a lesson - stupid I know but what do they say about pride) and partly because opinion about his teaching seems evenyl split. Some said he is a great teacher and others said they couldn't get on with him.

Bearing in mind I booked this lesson late on Saturday and we stood on the practice ground in minus 5 windchill temperatures, with a gale and squalls I have to say I was very impressed.

The lesson was only 45 minutes long and I probably only hit 25-30 balls but he took the time to video my swing, explain what was wrong step by step through the video and tell me the fixes. We worked very much on feeling the right swing. He made me take a number of practice swings to get into the right position and feel and visually see the correct swing.

The problem I now have is that I feel that my own pro may be better suited to my needs. He is cheaper (considerably) more accessible, and seems to be able to communicate the problems and fixes easily. Do I now dump my original pro who has already put the work in and knows my swing well enough that I can call him and he will talk me through it over the phone or keep him. I can't afford lessons with both so need to decide who is best suited to groove my swing for the 2008 season.

Any opinions?

 

[brendy]

He is providing a service and you are paying for it, do you always use the same newsagent for everything, same garage for fuel? If you can get a better tailored service, why not then?

 

[Glenfish]

Hi
Don't think that you should feel guilty about the change, surely the old pro would expect to lose customers by his move. If you are happy with the new guy then I would go with him, BUT if there's any doubt then I think that I would travel the distance

 

[TonyN]

dump the old one! stick with the new! you seem pleased with him!

 

[thecraw]

My mate who is a pro on the European tour ditched Ian Rae and went to Bob Torrance, he just won the Madeira Open, I bet he doesnt feel guilty!


Look after number one and its down to what works best for you!

 

[bunkered]

Great stuff, just hope he can push on from here, looked really good a couple of years ago, do you think that is him back.

 

[thecraw]

Major confidence boost. Hopefully kick on from here, really solid steady player, but who knows! So many outstanding players around these days.

 

[backwoodsman]

Homer: You're paying and your original pro's service is neither as convenient nor seemingly as satisfying as the new guy. Feel no guilt about swapping.

 

[SS2]

It's a no-brainer: your new Pro fits your requirements so go with him.

 

[Nico]

Homer,I feel for you.

I am going to make an assumption about you but I feel from the tone of your posts that loyalty and decency meen a lot to you.

I was faced with a similar situation ten years ago, I had been playing for 4 years and was off 12. My pro had become (and still is)a mate. However I felt that a change would move things on and I switched,whereupon my handicap fell from 12 to 8 that summer.

The way we handled it was very straight forward,I approached my mate and said I wanted a different perspective and someone who might be a little harder on me. Luckily he was very professional and we remain good friends.

Since then I have tended to use the pro's (3) who were appointed at my club until the 3d was leaving and reccomended my current guy. There is a kind of duty to give your resident pro the chance to make a living.

Bit war and peace but you appear in trouble.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Nico

I do have a certain degree of integrity within me to try and remain loyal in all aspects of my life (not easy when you are a Fulham fan). The original pro has done a great job in getting my game back on track and I have learnt a lot (putting, short game, course management etc).

However there are issues with staying loyal, mainly the distance and time involved in going othis new club. With my club pro on my doorstep (I'm up the club most days anyway) it seem logical to utilise him, at least short term.

I was thinking about booking maybe three lessons with my club pro and seeing how my game was after that. If I'm not moving forward or his teaching methods don't always sit comfortably I'd review the situation and maybe go back to the first teacher.

That way I feel I'm giving everything a fair shot

 

[viscount17]

Homer, loyalty is all very well but at the end of the day it's you (your game) that matters.

I've just started a course of lessons with a new pro (and I have to travel further to do so). It's not that the old one was bad or that I didn't get on with him - I do and he's a good bloke and well respected - but I had the chance of a second opinion. The new pro is much more direct, which suits me, and is trying different ideas. If it works fine, if it doesn't I move on or back with no ill will from either party.