Top 25 Coaches List

[penfold]

Just looked through this list as I'm actually looking for a new coach myself at the moment.

Gary Smith is the closest to me, I know he specializes in short game but has anyone had full swing lessons with him on here?

I was also thinking it might be good, If we could use this post to recommend coaches that have made a big impact on your game that have not included on this list.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Just looked through this list as I'm actually looking for a new coach myself at the moment.

Gary Smith is the closest to me, I know he specializes in short game but has anyone had full swing lessons with him on here?

I was also thinking it might be good, If we could use this post to recommend coaches that have made a big impact on your game that have not included on this list.

The wife bought me an hours lesson with him for Christmas. Primarily for the short game as I already use linear method to chip and want to use the same for pitching. Will let you know how he is as a teacher

 

[MendieGK]

seeing this list annoys me. GM actively promoting coaches as top 25 when they have no justification isnt fair.

I enjoy Rick and Peters videos, but whos to say they are good coaches? who have they coached as evidence? same for most of the other guys. its basically free advertising for these coach.

obviously i am biased but my coach won PGA south coach of the year in 2014 (voted for by his peers), coaches a walker cup player and EUropro OOM winner last year in addition to the the county champion etc etc. He's taken me from high 5 handicap to 3.

but these 25 are better than him?

 

[penfold]

The wife bought me an hours lesson with him for Christmas. Primarily for the short game as I already use linear method to chip and want to use the same for pitching. Will let you know how he is as a teacher

Thanks Homer, I actually booked a short game lesson with him this afternoon!! So will let you know how I get on later this evening.

 

[RW1986]

Just looked through this list as I'm actually looking for a new coach myself at the moment.

Gary Smith is the closest to me, I know he specializes in short game but has anyone had full swing lessons with him on here?

I was also thinking it might be good, If we could use this post to recommend coaches that have made a big impact on your game that have not included on this list.

I had both a short and long game lesson with him. He was really good and helped me strike the ball really well. The only problem for me is that he is too far away for me to keep going back to see.
shame really as he's a nice chap.

 

[penfold]

seeing this list annoys me. GM actively promoting coaches as top 25 when they have no justification isnt fair.

I enjoy Rick and Peters videos, but whos to say they are good coaches? who have they coached as evidence? same for most of the other guys. its basically free advertising for these coach.

obviously i am biased but my coach won PGA south coach of the year in 2014 (voted for by his peers), coaches a walker cup player and EUropro OOM winner last year in addition to the the county champion etc etc. He's taken me from high 5 handicap to 3.

but these 25 are better than him?

who do you use as your coach?

I had the same feeling as you reading through the list, which left me questioning how did they come up with the top 25.

This is why I was keen to get feedback from forum members, with factual improvement to a handicap golfer such as your high 5 to 3 handicap.

 

[Curls]

WHAT???!!! No Bobmac?!

I move to strike this list immediately on the grounds that it is poppycock.

 

[matt611]

The article does list what GM believes are the criteria to be a good coach. Why Rick and Pete get in but Crossfield doesn't I don't know.

I would be looking to try Barney Puttick as he is closest to me. Keith Wood is a little pricey at £250 per hour!

 

[MendieGK]

who do you use as your coach?

I had the same feeling as you reading through the list, which left me questioning how did they come up with the top 25.

This is why I was keen to get feedback from forum members, with factual improvement to a handicap golfer such as your high 5 to 3 handicap.

Simon Shanks @ Bowood in Wiltshire. Definitely the best coach in the area, coaches basically the whole Wiltshire squad.

I was off 5 from 15yo and moved around coaches. In 18mnths I've tumbled

 

[Capella]

seeing this list annoys me. GM actively promoting coaches as top 25 when they have no justification isnt fair.

I enjoy Rick and Peters videos, but whos to say they are good coaches? who have they coached as evidence? same for most of the other guys. its basically free advertising for these coach.

obviously i am biased but my coach won PGA south coach of the year in 2014 (voted for by his peers), coaches a walker cup player and EUropro OOM winner last year in addition to the the county champion etc etc. He's taken me from high 5 handicap to 3.

but these 25 are better than him?

AFAIK, the list is based at least partly on reader suggestions and recommondation letters. There was a call for that by GolfMonthly at the end of last year. If you feel your coach should be on the list, go ahead and suggest/recommend him next year.

Granted, it might be easier for the YouTube coaches to get more people to write recommondations for them, just because of the number of people they reach, but I can assert you from my own experience that Peter Finch is an amazing coach in real life as well and totally deserves to be on that list.

 

[Rooter]

If it was a popularity contest, I am amazed lockey and crossfield are not on there. Or is it because at time they can come across slightly anti GM (golf mags in general to be honest)

 

[MendieGK]

If it was a popularity contest, I am amazed lockey and crossfield are not on there. Or is it because at time they can come across slightly anti GM (golf mags in general to be honest)

or that they both come across as absolute clowns 90% of the time?

 

[Rooter]

or that they both come across as absolute clowns 90% of the time?

Oh i agree (apart from the 90% is a bit low), however it was suggested it was a public vote of some sort, just surprised as a lot of people seem to be 'fans' of theirs..

 

[TheAlbatross]

Pretty scandalous there are no women included in this list. What about Dr Nicky Lumb at Bristol Golf School? She is a PGA Professional, has a PhD in skill acquisition, a MSc in sports coaching and is a TPI fitness trainer - all that from a google search of coaches in my local area (the South West of England).

I'm sorry to say this list does nothing alter the public image of golf as being a sport dominated by men - do GM not have any female readers?

 

[pokerjoke]

I believe Mike H mentioned somewhere he doesn't like the way Mark Crossfield dismisses R&D and Technology.

Rick Shiels and Peter Finch are in there because they do stuff with GM

 

[RW1986]

The article does list what GM believes are the criteria to be a good coach. Why Rick and Pete get in but Crossfield doesn't I don't know.

I would be looking to try Barney Puttick as he is closest to me. Keith Wood is a little pricey at £250 per hour!

Barney Puttick is a great coach and still learning all the time keeping up to date with modern techniques and tour players. Not stuck in the past with Ben Hogan and the likes. Barney is who I go and see now as I'm spending a lot of time in the area and a lot cheaper too.

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

It's difficult to say how good or bad a coach is, you have to bond with them and understand their methods. How they present information to you and how able you are to digest it and make the required changes has a huge bearing. Some may be over technical, some may be too simplistic. All depends on the individual being coached.

I firmly believe the best coaches are the ones that get the best from your current swing without major changes as we amateurs don't have the time (and probably not the inclination) to spend 100's of hours grooving in changes. A repeatable can swing can work just as well as a good swing as long as you manage your ball accordingly.

As a side note, I've had a short game lesson with Gary Smith. He teaches quite an unusual method which doesn't really work for me. No idea what he is like for full swing though.

 

[TheDiablo]

It's difficult to say how good or bad a coach is, you have to bond with them and understand their methods. How they present information to you and how able you are to digest it and make the required changes has a huge bearing. Some may be over technical, some may be too simplistic. All depends on the individual being coached.

I firmly believe the best coaches are the ones that get the best from your current swing without major changes as we amateurs don't have the time (and probably not the inclination) to spend 100's of hours grooving in changes. A repeatable can swing can work just as well as a good swing as long as you manage your ball accordingly.

As a side note, I've had a short game lesson with Gary Smith. He teaches quite an unusual method which doesn't really work for me. No idea what he is like for full swing though.

I'd actually argue that the first paragraph should be flipped somewhat - a good coach should be able to understand how a pupil takes in information and amends their style accordingly.

I completely agree with the second paragraph though!