What is wrong with lessons from a golf pro?

[JustOne]

Apparently the right thing to do is get lessons from your pro at the local course...

If that is the case why are there so many hackers at my course, so many awful swings, and so few low h/cappers?

Is it because no one takes lessons? the lessons don't work? the lessons are too expensive?

I must be missing something.....

 

[BrianDamage]

Erm..... you can't polish a turd

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Why so cynical. Sadly we can't all play to your elevated status. If you have a problem with your boiler do you say "why call an engineer I must be clever enough to sort this myself?" It's the same with golf. Those that aren't as good as you may decide from time to time to get a lesson and try and raise their game at least for a short while above the normal mediocrity and some like me may even have a specific goal like single figures.

A lot of the time with lessons, the pupil has the information to make the changes and then doesn't spend nearly enough time working the changes into the swing but hurries out onto the course thinking the quick fix will see him through. When it inevitably goes Pete Tong they resort to what has served them before and so the cycle continues.

Maybe you might want to try and encourage some of the golfers at your club rather than stand in judgement at their inadequacies

 

[JustOne]

Oooyyyyyeeee... hold your horses...

It was merely an observation.


.... so you are blaming the pupil?

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Apparently the right thing to do is get lessons from your pro at the local course...

If that is the case why are there so many hackers at my course, so many awful swings, and so few low h/cappers?

I stand by my point. You're lucky enough to be a more than competent golfer who doesn't have to work too hard on their game to keep things ticking over if not always performing as well as you'd like. I've never been that lucky and have had to grind to get my swing anything like consistant and still have to work hard to stop old and bad habits resurfacing. Its the same for the majority of club golfers who either don't have the time or the inclination to practice. Yes they might get a lesson (present or sheer desperation) but without the effort to work on it the status quo of hacking as you describe it will return.

 

[JustOne]

I think you're missing the point of the post...


Why don't MORE people get lessons?

I don't mind that you (or anyone else) have them, I'm not complaining or criticising that one iota.

 

[Swinger]

Depends which pro.

Some pros can't help themselves let alone someone else, others struggle to connect with their students.
I've had a few lessons over the years and took very little from most, however I did put those little bits together with the rest of my knowledge and hey presto 2 + 2 = 8. I never liked maths though so I'm happy with that.
Maybe others do similar but get 5, 6 or 7?!!

Alot of students never put the time in to really commit to a change which adds to the problem also.

 

[Golfmmad]

Maybe you might want to try and encourage some of the golfers at your club rather than stand in judgement at their inadequacies

I have to say that's a tad harsh Homer.

I speak from personal experience and can only say that JustOneUK is the most helpful and encouraging golfer that I have had the pleasure to share a round of golf with.

You may also find that I will not be the only one to say this.

Golfmmad.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

It might sound a tad harsh and if so I'm sorry and I've heard the same thing about the guy from other sources. I do feel that the OP sounded somewhat judgemental in that you have a bad swing, won't/can't/haven't done anything about it and how do expect to get it round in a decent score.

Its not always about that for club golfers.

Why don't MORE people get lessons? It probably comes down to finances, other commitments, family life, lack of desire, or even the knowledge of which pros are good and which aren't. As I said a lot of golfers waste their money with lessons by not working on the changes or reverting back at the first sign of trouble. You can have as many lessons as you want but if you don't work the changes in and stick with it then you'll never improve

 

[RGDave]

Apparently the right thing to do is get lessons from your pro at the local course...

Is it? You wouldn't find me following this plan.

I do know (or at least I think I do) why lessons don't work for most people. I could elaborate but the salient issues are complicated and best explained in my 3rd year dissertation. (ooh, get you Dave)
Even I break most of the rules in the book for "how to get better from taking lessons"...so it would be hypocritical for me to lecture on here...

I might have a think about it and post tomorrow.

 

[JustOne]

I speak from personal experience and can only say that JustOneUK is the most helpful and encouraging golfer that I have had the pleasure to share a round of golf with.

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Worth quoting! Thanks for that Chris!


RGDave, I'd like to hear those "salient issues"....

I was wondering whether it's because (as Homer states) we ARE a cynical bunch!

You are having a round of golf with someone who has had a lesson, at some stage they duff one into the trees... was it the lesson that made that happen? is it that the advice was poor? OR was it that the person didn't expedite their intended shot properly?

They then go on to tell you what the pro has got them working on... or how they've booked a series of lessons that'll set them back £200 as they duff another into the trees and you KNOW you've never seen this guy on the practice ground so you wonder what's the point?!

Is it the pro that puts you off, the players, the cost, the lack of time, maybe you're simply not interested or not willing. I have my own reasons but I'm at a loss to figure out why so many others don't seem to bother...

 

[brendy]

Ever notice that you only ever get advice from guys who happen to have hit one good shot prior to the event (the 6 shots sticthing the fairway left and right before that are forgotten about!)
Lessons are a must.
Noone is a natural driver, swimmer, golfer, footballer, gymnast etc Everyone needs coaching to some degree for technique primarily, the mental approach comes a close second though.
I had a few lessons years ago and I noticed that other guys that had a lesson went home as soon as the session was over, I stood and got the hang of what I was taught, maybe why the handicap dropped well down into single figures so fast. I really need to get back into the practice thing again as it really does help me. Some folks can stride onto the 1st tee just awake and not even stretching. I find if I do that, I take a couple of bad holes to get started.

 

[CrapHacker]

Maybe you might want to try and encourage some of the golfers at your club rather than stand in judgement at their inadequacies

I have to say that's a tad harsh Homer.

I speak from personal experience and can only say that JustOneUK is the most helpful and encouraging golfer that I have had the pleasure to share a round of golf with.

You may also find that I will not be the only one to say this.

Golfmmad.

I think he's a knob .








Now WH is but a memory......( but what a memory, nearly as good as that week in the summer of '89 .... but I digress ), I may even be tempted to give the old S&M a go.

Or if I can't get hold of her, maybe I'll try S&T instead.

 

[JustOne]

Cheers Craphacker...... I'm spitting in the next coffee I make for you LOL

 

[pokerjoke]

Justoneuk i think its a good question,and i feel in the end its comes down to money and justifying paying out the money for such small gains.Its ok for a pro to show you what to do but its having the capacity to take it all in and then take it to the course and be consistent.Automaticaly the brain will say what a waste of money that was,hence no more lessons.

 

[Parmo]

Noone is a natural driver, swimmer, golfer, footballer, gymnast etc Everyone needs coaching to some degree for technique primarily, the mental approach comes a close second though.

Some of the best golfers in history are self taught.

My friend who was 4 hcp in his prime never had a lesson in his life, at the tender age of 70 still plays like a demon off 13.

I've not had a lesson, I like the idea I can figure out what's going wrong and why, I think by doing this I am achieving more in doing so rather than buying a game.

Moving on to the original post about "great swings", I think its more about your perception of the game. Many great golfers lost their way and stopped winning when they started looking at the mechanics of the golf swing, the same goes for putting, that there is a correct and non correct way of getting the ball in the hole. No swing is the same and it it was the game would be boring.

 

[Smiffy]

Many great golfers lost their way and stopped winning when they started looking at the mechanics of the golf swing

You had to mention Homer again didn't you????

 

[Imurg]

My recent experience of lessons is not personal to me but to my playing partner CVG.
Back when I joined the club Col would not just beat me every week but slaughter me. I'd be lucky to get 25-30 points, he'd get 36+ every time.
Then he decided a course of lessons was in order.

Now I slaughter him every time.

Why?

Because the Pro that taught him has put so many thoughts in his head he doesn't know if he's pooing or farting!!

He doesn't have huge amounts of time to practice the changes made by the Pro so he keeps picking bits from here and there and trying to make them work.
And there's my problem with lessons. Unless you are a range monkey and can spend the time hitting balls to bed in the changes and tweaks its a waste of time and money. Except when you're first starting out - that's different. But once you've been playing for a while the "no pain-no gain" adage is true. Put in the practice and changes will benefit. If you're unable to - save your money.

 

[need_my_wedge]

I was wondering whether it's because (as Homer states) we ARE a cynical bunch!

You are having a round of golf with someone who has had a lesson, at some stage they duff one into the trees... was it the lesson that made that happen? is it that the advice was poor? OR was it that the person didn't expedite their intended shot properly?

Totally the individual.

They then go on to tell you what the pro has got them working on... or how they've booked a series of lessons that'll set them back £200 as they duff another into the trees and you KNOW you've never seen this guy on the practice ground so you wonder what's the point?!

Is it the pro that puts you off, the players, the cost, the lack of time, maybe you're simply not interested or not willing. I have my own reasons but I'm at a loss to figure out why so many others don't seem to bother...

Impossible to answer for everyone else out there, but with regards to myself....

I've had about 10 lessons over the last 3 months or so, approx 1 every two weeks. I have also been on the driving range, pitching green and practice green a couple of times a week. When I'm out there practicing, or in the lesson, its all good, aply what the pro tells me and hey presto, I'm hitting as good as I ever have. I don't worry about the odd hook or slice, it's only a range ball, only 1 or 2 out of the 150 I hit in the lesson, I'm relaxed and happy. But, go out on the course and every shot counts. I start to think too hard about each one, what I'm supposed to do in the swing, where the ball has to go (tight course with a lot of foliage). My nice straight drive in the middle of the fairway can quite often result with a duffed 3 wood spinning sideways 5 yds as I think I'm trying to hit a nice relaxed second shot, when in fact my body is trying to hit the skin off it and I end up hitting out to in when it should be in to out, or some other combination of wrong.

I run a local Aikido club, I have been practicing this art for about 18 years or so, 6 or 8 hours a week for that time. I see many many people come in, want to try it (usually after they've been watching a Steven Segal film or such ), it looks easy, it actually is pretty simple, once you understand what you need to do, and your body understands how to do it, much like a golf swing. But the attrition rate is massive, largely because people can't do it after 6 or 10 lessons, some pick up much quicker than others but many don't even last more than one or two sessions (maybe that's a reflection on me or the club ) . I'm sure that golf is no different.

Do I think my golf lessons were a waste of time? Of course not. Should I not be duffing into the trees? Probably not, but I haven't done anywhere near enough golf practice yet to make the swing as much a part of my body as iriminage is, and even after 18 years that still needs a lot more practice to make it any good. Will I stop having lessons or practicing? Only if time or money prevent.

I guess what I'm waffling on about is what I said at the beginning, it's all down to the individual, their drive and will to improve, their opportunity to improve (time, money, work, family etc.) and their ability to improve. like Aikido, if they come to my class, I will help them improve, if they put the practice in, they definately will improve, but if they just want to muddle along at their own pace, that's fine too .

 

[need_my_wedge]

Because the Pro that taught him has put so many thoughts in his head he doesn't know if he's pooing or farting!!

that's a good point too. I know that well