What makes for a good lesson

HomerJSimpson

HomerJSimpson

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There seems a number of posts from forum members recently who have all had lessons and seem to have benefited from them. It got me thinking. What makes a good lesson. Is it the the environment (good balls, decent mat, access to video facitilites and training aids etc). Is it all down to the comeptence of the pro or a mixture of both coach and location.

Do you tend to have a particular loyalty to one teacher, or do you shop around for the best prices at the time or use one pro to specifically sort a particular problem. Do you not have lessons at all and if not why. Is it because you can self-fix, never had the time or money or just don't play seriously enough to warrant them. Are they a waste of time or do you get value for money.
 
a good lesson - all of the above plus a feeling of achievement and leaving with an understanding of what and why

move around, not so much for price but if talking to them gives me a feeling of confidence then I'm prepared to give them a go. got three I'd go back to.

biggest problem - some just can't teach despite the qualification. they have the know how but can't adjust to different students knowledge levels so either a lot goes over the head or it's too slow paced.
 
Hi homer,

I usually see my pro when I have a spesific problem at the time...eg, I mentioned a few weeks ago I was hooking my driver.

On the course this was very disheartening as the rest of my game is ok at the moment.

However I saw my pro and he pin pointed what I was doing wrong and got me hitting it straight, therefore giving me the excitment and drive to get out on the course and practice what i have learnt.

In a nutshel

Good lesson for me is pin pointing that I am doing something wrong and rectifying it.

Leaving me wanting and unable to wait to get back out on the course!!!

Maybe folllowed by a beer!!!!!
 
It is all about the results for me, not necessarily an immediate cure but if i book a series of lessons I expect to see an improvement at the end of them. So far I am into my third lesson of my latest lessons and am already feeling the benefits from using my clubs pro who is more expensive than the range I was at before but seems to be worth it for playing off grass and getting superior results- so far anyway.
 
I suppose the good balls, matts and range all contribute to a good lesson but probably the most important thing is a great pro. I havn't had a lesson for a few months but when I do have another, I will be sticking with the same one. He knows my game, Knows where I want to go and helps me get there very simply.
 
Good teacher won't bombard you with a ton of things to change straight away, maybe a couple of things and will be quite positive, also not too technical. I can't be doing with the bio-mechanics or whatever the hell it is.

A bad teacher will try to get you to swing like Woods and will show you and Tiger on split screen, then disect your swing and basically tell you that you're sh*t and will need quite a few expensive lessons.
 
for me its a pro that understands your swing ,and can show (video)and explain where your going wrong and can give you some drills to put it right.
 
A good lesson for me is when he gives me somrthing to work on and by the time I next see him it's cracked.

The only problem is everytime I go to see him he gives me something to work on!!

It's like opening a door thinking you have arrived and then finding another 300 doors
 
For me, it's helping you understand what you're doing and why and therefore giving you the ability to self correct on the course. Drills (feelings rather than thoughts) usually work for me.
 
A bad teacher will try to get you to swing like Woods and will show you and Tiger on split screen, then disect your swing and basically tell you that you're sh*t and will need quite a few expensive lessons.
Click to expand...

Good teachers will work within your limitations(healthwise etc.)Not teach too much at one lesson,thus giving you a good grounding while building confidence.
 
I second that Smudge. I would rather be playing than learning anyday.

I also don't practice enough to bed in any changes, so it would be a waste of money.

I don't believe that my swing is holding my golf back anyway. It isn't perfect, but is solid enough in it's own way.

A bigger problem is me, and the 6" between my ears. If I could turn off the little voice that says 'ooh, you haven't lost a ball, (hooked, topped, sliced, shanked, knifed, yipped - insert relevant word here) yet today' I could play off a much lower h/cap than I do. It is useful little thoughts like these that wreck my card, not having a slight over the top action, or a strong grip.
 
Hey Homer,hows things? I looked into the site the other day and was sad to find nothing from you! Hope all is well and you are getting the Mojo back.

The lesson thing got me thinking,I thought I tended to be loyal. On reflection tho I have been to 6 Pros in 14 years!

I am close pals with 2 of my ex's (room with one on holiday,having dinner with the other Sat). One is an a*** but is a good teacher,another I cant see cos he fell out with my roomy and the 5th actually sent me to my current coach?
Not really relevant I know but hey ho.

I have been with my current man for 3 years now and cannot see me changing all the time I have access to him. He has helped me no end and even tho this year has been awful it is entirely down to me and not him.
Alisdair is a GM top 20 coach who teaches close to you mate and a more down to earth solid effective pro I have yet to meet. I would send anyone to him of whatever level of competence.

Take care all,good to see the Forum is still rocking.
 
For me it's about putting things in a way that I can understand and relate to, so that I don't immediately forget and revert. I had my first lesson for 5 years this week (I have some unexpected time on my hands), and I was impressed with the new guy. I have a series booked over the next few weeks, and have high hopes - let's hope he/I deliver.
 
As a born-again golfer returning to the game after six or seven years away, I knew that the first thing I had to do at the beginning of the 'summer' was book some lessons to get me started on the correct path. The teaching pro at my local pay-and-play gave me four lessons over as many weekends, which I consolidated with practice during the weeks. During each one he gave me one, possible two thoughts to work on (e.g. turn over a flexed right knee, keep a straight left arm) none of which were rocket-science but which gave me steady and progressive building blocks. After those,I have been doing my best to build up my game through playing and practising and I aim to return for additional lessons on a regular but not necessarily frequent basis.
I have been a rabid golfer (out of the cricket seasons) twice before in my life, firstly whilst at school, and then fifteen or so years ago when I was a member at Trevose for a couple of years, before moving abroad. I can say quite seriously that those recent lessons have enabled me to hit the ball better than I have ever done before. That does not make me a better golfer (yet) because there is obviously a lot more to the game, but by gaining the confidence to play regularly I hope to bring my scores down.
Each to their own, but I'm a firm believer that a second, objective pair of eyes can only help your golf to improve and those who prefer not to expose themselves to the pro's steely gaze are missing an opportunity to enjoy their game more.

Respectfully yours
 
Further to Homer's excellent question, I would love to hear of anyone's experience of a video lesson. What particularly did you aim to get from the experience? How did you benefit from it e.g was the footage analyzed on computer, or was it purely a photographic record of the lesson?

Apologies if I am trampling over the thread - I could start a new one on the subject if preferred.
 
Video lessons are good you can see what you doing and can correct them quickly rather than the pro just telling you.My normal lesson is a chat hit a few balls then video me watch it then see whats wrong/better than last time then a few pointers,my swing has changed 100% for the better since i started them a year ago,A good pro will work with what a player has got i drop the club a lot on the way down a bit like sergio but not as good it aint text book but hey ho
 
Mawgan thats a really good post actually and dont worry i think its in the right place after all, the answer maybe what makes a good lesson.

On the subject of lessons (kind of) I had an hour on the putting green today(on my own) although not a lesson I was teaching my self to chip again.

I had 10 balls, picked 10 holes and fired a ball at each of them in random order using the 7 iron. Then I had to putt them into the hole from where ever they landed, some where tap ins, some where 3-4fts but this drill really halped me to get a feel for the difference lentghs and not just repeat the same stroke over and over till one ball dropped.

This made for a decent (self taught) lesson and I shall be doing this more often.
 
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