Am I the only one who doesn't believe in golf lessons?

[Stacey_E]

I'm not saying lessons are bad. I've just had bad experiences with people who were "pros". Obviously I am no where near a scratch golfer, as my handicap indicates. But without elaborating on my bias, I have to wonder if anyone else feels that lessons are often a waste of money and time.

[Harry Longshanks]

S.E.-

I think it's just a matter of finding the right pro.

I took a few lessons here and there when I first took up golf. None of them helped, and I quit the game out of frustration.

When I decided to give it another shot many years later, I asked around for recommendations, researched, and found a great pro. I actually look forward to sessions with my pro.

[gogolfing]

I agree with Harry; I took lessons from 4 or 5 different pros until I found the one that clicked for me. I just kept shopping and the guy I have found now I am very happy with. The way he explains things to me makes sense, he always goes back to fundamentals and he has a personality that makes it enjoyable to go work on things.

As for no benefit, I have gotten things out of every lessons I have had. I've never had anyone who has tried to teach with a system (like "Natural Golf"); they are the pros I believe the least in as I feel everyone has to be taught individually.

[tonyy]

I made it all the way to an 8 handicap without any kind of lesson. I've heard too many horror stories of people taking lessons and it really screws them up. I'm sure I'll take lessons when I really feel I need them. But online videos and reading has helped me more than ever. Oh and can't forget getting out on the course as much as I can too.

[wrx_junki]

I am one of those with a horror lesson with a "PGA Pro". He had me swaying to exaggerate the weight shift and it really messed up my swing. Horrible waste of $100 for 2 sessions of 30 minute lessons. Trying to find the right teacher for me is just not in my budget currently so I am tinkering with my swing mechanics, grips, and such on my own. As long as you find the right teacher for you then I doubt its a waste of money and time.

[Awsi Dooger]

I took lessons as a kid then not again for 30 years. Big mistake. My handicap slipped from sub 3 as a teenager to nearly 14 a couple of years ago, which was ridiculous. Admittedly, part of that was a broken elbow playing basketball which never fully healed and changed my swing. I can't fully extend my left arm and my swing partially collapses as a result.

But the pro definitely helped and I'm now slowly closing in on 9, nearly 5 shots improvement. He demonstrated that I was aiming too far right and coming across the ball. That was sickening to witness since I'd always favored a draw when I was a decent player. The pro shaped one of those Inside Approach-type devices and got me accustomed to hitting from the inside again. Believe it or not, the best tip he gave me was to tee up everything for a while on the course, regardless what it looked like or what my playing partners said. He wanted me to regain confidence with my hands moving through the ball properly shaping a high draw. I did it for about a month until I could replicate it off the turf.

[JaY_B]

I made it all the way to an 8 handicap without any kind of lesson. I've heard too many horror stories of people taking lessons and it really screws them up. I'm sure I'll take lessons when I really feel I need them. But online videos and reading has helped me more than ever. Oh and can't forget getting out on the course as much as I can too.

You have to take a closer look at these horror stories to be honest. A lot of golfers go to these lessons expecting a quick fix, a one off lesson that will cure all their problems. Unfortunately it doesn't work this way as there will usually be too many things to work on to fit in to one lesson.

The point of lessons is to steadily improve your golf game through persistence, hard work and regular lessons. Another thing is that you genuinely need to get on with your coach and agree with what the coach is teaching, a good coach will work around your swing and in what direction you want to swing (For example my new coach said to me in my first lesson "you look a bit left sided in your backswing, the question we have to ask is do you want to pursue this more stack and tilt method or do you want to go the more traditional route) This sort of willingness to work around the students wants and needs is vital to good coaching.

[Robiola the Monster]

Persistance. 2 months ago i was hitting shanks & was losing intrest in golf. But my coach noticed my scores rising and booked me in for a lesson (i get lessons for free because im a junior) after having about 12 lessons in the last 9-10 weeks & going to the range 3-4 times a week my ball striking has significantley improved and i now have my intrest back & my scores are dropping. Although due to having alot of time on my hands i can practice every day after school & play alot of golf my recovery/improvement was quite quick, it may take other people longer but you just have to have persistance. Jay_B is 100% correct

You have to take a closer look at these horror stories to be honest. A lot of golfers go to these lessons expecting a quick fix, a one off lesson that will cure all their problems. Unfortunately it doesn't work this way as there will usually be too many things to work on to fit in to one lesson.

[microcrayfish]

I think a lot of the horror stories come from people expecting that getting a lesson will immediately make them play better. You often have to go backwards before you go forwards and start improving and you have to work hard. Lessons won't fix your game unless you work for it.

[Scott_Tee]

There are Fundemental things a Golfer often ignores, and runs to a pro for a lesson. For example, clean grips, hold on to your clubs.. spikes.. stand still, keep your balance, practice.. go to the driving range AND..get to the course early, practice your putting and chipping try this first before you run to a pro...

[cubdog]

It's also important to find a pro who has his ego in check. We can't all be scratch golfers and it helps to work with a pro who can see your limitations. I've taken lessons from some who thought they could turn me into Tiger. That really screwed me up. The guy I'm working with now has been a great help just by stressing fundamentals.

cubdog

[Sandy Sammy]

I agree with nearly everthying that has been written in this thread.

In addition I advocate the use of a 'GASP' computer system or similar (so you can see your swing and have it compared to the pros) and I also like the 'Explanar' as a tool for many golf swing problems. However only inconjuction with lessons

Unless I can see my swing (GASP) and have a basic tool for progressing and practicing a correct swing (Explanar) I found other than learning the fundamentals of grip, posture etc, to be very difficult, I just had no reference point to what was correct and couldn't see/feel what I should be doing.

[case31]

I've heard too many horror stories of people taking lessons and it really screws them up.

A common problem with the typical golfer and lessons is this:

- Golfer goes and gets a lesson. - Pro tweaks a few things in the golfer's swing. - The golfer continues to struggle while trying to learn what he/she was taught...doesn't practice the new techniques. - Golfer gives up and reverts back to the old swing because it was "more comfortable". I agree that a good teaching pro is hard to find, but a blanket statement that lessons are a waste of time and we should all go out and buy videos is crazy. I play enough that I can diagnose what I'm doing wrong when my swing gets loose. I've had pros try to completely overhaul my swing when all I needed was some help with a small quirk, but if you can find the right teaching pro, you can get help and advice that will greatly improve your game faster than a video.

[wachesawgolfer]

To me the problem with golf instruction is there is no agreement among teachers on what to teach and how. We hear all the time that this is wrong information, old school teaching, what you been taught is wrong, your a two planer being taught a one plane motion, etc., etc.

Most golfers simply do not make a good turn back and are not in good coiled position at the top, so the downswing is a disaster. All this results from poor posture, setup, grip and lack of flexibility and core strength. The problem is instructors know they cannot easily correct these issues as the average player pays lip service to setup and will not put in the effort to practice in front of mirrors daily, stretch, strengthen and swing. So, instruction has become static position oriented and downswing path and positions, left wrist flat impact, type stuff so the average golfer can at least get the clubhead on the ball and play. But, they take lesson after lesson and never really improve.

Only went instruction focuses on the setup and core movements, in most cases without a golfclub until reasonably competent, incorporates conditioning and spends most of the golfclub instruction on the short game will players improve with a series of lessons.

[Eeryck]

I think most people don't go into lessons with the right frame of mind and don't have a plan before they go for what they hope to obtain.

I am going to be taking a series of lessons next spring so I wrote a page summary of my golf game listing what I thought I was doing well, what a typical good shot was, what a typical mis-hit was, my average statistics for a round, rounds and practice time per week and where I would like to focus first (chipping and pitching).

If the pro I chose does not like my plan or scoffs at it in any way then I simply won't hire him. If he likes it and wants to make a few tweaks then this would be ideal. If he seems indifferent to it then I probably won't hire him.

Hopefully, since I have a plan and measurable goals this will help me get the greatest benefit from my time with the pro.

I also realize that I may need to switch several times if the pro and I are not communicating well.

-E

[Doctorfro]

Finding a common sense swing coach who (IMO) uses video is key. I have had lessons in the past with very little results. But this year I found a teacher who talks my language and got me on video. Seeing your swing is HUGE. I saw things I was doing that I didn't think I was doing. I've gone from a 9 hcp to a 5.

Finding the right person is key.

[rudygu]

For me, it's just a matter of my personality. I've never taken a lesson because I just prefer to work things out for myself. If I had taken a few lessons when I first started playing I am sure that I would have gotten better a good deal faster, but I wanted to carve out my swing on my own and develop a real understanding of the swing in the process. I accepted the fact that my scores would not drop as quickly and that the process would be frustrating at times. But, I admit that I am not the average golfer. I have the time to practice, 5 acres to practice on, and the will to figure it out for myself.

I wouldn't recommend that most new golfers go about it the way I did. In fact, I would say the vast majority would be much better off if they at least got one or two lessons when they first started playing to learn proper setup fundamentals, etc. But, I also think that most people should take it upon themselves to understand their swings so that they can self-diagnose problems when they arise.

[kekoa]

I found a great pro who also instructed a lot of mini tour guys. I used to drive about 2 hrs to palm springs to see him. His name is craig chapman. I liked him because he tried best to work with my swing instead of trying to re-create the wheel. My primary flaw was posture. I don't see him anymore primarily due to cost. I just can't afford lessons. Not only that, but i only get to play once or twice a month so to me lessons are worthless.

Like everyone above says, you really just need to find the right instructor. Its also great to just have a friend watch your swing who actually has knowledge of good swing mechanics. I plan to start taping my swing specifically for this reason.