A Long Boring Story with No Payoff

(Don't say I didn't warn you.)

The Backstory:

• I've been going o the same driving range for the past 2 years. It's convenient before work, and I go 3-4 times per week.
• This range has a 9-hole course, and it gets a lot of business because of it's location and novice-friendly course and range.
• I've also been going to the same pro for the past 2 years.
• My pro does not teach at the range I use, but the the range does have 5+ PGA/LPGA pros.
• The range is huge. Heated, double-decker, 80 stalls.
• Approximately 5 of the prime stalls are "lesson reserved." They are prime because they are in the middle and give an open shot at all of the range targets.
• 2 of the lesson stalls have teaching mirrors. These are the uber-prime stalls.
• Normally, the pros don't like people to use the uber-prime stalls even when they are empty because: (a) then people are in the way and must be asked to move when an instructor needs the stall; and (b) some weasels like to camp out and eavesdrop on instructors giving lessons.
• Because I am there so often, I know the 2-3 pros who teach that early. Because I wear an iPod, have my own instructor, and can grab my crap and be out of the way in 45 seconds, those pros let me use one of the uber-stalls.
• When my swing gets loose, I start coming over the top (my pro says I have an uncanny ability to square the clubface with an OTT move.) As a result, I almost always practice with an Inside Approach, even if I'm not coming OTT. For example, today I hit 202 balls, and didn't once hit the foam cushion of the Inside Approach. But I never considered not using it.

The Story:

• Today I was at my usual location (uber-stall 2) and my favorite range pro was giving a lesson right next to me. He stopped, said hello, and told me that the 7-iron I had just hit was the best swing he had ever seen from me. Accordingly, my swing promptly fell to crap. My brain is weird. Anyway . . .
• Anyway, as I am standing in a teaching stall, with an instructor giving a lesson in the very next stall, and a big A-frame sign next to my stall withthe name of an instructor on it, I notice a guy standing behind me and staring at me, which was not exactly normal. (My butt isn't that nice.)
• He stares at me until I put my club down, take out my earphones, and pause my iPod.
• He then introduces himself, hands me a business card, and procedes to give me a sales pitch on how he can see I am a very good and serious golfer, and he thinks he can help me even more.
• I catch a glimpse of the instructor in the next stall, and his jaw has dropped.
• I politely explain that I have a pro already, but thank you.
• He responds with a story about how multiple instructors can be good, because they can give you different pieces of the puzzle.
• I explain that I am happy with my pro and that I have been going to him for 2 years, but that I will keep his card in mind, thank you.
• His gives another short little speech about how he can teach me the "Inside Move", at which point the lightbulb goes on - he saw the training aid and probably thought I was desperate to fix a swing problem.

The (Convoluted) Point:

• I was stunned that someone would be so bold as to solicit new students at someone else's place of business. This particular range has some very good instructors because of the proximity tothe downtown business corridor.
• Not only that, but he made his sales pitch in full view of one of the instructors that works at the range/course . . . while I was in a teaching stall . . . with the instructor's A-Frame board right next to me. For all this guy knew, I was waiting for my lesson with the instructor standing 6 feet from him.
• I noted that this guy's card did not contain any mention of any affiliation with the PGA or any other teaching organization.
• He was nice enough, but to interrupt someone practicing, especially the way I practice (which is only to say that I don't just go and bash balls. I do the drills my pro gives me - I work on consistent distance and trajectory, I work my way through my whole bag, etc. - very methodical), is astounding to me.
• I'm not upset, or even annoyed. Just surprised. I know that we have a few instructors and PGA apprentices here, and I would be interested in hearing their opinions - regardless of whether they agree or disagree with mine.

Guy kinda sounds like a phoney, but then again has that eerie sense to him that he could actually teach you something. Like they have in the movies where creepy guys do amazing things.

I'd say to stick with your current pro harry. He seems to be doing well for you right?

on the other hand: if this guy isnt charging a crap load of money, give him a shot, maybe 1 lesson and see who he really is, couldn't hurt right?

Oh, my pro is awesome. I'm not going anywhere.

I was just dumbstruck by the size of that guy's cohones to interrupt me like that (people wear headphones at he driving range for a reason, right?), and give me a sales pitch in front of someone who easily could have been my instructor. I'm surprised they didn't kick him off the range. That range/course has a no outside instruction policy. I mean, those guys are trying to make a living after all. Oh, and if anyone recognizes that phrase "The Inside Move", please post the teaching method it is associated with. It just rings a bell with me as the cornerstone a some group's method.

I always kind of figured that it was a professional courtesy not to try and nick work while in someone elses territory. While not a rule per se there is always _someone_ that thinks things pertain to others and not them. At least you handled it courteously. I hope you let your instructor know you don't have any interest in doing business with the salesman.

202 golf balls in a session? Wow! I hit a small bucket of 30 to 40 and I'm spent. However it can take me up to 1.5 hours to hit those. I do the entire pre-shot routine, take liberal breaks to check out the scenery, rest, watch the golfers teeing off on two holes that parallel each other, etc. I guess I'm quality (or lack thereof) and not quantity based. Plus my elbows and wrists would revolt if I tried for 202 range shots a month.

That's exactly why I kept the guy's card. And the instructor at the course asked me if he could see the card. I consider the guy a friend, so I let him, of course. He was very nice about it. If it were me, I'm not so sure I would have been nice. To me, that's the equivalent of going into a store where the guys work on commission and saying, "I've got the same thing in the back of my van outside." And since I was in a teaching station (even though I wasn't taking a lesson), to me that's like plucking someone out of the checkout line after they've already decided to buy."

My shoulder and back have started to revolt recently. First time that's ever happened.

I usually only do about 130 balls (this is just practice only days - no round after), but I had a little set back with my swing and I was finding that after 130, I wasn't happy with my practice and I wanted to get in some more. Hopefully I will be able to dial it back down again soon. I also don't go through the entire pre-shot routine on days when I'm working on swing changes. Instead, I only do it in between club changes. A lot of those balls (20 or so) are also dedicated to drills that aren't full swing. I always start with a drill my pro calls "Find it, lose it, find it" which has me start at impart position, take the club back to 8 o'clock, then swing through to 3 o'clock or so. Another 30 or so balls are dedicated to just the lob wedge. Practice for the flop shot, the high lob, pitch, long chip, short chip, and even the bump and run sometimes. (I have to admit though, the flop and high lob are my favorites. There's something satisfying about throwing the ball way up in the air and hearing it thud down on the (simulated) green.

I'm not vouching for quality or lack thereof, but here:

http://ezinearticles.com/?Golf-Instr...This&id;=536910

I used to be a middle manager - I was shocked the first time someone approached me at work to come work for them. I found out it's pretty common and it happened to me a few more times. (One actually wanted me to take a demotion. I laughed my butt off with my manager.)

Yes, people have cojones. Why didn't they kick him off the range? Well, the thing is, some people don't have cojones.