How do you know if you have a good golf teacher?

[chilly]

I'm a beginner, so I don't pretend to "know" anything about a golf swing, but I do have some ideas of what I'd like in an instructor. I've been to one lesson and wasn't terribly impressed. I'm a 20hcp for a reason, the guy basically said my stance and grip were fine. From there, all we worked on was me not "hitting" the ball, but "swinging" the club. No fundamentals. Alright, as folks have said, maybe that was the way he thought best to teach me. But, once I left and didn't feel like I was "swinging" the club, I didn't have a clue as to how to get back in the groove.

Also, he didn't have a clear plan. He didn't outline what we were trying to accomplish in that lesson, he didn't have any drills for me to try after the lesson, he didn't lay out any clear path for future lessons. On a personality deal, he seemed a bit too occupied with showing me how well he personally hit the ball.

So, at a bare minimum not really having to do with his technical swing expertise, I'd want a guy that came in with a plan and communicated that plan. Beyond that, I'd want him to show some enthusiasm for teaching, and took some real interest in "my" game. I'm at a point probably where any hack could make my swing better, but the "intangibles" would set one apart. Finally, I personally would like a guy that uses video in his teaching. If I could feel "coming over the top", then I'd stop doing so, but seeing it lets me understand what I'm doing wrong.

[TN94z]

Finally, I personally would like a guy that uses video in his teaching. If I could feel "coming over the top", then I'd stop doing so, but seeing it lets me understand what I'm doing wrong.

You hit on something I think is VERY important. Knowing what I know now, I just couldn't go to a teacher that didn't use video. Like my teacher tells me, "Feel is not always what's real." If you can see it on tv in slow-mo, it could make the difference in learning a move in 2 weeks compared to 2 months IMO.

[steve8820]

It is really hard to say. I've done a few lesson packages from a few PGA teaching pros in my area and they are all different. When you are just starting out, the basics (grip, set-up, etc) are important and you will get the same info for virtually any PGA pro. However, when you start diving in to aspects of the swing, they will diverge somewhat. Also their diagnosis of your problems will be different as well. IMO, you have to go see an instructor who uses video analysis. It is very important to see + feel the correct positions.

[WUTiger]

Finding a good teaching pro involves a mesh among three things:
* Interpersonal compatibility.
* Common goals.
* Your buy-in to "system"

Interpersonal compatibility. You have to "get along" with each other. I had one pro I worked with in another state. He was good, mainly for making a major improvement in my short game (partial wedges, variations on chip and run). However, he just didn't like me. He was friendly around most people, but seemed to stiffen up around me. Part of it may have been the atmosphere. It was a semi-private club with a rather snooty, authoritarian membership. Or, maybe I did something to offend him.

Common goals. What do you want? Do you want a quick fix so you don't slice so much on Saturday morning twice a month? Or, do you take golf more seriously, and want to develop a sound swing over several months. There are pros for both types of players, and those in between. Also, ask friends for references, and why they liked or didn't like the pro.

Your buy-in to system. In my early days, I patterned my swing after Jack Nicklaus in Golf My Way . As I got past 40, this swing proved too physically demanding to keep; back trouble also complicated things. So, I now go with a modified Hogan swing: flatter, a 3/4 turn, don't go past the ear on take-away. This is something I can control and maintain, at least on some days. So, if a prospective pro would praise Hank Haney or Dan Trahan, I run for the hills. In about five minutes, I can tell if a pro is from the same "school" as me.