Guy Wastes $3k on Golf Instruction, Never Applies Himself, Blames Instructors

[Phil McGleno]

Edit: Okay, figured out how to embed.

Ah, Jeff K Pissage. I've helped this guy, and I know others have helped this guy, and he puts this rant out there.

Classic nutjob.

Short story is this: he's seen a bunch of instructors, solicited advice from all of them, posts his swing all over the place, never "sticks" with any advice for more than about four minutes, always thinks he's ready for the "next" thing immediately, hits his 7-iron 110 yards, misses 18 greens in regulation and yet still takes 44+ putts per round...

And blames instructors.

Jeff, it takes work, and you sir have not done it. You've not done the work people ask you to do. And now you're blaming them.

Anyone who takes him up on his "double or nothing" offer is a fool. He cannot and will not be taught. He says he's worked hard at his golf swing, but he has not. He's simply complained and whined about his golf swing a lot. He's not actually done what any instructors have told him to do.

Let Jeff's sad journey (won't bother me one lick if he quits) be a cautionry tale that if you don't put in actual work on the right things your gonna continue to suck.

[bkoguy07]

"I have invested over $3,000 for hands-on and online golf instruction, plus put in 10-15 hours of practice and/or play over the past two years. The payoff? ZERO! ZILCH! NADA! I am the perfect example of why the game of golf is not growing in the US. PGA pros get rich on desparate dolts like me. It won't happen again."  From his youtube caption

LOL 10-15 hours of practice in 2 years?  I easily do that in 2 weeks..

[nevets88]

This is golf's version of Howard Beale, except the window is YouTube. If he is a scattershot and noncommittal, I understand, but there are people who are dedicated, smart and feel the same way and had the same experience. Probably much fewer than those like the person in the video, but I can see where he is coming from. If I had his experience, I'd just blame it on my own lack of coordination and move on.

Another thing to consider is some people just don't have the coordination or athletic ability to play up to a certain level. I know about Hogan's anyone can break 80 with work, but maybe golf or sports that require high coordination just isn't for some people. I know I'm going to catch flak for saying that, but at least coming to a stark realization might free someone's time to do other more enjoyable endeavors.

[bkoguy07]

Originally Posted by nevets88

This is golf's version of Howard Beale, except the window is YouTube. If he is a scattershot and noncommittal, I understand, but there are people who are dedicated, smart and feel the same way and had the same experience. Probably much fewer than those like the person in the video, but I can see where he is coming from. If I had his experience, I'd just blame it on my own lack of coordination and move on.

Another thing to consider is some people just don't have the coordination or athletic ability to play up to a certain level. I know about Hogan's anyone can break 80 with work, but maybe golf or sports that require high coordination just isn't for some people. I know I'm going to catch flak for saying that, but at least coming to a stark realization might free someone's time to do other more enjoyable endeavors.

It's true, if you saw my roommates golf swing you can tell that he probably will never break 100.  Its so rigid and unflexible.  He's a terrible athlete too.. no coordination.  But I agree some people will never be able to EXCEL at certain things.  But if they can have fun and enjoy golf for what it is and shoot a 120 and be happy and play fast then I would absolutlely encourage them to play and continue playing.

[jamo]

What an ass. 10-15 hours!?! You kidding me? Dude's delusional. The saddest part is that his swing actually has some nice components to it. :doh:

[michaeljames92]

He does have a slight point though, some instructors(and I've witnessed it firsthand) just give out flat out wrong info. I've seen people on the range hitting slices and being told that they're 'not releasing the club' etc. This is why I refuse to have any PGA instruction where I live except for this guy who I am looking at who is a TGM instructor.

[Kieran123]

LOLZ 10-15 hours over two years.

Does he think golf is that easy after some lessons?

"OK I got 30 lessons, time to break 80 without any extra practice, kthxbye"

[Stretch]

Reminds me of the type of guy who sincerely believes that the main reason his fat, broke and rarely washed ass can't get a date is that all women are bitches.

[Taggsy]

I happen to sympathise with this chap. I'm sure many other people who have taken up golf feel the same way and have the same frustrations.

Personally, I feel when teaching a complete beginner, instructors should start from the green and work backwards. So for the first few lessons sticking to the putter, learning the mechanics of that stroke, keeping your left wrist flat and what not. Then when that's mastered, moving on to chipping, then pitching, then half-swings and finally full swings.

By the time you're practicing your full swing, you should already be competent in hitting the ball before the ground, maintaining lag and all the other essentials.

If Mr Pissage has the patience and humility to start from the beginning in that fashion, only moving on to the next stage of the swing when he has mastered the preceding stage, then I think he'd easily keep his scores under 100 after a year or so of practice and dedication.

[Zeph]

Lessons doesn't change your swing, practice does.

[uttexas]

Well, he might not have the aptitude or work ethic for golf, but the guy can sing (check out his other videos on youtube)

[blackxpress]

What a maroon! Of course he's confused if he's had that many different instructors. I can see going to a couple of different pros but at some point you need to find someone you trust, stick with him and do what he says. We all struggle with this game from time to time. I know I sure do. But when I'm struggling I don't blame it on my instructor. I know exactly why my game goes in the toilet. LACK OF PRACTICE! Whenever my game begins to slip a little I go to the range and work on the fundamentals by doing the drills my instructor gave me. In fact, I know if I would spend more time at the range practicing and less time on the course I would play a whole lot better than I do.

I am an ex-professional musician. Actually, I'm still a part time professional musician. When I first started playing music I was horrible. I started taking lessons and practiced a minimum of 1 hour per day. Little by little I progressed to the point that I could actually play in public without embarrassing myself. I got good enough to be accepted into the US Navy music program. When I got to the Armed Forces School of Music I discovered that my measly 1 hour a day practice routine was for lightweights. They put me on a 30 hour mandatory, which meant that in addition to all the playing I did in class Mon through Friday I also had to practice 30 hours per week on my own. Being it was the military there was no slacking allowed. They actually had guys patrolling the halls of the practice facility making sure you were really practicing and not just sitting in the studio goofing off. I only thought I was a good sax player before I got there. After 6 months of that routine I was amazed at how much better I could play.

I tell that story because golf is a similar endeavor. It ain't easy. I'll bet if I was to spend 30 hrs a week at the range practicing all the things my instructor taught me I could break 80 no problem, just like Mr. Hogan said. In fact, if this dweeb would spend more time at the range practicing and less time making whiny videos I'll bet he could at least play bogey golf.

[Keep It Simple]

This guy doesn't know how to be a student therefore ALL golf instruction will fail.

[sean_miller]

I don't understand why this got a thread? If the guy's a blowhard, and based on his decription of the grip he certainly is, why give him the platform?

[newtogolf]

I agree he's a blowhard, but as others have said I doubt he's the only golfer to feel this way.   People make assumptions about ones qualiification based on how they represent their credentials.  No one knowingly seeks out a bad doctor, or mechanic, there is this assumption that if someone calls themself a doctor or PGA instructor they are good at what they do.  This guy probably hasn't found a good instructor, just a good sales pitch from guys telling him what he wants to hear.

If he has only practiced 10-15 hours (which I didn't hear in the video) his instructor should have been able to see that he wasn't putting in the time and told him that without practice he wasn't going to improve.  Instead his instructor sees him not progressing but taking his money, some say it's the guys fault, but I also blame the instructor.  When a customer doesn't take my suggestions and goes agaisnt my advice to his own detriment I tell them I'd prefer not to do business with them.  I don't want guys like this blaming me for their problems when they refuse to follow my directions.

[max power]

Exactly.  Forget for a moment that the guy's a clear jerk*** (thank you Homer Simpson for that term), he's clearly just not that good and never will be.  A lot of guys and gals, even with a great work ethic and some real practice will still stink at golf and other athletic endeavors.  Then this guy adds in a ridiculous attitude and piss-poor work ethic.  He should be ignored.

Originally Posted by sean_miller

I don't understand why this got a thread? If the guy's a blowhard, and based on his decription of the grip he certainly is, why give him the platform?

[The Recreational Golfer]

Originally Posted by blackxpress

I am an ex-professional musician. Actually, I'm still a part time professional musician. When I first started playing music I was horrible. I started taking lessons and practiced a minimum of 1 hour per day. Little by little I progressed to the point that I could actually play in public without embarrassing myself. I got good enough to be accepted into the US Navy music program. When I got to the Armed Forces School of Music I discovered that my measly 1 hour a day practice routine was for lightweights. They put me on a 30 hour mandatory, which meant that in addition to all the playing I did in class Mon through Friday I also had to practice 30 hours per week on my own. Being it was the military there was no slacking allowed. They actually had guys patrolling the halls of the practice facility making sure you were really practicing and not just sitting in the studio goofing off. I only thought I was a good sax player before I got there. After 6 months of that routine I was amazed at how much better I could play.

Wonderful practice story. Never read one better. Let's hear it for the woodshed.

[glock35ipsc]

Originally Posted by Zeph

Lessons doesn't change your swing, practice does.

And it's going to take sliiiiiiightly more than "10-15 hours of practice and/or play over the past two years"