Coach change

[Davie81]

I've hit a recent slump and I've been having lessons from the same coach for around a year.  No matter how many lessons I've had some parts of the game haven't improved at all. I'll have one or two good rounds but it always goes back a step.

Is it worthwhile biting the bullet and changing coach to hopefully fix my major flaws and risk changing what is good about my game? Starting to feel like I'm paying money to not see a huge improvement.

Any advice is appreciated.

[Shorty]

You seem to be implying that the coach is to blame because you are not improving.

[Davie81]

Not at all. Not trying to blame anyone. It's probably me but I'm wondering if a different set of eyes and point of view might help in any way.

[Lihu]

I've hit a recent slump and I've been having lessons from the same coach for around a year.  No matter how many lessons I've had some parts of the game haven't improved at all. I'll have one or two good rounds but it always goes back a step. Is it worthwhile biting the bullet and changing coach to hopefully fix my major flaws and risk changing what is good about my game? Starting to feel like I'm paying money to not see a huge improvement. Any advice is appreciated.

It is possible that the coach is not compatible with your needs, and you are the customer. You should have a talk with your current coach to discuss the progress you have made and the amount you think you should have made. There are things that you did learn and things that are still lacking, so if you break down the things that are lacking you can discuss them with the coach and see if it is possible to fix them. Have a look at the 5SK as well, the keys might help give you some hints as to what you need to fix.

[Davie81]

Thanks for the advice there. I've already had lessons on just the areas which I'm struggling with but still no improvement.  What is 5sk?

[Shorty]

Not at all. Not trying to blame anyone. It's probably me but I'm wondering if a different set of eyes and point of view might help in any way.

it may be worth trying but only if you are sure that you are doing everything the existing coach wants you to do.

[Davie81]

I'm definitely doing everything I'm told etc but it just won't work and get my to where I want to be.

[Lihu]

I'm definitely doing everything I'm told etc but it just won't work and get my to where I want to be.

There's nothing wrong with finding another instructor, especially when there is no progress being made. I did and within 5 months am playing at a much higher level than I had hoped with my last one. Sometimes there could be a miscommunication. For instance, your current coach could be telling you to do something and you interpret it differently than he meant. Assumptions made by both parties could lead to problems with learning. You are not in school where you need to conform to the rules of the teacher strictly. You're trying to learn a sport that has enough things making it difficult as it is. Adding another level of potential confusion will just make it that much harder. If in fact there could be any communication issue, I would try to find another instructor for a second opinion. It really doesn't matter if you aren't learning well enough or if he's just a bad instructor, the fact is you are not communicating your needs and he's not able to help you.

[peiserma]

I have had two different instructors and am about to go see a third. The first instructor tried to convince me I needed fitted clubs on my third lessons (shooting 120, mind you. Fitted clubs were not what i needed, and i knew it). The second one watched me hit 5 or 7 balls, adjusted my grip, and then watched me hit balls the remaining 30 minuts without much comment. In my case, less than stellar instructors. Yours is probably a grade above mine, not trying to blame the pro. But you`re spending your free time and disposable income on a voluntary activity, so you should feel free to try another pro. You can always go back to your regular pro. I have had plenty of professors in college. All were very smart. A few had a gift of also being great teachers. But I had to work very hard in many courses because the professor was not communicating with me in a way that I found the easiest to follow. In college, you suck it up and hit the books. With your free time and disposable income, you should feel empowered to seek the maximum return for your investment.