I hate lessons.

[Unforgiven93]

But I want to get better. I'm a good player, my dad got me here. I've gotten lessons from 5 pros that I can think of off the top of my head... Approximately 1 lesson per pro. I have never found one that I really loved taking lessons from. I want to keep getting better, and I think the only way to do that at this point is to get lessons of one form or another. The pros I've had lessons from always have conflicting opinions and I'm never sure who to believe. There was one guy that I liked... but he is an hour from my house which is annoying, but I will probably start going to him again if there are no alternatives. Are there any better options out there?

[Pretzel]

Evolvr is a good option if you can record your swing regularly to help make changes. It's an online lesson system, so drive time is less an issue than personal motivation and recording capabilities.

[Unforgiven93]

Evolvr is a good option if you can record your swing regularly to help make changes. It's an online lesson system, so drive time is less an issue than personal motivation and recording capabilities.

Do people generally like it? Seems like it could be hard to coach someone without seeing them in person... I like the price though.

[Lihu]

But I want to get better.

I'm a good player, my dad got me here. I've gotten lessons from 5 pros that I can think of off the top of my head... Approximately 1 lesson per pro. I have never found one that I really loved taking lessons from. I want to keep getting better, and I think the only way to do that at this point is to get lessons of one form or another.

The pros I've had lessons from always have conflicting opinions and I'm never sure who to believe.

There was one guy that I liked... but he is an hour from my house which is annoying, but I will probably start going to him again if there are no alternatives.

Are there any better options out there?

An hour is not too far, that's a little more than I had to drive to see Mike and Dana. . .Plus, at your level, it seems like something personal might be more beneficial?

[iacas]

If you can record good high-speed video and have good angles, evolvr will be fine. We've taught or are teaching a few European Tour players, a few LPGA Tour players…

An hour is not too far.

You have a Member Swing thread… you could also post some good high-speed video there and you'll get to hear a little bit there, too.

[BuckeyeNut]

Lessons are overrated!

Play and practice more.....dig the game out of the dirt like all PGA players did back in the day.  Back before everyone had the same swing like they do now......LOL

Now days, a player can't wipe his own nose without the help of a caddy, swing coach, and psychologist.

[SoCal Blade]

Practice the RIGHT shizzle and it effectively works.... practice wrong, and its worse.

[mvmac]

Another vote for Evolvr. It's helped out a lot of players, from people that play for a living to high handicappers.

[phillyk]

You have to know what kind of learning style you enjoy and find a teacher who can give that to you.  One end, you have the traditional teacher with no video or technology, just good old fashioned watching your swing and making changes as necessary with the help of drills and/or training aids. The other end, is all technology.  You go out to the course, video the swing, go back in and make improvements using drills/training aids.  But, I'd agree an hour is not bad at all if you like that instructor.
Edit: I was just giving the black and white ends.  Most instructors will fall in the middle somewhere.

[mvmac]

You have to know what kind of learning style you enjoy and find a teacher who can give that to you.  One end, you have the traditional teacher with no video or technology, just good old fashioned watching your swing and making changes as necessary with the help of drills and/or training aids. The other end, is all technology.  You go out to the course, video the swing, go back in and make improvements using drills/training aids.  But, I'd agree an hour is not bad at all if you like that instructor.

Edit: I was just giving the black and white ends.  Most instructors will fall in the middle somewhere.

Video is just a tool to help the instructor get a better idea of what's going on. Also useful for the student to see it, before and as they're making changes. They may feel like they're doing one thing but the video will show whether they're actually doing it.

Taking lessons from an instructor who doesn't use video (many use more technology than that) is kinda like going to a doctor that doesn't do blood work, use x-rays or MRI, etc.

[DrvFrShow]

It took me 5 pros to find one I liked. How did I find the man? I started asking some young people who play on teams. "Go see this guy, he's the best!" Tell me about him, how does he teach? "He'll take a video of you to start. Then works with you on all of the fundamentals. Takes videos of you during your lessons to show you what's going on. He keeps progress videos so you can see how you're improving. And if you do what he tells you, you will hit the ball better."

True. Tony used video. I went from hitting a 7 iron 137 yds to 160. I went from giving up on my driver to hitting it 240 in play. I shot my first round in the 80s. Then I had the shoulder injuries. I still remember what he told me, and when I do it all is well, but I'm favoring the shoulder and have these bad rounds right now. I think it's time for a "tune up".

Finding a good teaching pro is hard. I was wishing Mike or Erik were nearby. I get distracted when I take my own video. I need someone else in charge of that stuff because no matter how automatic things are, part of my attention is on the camera. Just like when I'm recording music, unless someone else is running the workstation, part of my attention is on the recording levels. But now that Tony is nearby, I have a pro I can trust. He's not a clock watcher either unless there's someone after you.

Feel isn't real when you're learning. But you need to learn what is correct, and learn what correct looks like and by repetition what correct feels like. Then you'll know what incorrect feels like.

[Abu3baid]

I agree with a lot of the sentiments expressed. I myself had an experience with a coach that didn't use video for example and I'll never go back.. I used evolver for a while and it helped me clean up many things that I fail to count them. Finally I went and saw a coach about 30 minutes away on my summer vacation 5 times in one month and my swing is starting to finally change.. Going back to the coach every summer is already part of the plan, and most likly will sign up with evolver again until then.. My suggestion is to find someone you feel comfortable with, uses technology, and cares about you improving! It's like someone in college struggling in a class.. Not many people like to go to tutors, but would they do anyway because it is a mug better option than failing or barely passing!

[nevets88]

A corollary to "Golf is hard!" should be "And so is finding a good instructor."

[Kenny Lee]

Lessons are overrated!

Play and practice more.....dig the game out of the dirt like all PGA players did back in the day.  Back before everyone had the same swing like they do now......LOL

Now days, a player can't wipe his own nose without the help of a caddy, swing coach, and psychologist.

I love this post. A lot of truth in it.

Of course, I take lessons, and I still suck. But I figure I'd REALLY SUCK if I went it alone.

[iacas]

I love this post. A lot of truth in it.

What's the truth? I didn't see much.

Admittedly I think most instructors are pretty bad at what they do, so if you're talking about them, I might agree that lessons are over-rated. But lessons with a competent instructor, or a great one? Nah. Saves so much time and frustration and energy, they're massively under-rated.

[imsys0042]

I couldn't break 100 at my home course when I joined. I put off lessons for too long. 4-5 lessons in the past three years have put me at the point where I am low 89s in a good day and severely limited bad rounds. Cut my handicap in half. Should have done it when I first joined. I don't like asking other people for help in general, but the lessons here made a believer out of me

[danL]

Lessons are overrated! :-P Play and practice more.....dig the game out of the dirt like all PGA players did back in the day.  Back before everyone had the same swing like they do now......LOL Now days, a player can't wipe his own nose without the help of a caddy, swing coach, and psychologist.

Agreed. There are traditionally good swings that will work for a majority of people and be taught by coaches/instructors, but back in the day swings were almost like finger prints. Just look at Lee Trevino. I think people are just plain good or bad at certain things. They can get better of course but natural talent is the biggest determining factor in my opinion. I've had several lessons and I'm still terrible. Never had a guitar lesson a day in my life and got an honorary Jazz degree from my college. Just have fun, that's the only measure of having a good life. :)

[iacas]

A few things regarding the "weird" or "unique" swings we used to see. In no particular order…

• You're compressing a lot of history into "back in the day" type time frames. Who really had super-unique swings? Palmer, Trevino, and… who else? Not Hogan. Not Nicklaus. Not Snead. Not even Sarazen, Watson, Johnny Miller (Miller Barber, on the other hand, I'll give you). I think it's possible when we look back in 30 years we'll point to Jim Furyk, Tommy Gainey, and Josh Broadaway now.
• There were also a lot of ugly swings out there back in the day that failed. We don't hear about those… just the ones who happened to have some success with the weird swings.
• You didn't have to be as good then as you do now. What "kinda worked" back then might not work well enough now. There was thus more tolerance for "okay" swings.
• We know a lot more know about how to best use our bodies to strike a golf ball. There used to be some weird runners back then, too, or pole vaulters, or high jumpers, etc. The more we learn, given that we're all essentially built the same way (two arms attached at the shoulders, two legs attached at the bottom of the torso, etc.) the more we'd expect to see things becoming more similar. There's only so much wiggle room to build an efficient golf swing.
• Their swings may look weird, but they still had all 5 Simple Keys®. Additionally, they really aren't all that weird when you get down to it. Palmer looked awfully normal until the follow-through. Trevino just aimed well left (which effectively moves the ball back in your stance, which helps to explain why he hit the ball low), and Lee's pre-shot routine was quirky too.

I could probably come up with more, but… I don't know what point it would make.