Golf lesson concern

[Brian W]

7 hours ago, gregsandiego said:

Even a PGA one? That is what I usually look for,.

Our local guy has been doing it for years. I relied mostly on word of mouth.

 

Based on your ambiguity at this point, I'd say no. Wouldn't be fair.

Ya, I didn't think it would be fair either.  I am going to get a video of me swinging exactly like he wants and maybe upload it to see what everyone thinks

[iacas]

11 hours ago, gregsandiego said:

Nothing? What does it take to get the PGA certificate?

Well, I took a test on "golf cart fleet management." Does that help? Next up: how to fold sweaters!

[gregsandiego]

4 minutes ago, iacas said:

Well, I took a test on "golf cart fleet management." Does that help? Next up: how to fold sweaters!

Sounds good to me. 

[coachjimsc]

30 minutes ago, iacas said:

Well, I took a test on "golf cart fleet management." Does that help? Next up: how to fold sweaters!

I hope they have updated the chapters on mercerized cotton and sansabelt pants.

[Jameson]

One of the toughtest challenges in life is to find a great golf teacher. Not kidding.

[Used2PlayALot]

Started playing after a 10 year break, and decided to take a lesson at a local driving range.

The instructor told me I should be lining up my wedge and 9 off my front foot.   Like where the driver is lined up.
For as long as I can remember, I remember the norm was to play it off the middle of the stance.  
He said that was outdated, and playing it off the front foot is how it's not done.
 

Frankly, I felt he was giving me some kind of short-term Band-Aid hack and thought it was god damned ridiculous.
I politely finished my lesson and never went back that that low budget dump again. 

Was I right ?

[DaveP043]

On 7/12/2016 at 10:50 AM, gregsandiego said:

Nothing? What does it take to get the PGA certificate?

Spoiler

For many PGA professionals, golf instruction is a very small part of their job.  Our pro stocks and runs his own small clothing and golf club store, manages a staff of assistant pros and others to staff the pro shop and take care of the members, manages club tournaments, solicits and organizes outside golf events, helps market memberships, helps manage the fleet of carts, gives lessons, and I'm sure I'm missing some other stuff.  Most of our pro staff has come through a Golf Management program at college, several through Penn State.  I know from talking to them that golf instruction is a minor part of their education, I'm not surprised at all when @iacas says he's learned little to nothing about instruction through the PGA.

 

[gregsandiego]

8 hours ago, DaveP043 said:

  Reveal hidden contents

For many PGA professionals, golf instruction is a very small part of their job.  Our pro stocks and runs his own small clothing and golf club store, manages a staff of assistant pros and others to staff the pro shop and take care of the members, manages club tournaments, solicits and organizes outside golf events, helps market memberships, helps manage the fleet of carts, gives lessons, and I'm sure I'm missing some other stuff.  Most of our pro staff has come through a Golf Management program at college, several through Penn State.  I know from talking to them that golf instruction is a minor part of their education, I'm not surprised at all when @iacas says he's learned little to nothing about instruction through the PGA.

 

I think the topic is questionable golf instructors. So maybe how these guys are rated is relevant?

Now if I said I can't stand Adelle's raspy voice  and boring melodies  (all true) THAT would be off topic.

 

[Brian W]

So, following up here, I was at the range and ran into the instructor.  He did, in fact, agree that there should be almost no head movement.  He said when he shows himself doing it, he will accentuate the movement to encourage the correct rotation while keeping the spine pointed from down to a hair forward which goes along with what @iacas was talking about so it all is coming together in my head.  I am glad I talked to him about it as it was a major concern for me.  I dont want to take steps back while adjusting my swing during what I consider a major swing adjustment.

I will be back with him next week and I will get him to film a version of my swing that should show some improvement for everyone to look at 

Edited July 15, 2016 by Brian W

[Buckeyebowman]

On 7/11/2016 at 1:20 PM, DaveP043 said:

I don't think anyone here can evaluate how good (or bad) the instruction you're getting is, without seeing your swing.  I've read plenty of good instruction here that asks a player to "overdo" the correction in order to ingrain a new feeling.  If your current instructor is doing the same thing for you,  even if it "feels" wrong right now, its quite possible he's doing the right thing.  As the others have said, you should discuss it with him.  Its certainly appropriate for you to want to understand not only what he wants you to do, but why.  If you find out he can't explain it, or wants to teach you the "only right way" to swing, you may want to look elsewhere.  

This is a point! I had a buddy who would drop his head toward the ball in the backswing, and then "stand up" in the downswing. He felt that diving in toward the ball was "getting behind it". Maybe your instructor is doing something to counteract an up and down motion by introducing a back and forth motion.

Then again, there are some golf instructors who like to present the proper golf swing as some sort of alchemy. Until you are initiated into the mysteries, can the "secret" be revealed to you!

It may be time for a "heart to heart".

[b101]

15 hours ago, Jameson said:

One of the toughtest challenges in life is to find a great golf teacher. Not kidding.

Easy. Use evolvr.

That said, I do miss the one-to-one side of things for the odd quick pointer.

[Brian W]

6 hours ago, b101 said:

Easy. Use evolvr.

That said, I do miss the one-to-one side of things for the odd quick pointer.

before this lesson, I actually had considered buying a mat and net and using evolvr with a tripod and my phone.  I still may do the mat and net at this point as the range can get quite expensive and when I am doing actual work on my swing, I am a big fan of hitting into a net

[DaveP043]

11 hours ago, gregsandiego said:

I think the topic is questionable golf instructors. So maybe how these guys are rated is relevant?

Now if I said I can't stand Adelle's raspy voice  and boring melodies  (all true) THAT would be off topic.

I meant to indicate that my response was off-topic, not yours, that's why I hid it.

[Jameson]

7 hours ago, b101 said:

Easy. Use evolvr.

That said, I do miss the one-to-one side of things for the odd quick pointer.

I am thinking about it... 

[b101]

5 minutes ago, Jameson said:

I am thinking about it... 

 

1 hour ago, Brian W said:

before this lesson, I actually had considered buying a mat and net and using evolvr with a tripod and my phone.  I still may do the mat and net at this point as the range can get quite expensive and when I am doing actual work on my swing, I am a big fan of hitting into a net

I was in your position two years ago and haven't once regretted signing up, even when I've had the odd month where I've not managed to upload anything. Hard not to sound like a salesman, but the best things I'd say for it are that provided you practise what you're given, you always see a lasting improvement, which I couldn't say with prior instruction, which was always a feel-based hotfix. Secondly, the thing you're given to work on is always the best thing for you at that point in time. Finally, for someone like me who likes to work on things, you get pointers as to what to look for on video, which gets you involved in the process.

As a couple of examples - my swing before evolvr lessons:

and now:

Couldn't recommend it more.

[gregsandiego]

15 hours ago, DaveP043 said:

I meant to indicate that my response was off-topic, not yours, that's why I hid it.

So that's how that works 

[Shindig]

On 7/15/2016 at 6:17 AM, Brian W said:

before this lesson, I actually had considered buying a mat and net and using evolvr with a tripod and my phone.  I still may do the mat and net at this point as the range can get quite expensive and when I am doing actual work on my swing, I am a big fan of hitting into a net

 

On 7/15/2016 at 7:19 AM, Jameson said:

I am thinking about it... 

 

If you haven't already, set up a "my swing" thread -- look at the directions, get the right video angles, and post one.  See what the better players suggest, try it, and post a follow-up.  I went through this a few times before signing up for evolvr.  I was really hesitant about online lessons (and my own ability to take video, for that matter).  Check out my swing thread (in my signature) to see my first few improvements if you'd like -- not to take as a lesson for you, just what the responses are like.  I'll post more recent video today or tomorrow if you'd like to see what it looks like now. 

[Brian W]

On 7/16/2016 at 6:21 PM, Shindig said:

 

 

If you haven't already, set up a "my swing" thread -- look at the directions, get the right video angles, and post one.  See what the better players suggest, try it, and post a follow-up.  I went through this a few times before signing up for evolvr.  I was really hesitant about online lessons (and my own ability to take video, for that matter).  Check out my swing thread (in my signature) to see my first few improvements if you'd like -- not to take as a lesson for you, just what the responses are like.  I'll post more recent video today or tomorrow if you'd like to see what it looks like now. 

somewhere in this thread I posted the link to "My Swing".  I have uploaded the ones from the new instructor and when I get my next lesson, I will make sure I have a swing that he is happy with to upload and get everyones opinions on