Does Modern Golf Instruction Always Help?

[Vinsk]

39 minutes ago, TRUCKER said:

I've had 4 lessons from a mediocre at best pro 4 years ago. At that time I said if I could just get to an 18 HC I would never look back. I got down to 12.5 and I'm trending to a 13 now. Not one lesson since. I play twice a week average throughout the year. NO PRACTICE. Just played and "naturally" through my own discovery made myself in the golf world to be an above average player. (average HC is 16).

That may be just fine for someone of your aspirations. Not for me. Not in the least bit. And I don't mean this in a snarky way at all. I can do bad all by myself too.

[TRUCKER]

1 hour ago, iacas said:

So?

I got down to a 1.3 index without having ever taken a lesson.

So again, I'll ask: "so?"

I'm not saying that sarcastically. I'm asking. What point do you think you're making being a 13 index?

I don't get it. On one hand you're saying get lessons because the golf swing requires a series of technical do and don't instructions. Now by your own admission, you got down to scratch without any lessons. You're the guy I'm talking about aren't I?

[iacas]

1 minute ago, TRUCKER said:

I don't get it. On one hand you're saying get lessons because the golf swing requires a series of technical do and don't instructions. Now by your own admission, you got down to scratch without any lessons. You're the guy I'm talking about aren't I?

I got down to a 1.3. That's not scratch. I'm a +1 now, and there's a lot of room between a 1.3 and a +1.

I played a ton when I was a 1.3. I don't play much now, and I'm a +1.

Small sample size (of one), either way, but it still points toward getting lessons.

[TRUCKER]

1 minute ago, iacas said:

I got down to a 1.3. That's not scratch. I'm a +1 now, and there's a lot of room between a 1.3 and a +1.

I played a ton when I was a 1.3. I don't play much now, and I'm a +1.

Small sample size (of one), either way, but it still points toward getting lessons.

🤝

[saevel25]

3 minutes ago, TRUCKER said:

Now by your own admission, you got down to scratch without any lessons. You're the guy I'm talking about aren't I?

Your logic isn't nuanced at all. 

Golfing ability is a spectrum. There are people who will never break 100 their entire life with out lessons. There are those who can get down to near scratch. The vast majority of people would benefit from having a good instructor and getting lessons.