Lessons? Bad Sign?

[ezra76]

There is a pro who gives lessons at the range I go to. This evening I spoke to him breifly. He plays as a Pro on a local senior circuit and seems like a nice guy. He also said right out that he doesn't try to mold his students, he works on the best swing for thier ability. I liked hearing this.

The bad part is I've seen him teaching 3 different students and saw them practicing after the lesson. They were bad. One poor lady was just shanking everything and couldn't hit a shot more than 30yards in the air. Then another guy I saw yesterday was hitting terrible wormburners. Lastly the guy he had 4 booths down was hitting 2 different drivers. Now this guy was a good 6ft. 200lbs. and only about late 30's. I heard the pro say "that's a nice driver but not for you". Then he hits the other one and the student says, " that's better, a lot straighter". Now I don't know what they were working on but I was hitting a 7iron further than those drives were going. I just read this as a bad sign. Any comments? BTW- he charges $50 1/2 hr. and $80for an hour.

[demon]

Originally Posted by ezra76

There is a pro who gives lessons at the range I go to. This evening I spoke to him breifly. He plays as a Pro on a local senior circuit and seems like a nice guy. He also said right out that he doesn't try to mold his students, he works on the best swing for thier ability. I liked hearing this.

The bad part is I've seen him teaching 3 different students and saw them practicing after the lesson. They were bad. One poor lady was just shanking everything and couldn't hit a shot more than 30yards in the air. Then another guy I saw yesterday was hitting terrible wormburners. Lastly the guy he had 4 booths down was hitting 2 different drivers. Now this guy was a good 6ft. 200lbs. and only about late 30's. I heard the pro say "that's a nice driver but not for you". Then he hits the other one and the student says, " that's better, a lot straighter". Now I don't know what they were working on but I was hitting a 7iron further than those drives were going. I just read this as a bad sign. Any comments? BTW- he charges $50 1/2 hr. and $80for an hour.

If you dont feel comfortable with him dont go to him. Thats a good box of balls for that lesson.

[HighTopFade]

Originally Posted by ezra76

The bad part is I've seen him teaching 3 different students and saw them practicing after the lesson. They were bad.

They're probably just warming up. Going through the mental checklist and getting a groove going can take some time.

[bames]

I can see your concern, but I wouldn't judge him on how some people with the athleticism of a rock play golf. I just had my first lesson this fall and before I met the guy I always categorized him as standoffish and pompous. However, into the lesson it turned out we had much in common, he was telling golf stories, being very complimentary, and he turned out to be exactly what I was looking for. He chucked me extra tokens (for the range) before he left and told me to grab him at any time if I just had a quick question and if he wasn't busy he would come check out my swing. To further my point, I saw him on Tuesday with a guy on the range and the pro wasn't saying much as the guy did his best impression of a backhoe with an iron. Had I seen this guy with the pro before my lesson I most likely would have shared you anxiety and would have missed out on a good lesson. Who knows!

[JEFF4i]

If you don't like him, don't go to him.

Find a pro you are comfortable with, and someone you think will fit you well.

[Sandpiper3]

Dont judge a pro by what you see him doing with someone else. A guy did this to the pro I was working with earlier this season. I was hitting balls about 30% distance working on things. The guy came over to me (almost took his head off, ipod blared in my ears) after my lesson asking me all sorts of questions about why I had a beautiful swing and what the hell were me and him doing because i "could only hit a 5 iron 120 yards". Then just to shut this guy up, (he had a 7i in his hands) I backed off the mat and told him to hit a ball and I guaranteed him id hit farther with one less club. He made the mistake to bet me 10$ I hit about the purest 8iron about 15 yards past his 7.

Moral of my story. Never make a bet with a kid who has a ****y grin on his face (wait... thats not it.... hmmmm.....) O RIGHT! dont judge a book by its cover! thats right.

[ezra76]

Thanks guys. I will be considering a lesson or 2 with this guy. There is also a new facility near my dad's house I have to look in to. They have an extensive short game practice area, PGA greens and "bunkers from hell". Now that's the place I want to have a few short game lessons. It will probably cost about $100 a lesson there for sure though. I looked into the deal and you have to get a lesson and the Pro will basically "sign you in" to use that practice area, not anyone can go use it. So basically I guess I have to pick where I should spend the $$ first. My full swing is looking pretty good lately but I know I'll need both the short game and a full swing lesson to go sub 5.

[Glenn70]

I'm a little curious what he means by "he doesn't try to mold his students, he works on the best swing for their ability." The reason why is, I went to a pro two years ago, and instead of hitting the basics, he spent the time with such tips as "take a wider stance, just turn with your shoulders, etc", in other words, quick "fixes" to my swing, instead of correcting what was wrong.

At the beginning of this year I went to a new pro, and he started off the way I thought the other guy should have. Examining my swing plane, hand position, weight transfer, in other words...all of the things that I was doing wrong. One lesson with him was 100 times more valuable than the 4 lessons I took with the other guy.

So be careful with lessons, some guys aren't worth the price of used box of Rock Flites. Others are worth their weight in gold.

[JEFF4i]

Ohhhh, if he wants to improve the swing you've got, rather than mold it into something else, I think thats a huge plus.

If that's the case, then you'll learn more quicker with him, or someone like him, than someone trying to mold your swing into something it isn't.

[Adam Pettman]

Originally Posted by Sandpiper3

Moral of my story. Never make a bet with a kid who has a ****y grin on his face (wait... thats not it.... hmmmm.....) O RIGHT! dont judge a book by its cover! thats right.

I've won nearly £15 from adults that were trying to show off to there mates actually beat one of them with a 5 iron ( he tried to hit it so haarrrd and topped it 5 yards), felt guilty for taking money of idiots so it went to charity.

[HighTopFade]

Originally Posted by JEFF4i

Ohhhh, if he wants to improve the swing you've got, rather than mold it into something else, I think thats a huge plus.

If that's the case, then you'll learn more quicker with him, or someone like him, than someone trying to mold your swing into something it isn't.

I am so glad the pro didn't tell me to weaken my grip. That would have been fatal.

[demon]

Originally Posted by Sandpiper3

Dont judge a pro by what you see him doing with someone else. A guy did this to the pro I was working with earlier this season. I was hitting balls about 30% distance working on things. The guy came over to me (almost took his head off, ipod blared in my ears) after my lesson asking me all sorts of questions about why I had a beautiful swing and what the hell were me and him doing because i "could only hit a 5 iron 120 yards". Then just to shut this guy up, (he had a 7i in his hands) I backed off the mat and told him to hit a ball and I guaranteed him id hit farther with one less club. He made the mistake to bet me 10$ I hit about the purest 8iron about 15 yards past his 7.

Moral of my story. Never make a bet with a kid who has a ****y grin on his face (wait... thats not it.... hmmmm.....) O RIGHT! dont judge a book by its cover! thats right.

I would have loved to take you up on that bet. I need to find some ****y kids in my area, then hit a few balls on the short side and then hustle some money from them.

[Sandpiper3]

I would have loved to take you up on that bet. I need to find some ****y kids in my area, then hit a few balls on the short side and then hustle some money from them.

YOUR HORRIBLE! taking money from kids.

[mont86]

Originally Posted by Adam Pettman

felt guilty for taking money of idiots so it went to charity.

Ya the Adam Pettman charity fund.

[demon]

Originally Posted by Sandpiper3

YOUR HORRIBLE! taking money from kids.

Kids, seniors, babies, men, and women. They are fair game.