Are golf lessons a scam?

[daddymack]

Like I said, I have about 2 years of experience playing. I usually play just 9 holes and score in the hi to mid 60's. My playing partners all score in the lo- to mid 40's on average. They don't play any more then I do. They have about 4 years of experience on me. It just seems like i'm not improving. I just want to look like I know what i'm doing out there.

[token_hottie]

how often do you practice at the range and chipping and putting?

th

[WMitch6]

I've taken golf lessons off and on for 15 years. Usually, I just want to fix a specific problem and occasionally I have run into young assistant pros that want to start over from ground zero - probably because my swing ain't exactly poetry in motion. The problem is, I'm old, have arthritis, tendonitis and probably a couple of other itis' I'm not even aware of. On top of that I'm about as flexible as a nine iron. Since I'm not especially unhappy with my golf swing, I get a little touchy when some young flat belly insists on changing it.
Now I take lessons from an old fart at a local range. Been a teaching pro for 900 years I think. I tell him what problem I'm having and he helps me out without having me start over.

As for hitting off mats, a lesson shouldn't be about how well you hit the ball during the lesson. It should be about learning a swing basic or a swing change that you can work on on your own.

[Eracer]

I've taken a number of lessons, from a number of teachers, and while I didn't feel that any one of them produced measurable results, I still think about the "one thought" that I carried away from each lesson.

On the other hand, a 3-day school I went to a couple of years ago preached no mechanics at all. None. Not grip, nor stance, nor swing plane. Nada. Three days of drills designed to help each individual understand that you will find your own swing if you focus on tempo and visualization.

I walked away from the school thinking "this was a rip-off". One of the students even got into a yelling match with the instructor.

"I paid you $1300, and you haven't taught me a damn thing. All you do is tell me aim at a target and say "tick-tock" when I swing!"

But - my handicap index went from 22 to 15 in the weeks immediately after the school. And I shot an 80, with a really good chance at 79, on the TPC Valley Course. Not Sawgrass, but no pushover either. This from a guy who had only shot in the high 80's a couple of times (although I did shoot 83 once - many years ago)

So the school really helped my game a lot, even though I really didn't think I got anything out of it at all.

I do think it's important to find a teacher that you have confidence in. But don't discount any of the instruction you get until you've given it a chance to work for you.

[sidvicious]

i'm new to golf, 2d year. however, i understand sports, physiology, very well and consider myself a good teacher. i'm in to athletics, i.e., marathons, multisports such as triathlon, duathlon, xtreme events, and other stuff.

i'm a better teacher than player, but here's what i do to get in to my game. better stated, here's how i make sure i can bring my game to the course.

start slowly, and i mean with half and 3/4 swings. use an iron or fairwood off the tee. use half and 3/4 swings afterwards. these may fade a bit, so play it. use longer clubs to make up for the relaxed swing. bump and run when possible.

after a few holes you should notice reduced errors. you may not have game saving shots, but you should be "in the hole". you should have far fewer duffed shots. if you're playing bunkers, lay up safely, then chip over from a close distance. don't try to carry them from far out. try to punch up on the green from about 40 yards.

the 40 yard shot is the most screwed up shot in golf. however, when you hit it every hole you get damned good at it. remember, it is a punch, probably with your PW, SW or whatever.

the idea behind this game is a bit different. play to the 40 yard mark [40 yards from the front edge of the green].

on par 5's you will soon learn that you can get to the 40 yard mark in 3, and in 2 on par 4's.

also, try this. hit a 5 iron from the tee, then a 7 or shorter to the 40 yard mark. still do the half or 3/4 swing, so remember to go taller, but use a 5 on the tee.

the point of this is broadly two fold. one, it gets your swing on the right track under playing circumstances. two, it forces course management which is most overlooked. i've noticed that most folks blow the shot where they try to carry the green. don't do it. get close, then punch up. bump and run it if you can. by hitting 1/2's and 3/4's that 40 yard punch will be a snap. DO NOT try to land it on the green from 150. if there are no bunkers, bump and run from 150. if there are green bunkers, and you're 150 out, pop it up and forward with a 7 or 8, safely in front so you can punch it over on the next shot.

try and shoot for pars, not birdies or better. forget the eagles.

i promise. you'll see some improvement if you try this. if you don't, drink whiskey and try again.

[papperlapub]

I agree with sidvicious training method and i like it alot.

But one thing that should be forgotten, is that (as he says) half or third shots are the most difficult shots in golf. To do these properly you have though to know how a proper swing should look and much more important feel like.

Golf lessons are good, but some teacher may be good for one golfer, but not for another. The teaching style various a lot.

I have had some lessons and guess that they have improved my game, but i have played golf since I am 10 and hockey since i am 3. The biggest advantage i have though compared ot friends of mine, is that i enjoy myself on the training area just as much as on the course.

There are many different training techniques for every possible shot, but a fundamental knowledge of the basic shot is important.

If anyone wants to know some training techniques ask away. Maybe somebody answers

[charnockpro]

My teaching philosophy is to take each person as they come, there is always gonna be something different about each person, i.e physical capabilities etc. it also depends how much they are prepared to put back in practice time, whether they want just a quick fix or a certain program to work on.

One thing i would suggest is that you go into the lesson with an open mind and try not to pre diagnose what your faults are.

[Bravo]

I am a decent player with current index of 7.1. I am a big, big believer in lessons, especially for beginners, those returning to the game after a long hiatus or high handicappers.

As we all know, it is a complex game. There are so many factors that affect the flight of the ball. And there are many swing theories that are taught in a variety of methods.

I would agree that there are indeed extremely few legitimate teachers who are "scamming" their customers. The universal experience for those taking lessons is that almost invariably, you get worse after taking a lesson for a period of time. Its like you have to walk through the desert floor for a period until you get to the oasis.

This happens to the pros and as it was mentioned here - it happend to the great one himself - Tiger Woods. Once he left Harmon and went to Haney, he definitely got worse...but he was experienced enough to know that he had to stick with it for months, if not over a year before he got the new method down...

Commit, Commit to becoming a better player. Take not one but a series of lessons over a period of months and commit to hitting a lot of balls on the range mid-week and playing at least once a week as well. Over time, you will get better.

The lessons I took three years ago led me to the best ball striking I have ever had in 41 years of playing golf. I am hitting the ball now more consistently and longer than ever. I recognize that equipment has something to do with it, but I am a better player from a fundamentals standpoint than ever.

Stick with it.

[sidvicious]

the main reason people has transition problems from lesson to course is the following; in lessons, the shots are repetetive. on the course, the shots are transitory, and differ from shot to shot.

this is one of the reasons i use the 1/2 and 3/4 swing method to get things under control. it helps stabilize the shots, and makes the tee similar to the second shot, and so forth. it gradually "zens" the swing.

another thing is this. most players swing too hard. this method fights that as well. if you're disceplined enough, soon you'll be able to complete a full swing but with 1/2 or 3/4 strength, which is most difficult to learn.

most people have trouble squaring the club unless they take a full swing. however, though the club might be square, their ball striking accuracy is diminished.

use the 1/2 - 3/4 method. i promise that your score will be no worse.

what usually happens is that by using this method, the swing will be rythmic and the timing will be in check about half way through a nine, and you'll make a full swing that works out beautifully. if that happens, fine, and it reaffirms the goals of the approach. however, bring the motion and energy back down to stay in control.

if you do this for a month or so, your game will be sharp. you'll lay the ball where you want to.

on a personal note, using this method has "coached" me into bringing a salty game to the course for our weekend skins matches.

a secret: the pros do this. they have shots where they must "go" for it. but when they can, they hit a nice relaxed shot. their swing path may be almost full, but the strength is not. one learns this by using this method.

heres why this works.

ball striking is the key to the beginning of a shot. centering the ball on the square club is the beginning.

you may be square, but inside out, or lacking follow through, but if not square then you're dead.

this method will get you to strike the ball nicely. if you practice it enough on the course, you'll gradually work the ball right-left and left-right just as you would with full swings.

also remember this, hitting 1/2's or 3/4's sometimes has the unintended effect of reducing follow through. concentrate on following through to a proper finish. go all the way up and pose for one second. even on the 40 yard punch.

the salty pros simply do not come to the course and swing like apes [there are a few exceptions, john daly]. they play softly when they can.

a note on the 40 yard shot. if you're carrying bunkers, etc., then you must take the green in the air. timing is critical, and this shot involves minimal wrist release. you lock up much like a green chip, and incorporate little wrist. the swing path is largely straight, barely curved. the take away is to nine o'clock or less. the wrist releases at impact.

if no bunkers are in the way and the surface allows is, bump it. try and bounce/roll it up. if the turf is too soft or lush with grass then you might have to take the air.

the 40 yard punch is hit with a descending blow. it should check fairly well. give it some rolling room, however.

personally, i don't think that when a players swing becomes lost, that the proper thing to do is to run to the pro and ask for a diagnosis. the pro isn't with you on the course. generally the problems are usually timing related and resulting in poor ball striking, or, a non square club face cause by several factors facilitated by poor control in a full swing.

dial it back to the 1/2 and 3/4 method. your proper form will follow.

i'm not a golf pro, but this stuff works. three guys at our club are scratch golfers. two have large egos. all three get me to go with them when their game declines and we do this very same recovery method. it works every time. they get me to play with them to force them to stay on track.

as for me, my game is coming along. on out-of-bounds shots, i keep the driver in the bag unless the field is open to the right. gives me room for error.

the lessons are for the optimal swing. reality however, is different. on the course you don't walk up with the optimal swing. using this method provides consistancy, controlled ball striking, and increased course management.

good luck.