Hey "Coach", was it something I didn't say?

[SeeRed]

*WARNING - Rant Ahead*

So, to briefly set the stage, I've been seriously struggling lately. Swing feels way off, cannot hit a solid shot with any club, etc. I need and want professional help. I have had lessons here and there before, but this time I am ready to make a commitment to something more serious.

 

So, I contact a local teaching pro regarding his "player improvement" program. This sounds like more than just a lesson to me and sounds promising. I need follow ups and feedback to keep me from sliding back into old, bad habits. He contacts me, we chat, we schedule a meeting.

 

We met this morning. He did point out the few things that we're getting me started off incorrectly and setting the whole chain reaction of general badness in motion. There were questions about my game and minor fixes- nothing drastic. I've been playing for ten years and have my swing. That was the good part.

 

Here's the thing. I had to ask him about where I should go from here to keep from falling back into bad habits. I had to ask about what to focus on during practice to strengthen the lesson. He did not suggest any of these things. There was never any mention from him about the "player improvement" program, which is what I contacted him about in the first place. Near the end of the hour, he was clearly distracted by the time, whether or not his next appointment was there, his phone, etc. I hate to say it, but this has been my experience with instructors more often than not in my area.

 

What gripes me is that there was never any mention on my part about resource budgets (time, money, etc.). I was willing to go all in on a longer term training plan. I left the lesson grateful for having been shown that I did indeed fall into some old habits, but feeling like I was just another customer. Then, "Next!" Disappointing.

 

So this was really just more MGS therapy for me. Just a short rant. Maybe I should have been more emphatic about my desire for a more thorough improvement program. I think, though, that if I were an instructor and someone contacted me about not one lesson, but a series of them, I would at least bring it up at the first meeting and see if there might be some benefit TO THE CUSTOMER/PLAYER I am trying to help.

 

So my search for a longer term coach continues, but the pool is shrinking rapidly.

[markb]

Curious.   Sometimes I think teaching pros need to think more like businessmen.   He's not marketing his own product well.   You'd think that in the current economy pros would be all over the opportunity to make $50 per lesson cause folks sure ain't paying greens fees and those Jetspeed drivers sure ain't flying off the shelves.   But often they behave exactly like your pro does.   Disinterested, distracted, almost depressed.

 

My local teaching pro is the same.  He focuses on fundamentals, grip, stance, body weight at address, takeaway and I can suck the marrow out of a one hour with him and use it for 2 months until I think I've got it down.   But he's always disinterested in taking my cash.   Often he can't find time free when I call and will never call back.   I dunno, maybe he's flush or just doesn't like me.

[Kenny B]

SeeRed,

I  noticed in another post that you played a little better this last weekend, but still not where you want to be.  I know the feeling.  We all struggle from time to time.  

 

I have been down the road of lessons from a local pro a few times without a lot of success.  Unless you find a pro that has good people skills and a vested interest in your game, good luck improving much.  I have found that you cannot get rid of bad habits; you can only develop new habits, and hopefully the new habits are what you need to get better.  After a few local lessons I finally decided to treat myself and my game to a vacation.  I went to a golf school.  Sure it is a little more expensive at first, but in the long run it was the best way for me to develop new habits and improve my game.

 

The key is to find a golf school that will not try to change your swing to a completely new method, but will work with what you have and make it better.  Do some research.  There are some pretty good ones and the cost isn't all that bad if you consider it a vacation.  A friend of mine went to Mesa AZ for a week-long school, everything included including meals, room, and airfare (stayed at the course) for under $2K.  He had so much fun and he came back a much better player; in fact, he had some much fun, he went back again the following year!  I had to go to Florida for my swing and only for a 3-day school, but went back for a refresher a few years later.  I really need to go again.  

 

It really helps to take videos and have a model to compare your swing to.  Adds reinforcement to any lesson and you can always go back and review it and compare old swing to new swing.  If you go with a local instructor, always insist on videos.

 

I hope you find your swing.  

[SeeRed]

Thanks for the feedback, guys. It was very much a full effort from him for a few minutes, and then distraction sort of an experience. And I had heard good things about him from people I play with regularly. I was starting to think I had unreasonable expectations. But at $75/one-hour lesson, and with me willing to commit to a much more involved training/improvement program, I really expected more enthusiasm from him. That said, he did not try to make any huge changes and did just tweak a few details that I was getting wrong early. But I've had those tweaks before and know that I will regress without some sort of follow up to make sure I'm on the right track. I may just have to get better at analyzing my own swing. Since the tweaks are working so far (one day, and we all know how that goes), the optimist in me wants to think that he saw all he needed to see and has confidence in my ability to get back on track with just minor adjustments. How's that for positive thinking!

 

I've considered the golf school idea, also. I'm not really sure I like the idea of paying that kind of money to share training time with a bunch of others, but it could be a fun golf vacation just for the sake of having a golf vacation. KB, I'd be curious to know which school your friend attended in Mesa. Anyway, I've always been a little skeptical of the golf schools and their ability to do any real good. I'm sure it's like anything else, though, there are good and not so good options.

 

BTW markb- nice little "MoM" tag!

[Mr_Theoo]

Not sure where you are located at but if there is a golftec in your area that might be a place to look if you are wanting to make a commitment to lessons and improvement.

[revkev]

Stopped by to see my coach today just to say hi. He gave me a two ball sample of those Wilson FG Tour balls so that was good.

 

I've been very fortunate with my two teachers but I also made my own fortune with the second one by careful screening.

[Kenny B]

KB, I'd be curious to know which school your friend attended in Mesa. Anyway, I've always been a little skeptical of the golf schools and their ability to do any real good. I'm sure it's like anything else, though, there are good and not so good options.

 

I don't like to give recommendations because everyone has different opinions about this, but I think he went to the John Jacobs school at Red Mountain. I know they have several schools in the Phoenix metro area at different courses. About a year and a half ago I went to a half day short game session there and wasn't too impressed. It probably depends on the instructors. I have also heard good things about Martin Chuck at the Raven GC. I am headed there in October for a couple of weeks, so might check him out.

[revkev]

The good thing about schools is that they are an intensive way to make swing changes. I did a Jimmy Ballard one when a balky back forced me out of the reverse C. The bad thing is that they almost always impose their method, they don't get to know you and it's hard to follow up.

 

Do you need a major rework? Then the school may be it. But if it's a tweek with follow up like most of us then it might not be the best choice.

[SeeRed]

The good thing about schools is that they are an intensive way to make swing changes. I did a Jimmy Ballard one when a balky back forced me out of the reverse C. The bad thing is that they almost always impose their method, they don't get to know you and it's hard to follow up.

Do you need a major rework? Then the school may be it. But if it's a tweek with follow up like most of us then it might not be the best choice.

Yeah, this last bit is what I was thinking. It really is just a tweak and follow up to make sure I stay on track. So far, so good. Lots of practice time ahead, though. Will have to start doing my own video work of the swing.

[MattF]

 The bad thing is that they almost always impose their method

 

Unfortunately, there a quite a few Pro's that do the same thing instead of working with your swing...the trick is to find one that doesn't, but that takes $$.

[SeeRed]

I'm feeling a little bit guilty about my rant regarding this particular pro now. The tweak is working and has gotten me back to hitting solid, predictable shots. I guess the rant was really about not being able to find someone willing to commit to a longer term process, though. Maybe after the 3,000 swings I've put in to make the actual swing adjustment (not really a complete change), I'll look again. I've thought about Golftec as mentioned above by Theoo, but the nearest is 2 hours away. That may have been overkill, anyway.