I like my last instructor personality-wise. I've known him for years and he was in fact my first instructor in 2012 (that was a bad experience but another story.) When I talked to him again about lessons in 2018, I was adamant about needing help with mechanics and specifically shifting my weight properly. I explained that I can do this while practicing but often fail once I'm on the course. I'd sent him a video of my swing which he said is better than most. (I've seen my swing and it definitely is not better than most). My only condition is that he not give up on me as I'm a slow learner who cannot make changes quickly. I asked if he could help me learn to get my weight forward and his response was a confident "of course". So I payed ahead for 4 1-hour lessons.
The first lesson involved him watching as I played 5 or 6 holes and I thought this is perfect. He says the main issue is a lack of focus and pre-shot routine. I think, this isn't what we talked about but it did make sense and he's the PGA pro. (He is also very much into the mental side of golf.... accepting bad shots, etc.) In terms of mechanics, he said keep it simple, straight back straight through without stopping (I have a tendency to "hitch" at the top).
He gave me a written lesson plan and I worked hard on developing what he asked regarding the pregame routine, accepting the results and focusing on the next shot. I was excited about how the lessons were going and would include those lesson plans during rounds of golf.
Subsequent lessons involved me hitting balls on the range with him watching but offering little in the way of advice. I finally asked him about the weight shift. He showed me what he does, offered the step-through drill - which I'd tried a million times - and that was it. I continued to struggle on the course, often finishing my swing with the weight back. Still, I tried to keep up with what had been taught... exact same pre-shot routine, picture the shot, swing back and swing through, accept the results.
We go out one more time for an on-course lesson with him playing as well. I happened to be playing well that afternoon and was keeping up with him. We get to the last hole and I chunk a 7i approach. I drop another and chunk that one.
His comment? "You're not getting your weight forward".
I think many teaching pros (not all) just hate working with students like me. It's gotta be painful, I get that. They have seen so many students over their careers and can immediately see someone's potential. No matter how passionate an individual might be towards improvement, I think to some pros teaching students like us simply becomes a way to pay the bills.
The first lesson involved him watching as I played 5 or 6 holes and I thought this is perfect. He says the main issue is a lack of focus and pre-shot routine. I think, this isn't what we talked about but it did make sense and he's the PGA pro. (He is also very much into the mental side of golf.... accepting bad shots, etc.) In terms of mechanics, he said keep it simple, straight back straight through without stopping (I have a tendency to "hitch" at the top).
He gave me a written lesson plan and I worked hard on developing what he asked regarding the pregame routine, accepting the results and focusing on the next shot. I was excited about how the lessons were going and would include those lesson plans during rounds of golf.
Subsequent lessons involved me hitting balls on the range with him watching but offering little in the way of advice. I finally asked him about the weight shift. He showed me what he does, offered the step-through drill - which I'd tried a million times - and that was it. I continued to struggle on the course, often finishing my swing with the weight back. Still, I tried to keep up with what had been taught... exact same pre-shot routine, picture the shot, swing back and swing through, accept the results.
We go out one more time for an on-course lesson with him playing as well. I happened to be playing well that afternoon and was keeping up with him. We get to the last hole and I chunk a 7i approach. I drop another and chunk that one.
His comment? "You're not getting your weight forward".
I think many teaching pros (not all) just hate working with students like me. It's gotta be painful, I get that. They have seen so many students over their careers and can immediately see someone's potential. No matter how passionate an individual might be towards improvement, I think to some pros teaching students like us simply becomes a way to pay the bills.
