This past weekend I had an interesting experience that I thought I'd share with you all. On Sunday morning, my dad woke me up and told me he wasn't feeling well enough to go to the golf lesson he had scheduled. He asked me if I would go in his place since it was too late to cancel and the lesson had already been paid for.
I said yes, not wanting to decline the offer but having serious misgivings about the content of the lesson. As it turns out, my feelings of doubt were well justified.
The pro is a nice guy who used to teach at the course I worked at as a range picker. He's very charismatic and takes a lot of pride in his work. He's been at a new course for a couple years and has created a very nice instruction center there. He has a grass range, Trackman, V1, a spacious indoor teaching area and a small army of interns to do all the stuff he doesn't want to do. Great set-up, I think any pro would be happy to work there.
The lesson started with me hitting seven irons and him quietly watching me. Using the pattern Brian gave me (although it's deteriorated a little since March), I was hitting high shots that were straight as could be except for a little wind-induced tail. No immediate cause for concern, or so I thought.
After a dozen or so near-tour quality seven-irons, he said we need to go inside and get on camera. V1 time, he said. So we go inside and I hit a couple shots while he records my swing. He tells me to stop and look at the screen. Anybody want to guess what I saw?
Two red, parallel lines.
I just felt bad at this point. The rest of the lesson was spent getting me into the same busted swing I brought to Brian down at English Turn almost three months ago. Hands straight back. Rotate the face open. Right elbow tucked and connected. Basically the exact opposite of the pattern that has me hitting the ball longer, higher, and straighter than I ever have.
After the lesson was over, we shook hands and said goodbye. I went out to play, forgot everything I'd just been told and shot 71.
The thing is, I think the pro I saw has the ability to be what Brian calls an "A-/B+" teacher. He's extremely genuine, has an easy time connecting with people and conveying ideas, and has a passion for what he does. But, he's stuck within the confines of the parallel lines methodology. It's unfortunate.
I said yes, not wanting to decline the offer but having serious misgivings about the content of the lesson. As it turns out, my feelings of doubt were well justified.
The pro is a nice guy who used to teach at the course I worked at as a range picker. He's very charismatic and takes a lot of pride in his work. He's been at a new course for a couple years and has created a very nice instruction center there. He has a grass range, Trackman, V1, a spacious indoor teaching area and a small army of interns to do all the stuff he doesn't want to do. Great set-up, I think any pro would be happy to work there.
The lesson started with me hitting seven irons and him quietly watching me. Using the pattern Brian gave me (although it's deteriorated a little since March), I was hitting high shots that were straight as could be except for a little wind-induced tail. No immediate cause for concern, or so I thought.
After a dozen or so near-tour quality seven-irons, he said we need to go inside and get on camera. V1 time, he said. So we go inside and I hit a couple shots while he records my swing. He tells me to stop and look at the screen. Anybody want to guess what I saw?
Two red, parallel lines.
I just felt bad at this point. The rest of the lesson was spent getting me into the same busted swing I brought to Brian down at English Turn almost three months ago. Hands straight back. Rotate the face open. Right elbow tucked and connected. Basically the exact opposite of the pattern that has me hitting the ball longer, higher, and straighter than I ever have.
After the lesson was over, we shook hands and said goodbye. I went out to play, forgot everything I'd just been told and shot 71.
The thing is, I think the pro I saw has the ability to be what Brian calls an "A-/B+" teacher. He's extremely genuine, has an easy time connecting with people and conveying ideas, and has a passion for what he does. But, he's stuck within the confines of the parallel lines methodology. It's unfortunate.
