When to switch instructors?

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smooth

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Hi guys (and Brian),

I've been having lessons on and off for about 5 years or so (been playing around 15 years) with a number of different instructors. About 18 months or so i settled on one instructor (a method teacher by your definition that uses TGM) and had quite a few lessons over that time. Although my knowledge of the swing, TGM and a good friendship was established i wasn't scoring any better or lowering my handicap. It in fact went out from around 19 to 24.

Just after xmas i decided that it was time for a change and went to see a local PGA pro (no knowledge of TGM) who was closer to home and easier to get to after work. This guy has had some success coaching state teams etc. After a couple of lessons my handicap stabilised, then dropped to 22. Have a had a few more since and the last one i left hitting the ball TERRIBLE and have hit it terrible ever since then. He didn't really have anything for me at the time that helped so he left me to go off to another client.

I've organised another lesson this week to hopefully break through but fear that we might be at a point where i will get stuck again.

So the question is at what point do you switch or keep going down a certain path? Brian i know you have said that with your lessons you want the person hitting good shots by the end of the lesson but this is something that my new instructor doesn't obviously subscribe to (and i understand in a way as he has other clients etc back to back)

I'm struggling a bit at the moment to decide what to do...... opinions welcome!

Thanks
 
M

MrMichael

New
I wouldn't stay with an instructor that couldn't have me hitting it better after I did what he/she told me to do. Basically that is what Tiger has done in my opinion. He fit Harmon's model perfectly and stopped improving. He fit Haney's model stopped improving.

I would watch his/her other lessons. What does their other students look like are they hitting it well are they hitting it better after the lesson? Do you want to swing in the method they are teaching?
 
Steve Khatib

Steve Khatib

Super Moderator
My opinion is to fire both instructors.

TGM knowlegde is a help but no guarantee of anything and the local pro is a political guy, cheerleader type that holds hands with students and make them better hackers not better golfers. What area are you in Mr Smooth? and lets find you a real pro that knows his stuff and can also teach.
 
B

Brian Manzella

Administrator
When to go?

The first guy made you worse.

That's easy.

The second guy is a non-teacher. Some folks, who really don't NEED a teacher, do good with these types. You are a 20 "capper," you need help.

By my rough estimate, there are less than 100 really good teachers in the whole wide world. There are probably 1000 decent ones.

A reverse lopsided lottery.

Fire your hairdresser on the second bad cut in a row. Don Villavaso famously said to fire your girlfriend on the second "no" after the first "yes."

If you don't see REAL improvement, you better see HOPE.

If you see neither, run.


Where do you live?
 
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MrMichael

New
I'm in NE Tennessee and haven't found a non-method instructor... or an instructor teaching a method I like... I'll have to make the 5 hour drive to Lousiville I guess to see Da Italian... but I have to save my pennies and talk the wife out of granite kitchen countertops...LOL ... good luck Smooth... I hope they can find you someone... if not get the videos and study..study...
 
H

HowardK

New
A GOOD INSTRUCTOR??

I DONT KNOW ALOT......MY WIFE WILL ATTEST TO THAT....BUT I HAVE A THEORY ABOUT GOLF INSTRUCTORS......IF I MAY.....

IS IT HOW GOOD THEY TEACH?? WELL OFCOURSE........BUT I DONT THINK ITS THE MAIN THING.......

LETS USE BRIAN AS AN EXAMPLE.......YES HE KNOWS THE SWING....AND OF COURSE HE CAN TEACH IT......BUT THATS ONLY A SMALL PART OF WHAT MAKES HIM A GOOD TEACHER.......

LETS SAY BRIAN CHARGES X DOLLARS AN HOUR.......HOW MUCH OF THE HOUR IS HE TEACHING??..........IN BRIANS CASE 59 MIN.....WHY????

IN 3 SWINGS HE CAN DIAGNOSE.....WHAT YOU NEED TO DO

HAVE THE PATTERN FOR YOU

AND MAKE YOU BETTER.....

I FEEL (JUST ME , MY FEELING) THAT M MOST PROS DONT TEACH....WELL WAIT, THEY THINK THEY ARE....

THEY TEACH YOU WHAT THEY EITHER DO.....OR WHAT THEY ARE WORKMING ON.....

SO TO THOSE OF US LOOKING FOR A GOOD INSTRUCTOR.......ITS HOW QUICK THEY CAN FIND THE "IT"

SO IF I pay brian.....lets say x an hour........how much value did i get........? in brians case........a lot..

im not bragging so much on brian......its just so many of us are so frustrated with teachers who dont teach

me?? im just happy not to stand to close to the ball

AFTER I HIT IT
 
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