Why isn't Golf Teaching Better?

[Kevin Shields]

Of course I'm kidding. I was making light of a few of the "club pro lesson" remarks.

My opinion of the state of golf instruction? It is as bad as something could possibly be. There are obviously exceptions.Absolutely atrocious on the whole. But there's an Italian in the south that's doing his darndest to change that.

 

[jimmydean]

Soft Consult,
Sorry that I offended you, I am just not a good typist. Mea Culpa.
Jimmy

 

[TROYNYGOLFER]

One of the reasons that golf teachers are not better is that we (their customers) are not very intelligent as a group. Fortunately, I had an athletic background (baseball and hockey), and had taken up skiing at an older age (31), so I KNEW the amount of work that would be required to become a decent golfer.

To his credit, the first instructor I had (a part-timer who loves teaching beginners), was very honest with me and told me if I really wanted to play in the 70s at real golf courses, it would take a lot of time and a lot of work. I cannot count the number of golfers I encounter who expect the pro to give them two or three "tips" and voila, 10 strokes per round will disappear.

If your customer base is uneducated and will swallow any smooth bs properly delivered, they get what they pay for.

Lest anyone be offended, I am a former subscriber to Golf Digest, own a Ledbetter Swing Setter, etc., etc., so I have PhD in golf idiocy. I am counting on you guys to reeducate me. Perhaps Brian should take a page from the old Soviet Union and set up golfer reeducation camps where we can be rescued from the cult of idiocy.

 

[greenfree]

That doesn't sound right, the students are responsible via lack of intellect, for the short comings of the teachers. If the info is wrong i.e.(ball flight laws) or the teacher is not good, how is that the fault of the student?

You can con even the smartest of people, you have to trust or believe someone. There isn't a Brian Manzella on every street corner.

 

[rogerdodger]

Golf instruction is much improved than thirty years ago, when I became serious about the game. Few pros specialized in instruction then, now almost every club has a teaching pro. However few teachers have the eye, in my opinion. The ability to tell, without video, what a swing needs and does not need. What is refreshing about the Manzella matrix is the customization that is available. Every one should swing differently. Look at Kevin Stadler and Ryan Moore yesterday. An average instructor would put both on video, say Stads comes over the top and Moore is picking it up to quickly on the takeaway. Both those guys would be working at Golf Galaxy if they had taken that route.

 

[Kevin Shields]

What the average teacher would do with those two guys would spark quite the debate I would think.

 

[TROYNYGOLFER]

Green, sorry my post was not more clear. My point is that if we take these lessons, do our homework and practice, and see little, if any, results, why the hell do we continue to patronize these people?

 

[ggsjpc]

What the average teacher would do with those two guys would spark quite the debate I would think.

I've argued many times with my friends on the desire of teachers to mess with things and make it "look right". When the player can hit it long enough to compete, consistent enough to hit 12-13 or more greens a round(tour competitive) with a predictable miss it might be time to look at some other things. Now I grant you that all these stats are relative to tour conditions, but when a player can hit the ball well enough it's time to learn how to score.

There's bascially a spread of 1 green a round between best and worst. Most people wouldn't even see that difference in their game.

The teacher's job to teach the golfer how to score the lowest. This encompasses a great many things and not always swing related as many people think. I have yet to meet to tour player that didn't know they did a few things "wrong" but worked to minimize them.

If you don't make at least 5 birdies a round, you can't compete. A round with1 or 2 birdies in it can not be low relative to par. We are going to make mistakes(bogeys). Get it through your head that birdies is what the game is all about. Can you hit it good enough to make birdies? When you can, it doesn't matter if you swing like stad's or moore.

 

[vjsinger]

I've argued many times with my friends on the desire of teachers to mess with things and make it "look right". When the player can hit it long enough to compete, consistent enough to hit 12-13 or more greens a round(tour competitive) with a predictable miss it might be time to look at some other things. Now I grant you that all these stats are relative to tour conditions, but when a player can hit the ball well enough it's time to learn how to score.

There's bascially a spread of 1 green a round between best and worst. Most people wouldn't even see that difference in their game.

The teacher's job to teach the golfer how to score the lowest. This encompasses a great many things and not always swing related as many people think. I have yet to meet to tour player that didn't know they did a few things "wrong" but worked to minimize them.

If you don't make at least 5 birdies a round, you can't compete. A round with1 or 2 birdies in it can not be low relative to par. We are going to make mistakes(bogeys). Get it through your head that birdies is what the game is all about. Can you hit it good enough to make birdies? When you can, it doesn't matter if you swing like stad's or moore.

Seriously. IMO an all time best post. This rings so true for me and how I think about golf and golf instruction. This post will burn in my skull for a long time.

 

[greenfree]

Green, sorry my post was not more clear. My point is that if we take these lessons, do our homework and practice, and see little, if any, results, why the hell do we continue to patronize these people?

I agree with that 1000%. Maybe i didn't understand the meaning of your post, no biggie.

 

[birdie_man]

One of the reasons that golf teachers are not better is that we (their customers) are not very intelligent as a group. Fortunately, I had an athletic background (baseball and hockey), and had taken up skiing at an older age (31), so I KNEW the amount of work that would be required to become a decent golfer.

To his credit, the first instructor I had (a part-timer who loves teaching beginners), was very honest with me and told me if I really wanted to play in the 70s at real golf courses, it would take a lot of time and a lot of work. I cannot count the number of golfers I encounter who expect the pro to give them two or three "tips" and voila, 10 strokes per round will disappear.

If your customer base is uneducated and will swallow any smooth bs properly delivered, they get what they pay for.

Lest anyone be offended, I am a former subscriber to Golf Digest, own a Ledbetter Swing Setter, etc., etc., so I have PhD in golf idiocy. I am counting on you guys to reeducate me. Perhaps Brian should take a page from the old Soviet Union and set up golfer reeducation camps where we can be rescued from the cult of idiocy.

I wouldn't want to see a teacher blame his students entirely but I don't see why this can't be a valid point.

Lots of people doing crazy things out there.

Sure poop flows downhill (the logs roll) but I see all kinds of golfers pushing, saying, and doing dumb things.

I can't help but think there is not enough investigative, independent thinking going on.

Teachers no doubt...but sure...students are guilty at times too.