Are You Getting The Most From Your Lesson?
Getting a golf lesson from a professional can be the most rewarding thing that you can do for your golf game. However, you need to make sure that the lesson is right for you. When you are heading to the lesson tee to meet with the pro for the first time, or maybe the 50th time, you need to understand a few things.
First is that you are the customer, and the customer should always come first. I have known golf professionals to answer their cell phones, check email, and leave the lesson temporarily to attend to another issue. Nothing upsets me more, and should upset the student more than a disrespect of their time. The student is paying the professionals knowledge, and time. The time you pay for should be dedicated 100% to the student and the lesson. If it’s not, go find a new instructor.
Secondly, when you are working with golf professional, THEY need to adapt to your learning style. In my experience in giving lessons, this is what will separate a great instructor from the rest. For the most part golf instructors will teach a similar grip, similar stance, similar way to aim…the basics. What will differentiate them from one another is the way that they communicate this message to you. Some use training aids, others video equipment and launch monitors, some demonstrate. What they need to do is keep trying different methods of communicating their message until they have found the way that you will best learn. And this is probably going to be a different way than the person coming in for the lesson right after yours. If the golf professional is just trying to teach you in the same method, and your not getting it…go find a new instructor.
Finally, get what you are paying for! Ensure that you are getting the most value from your lessons. There are two key factors to this happening. The first factor relies on the golf instructor. Are they providing you with information about your golf swing that you never knew? You are being properly directed to improve, prescribed drills to work on, and monitored for improvement. If the pro isn’t noticing improvement they should be looking at new methods to communicate their message to you. The second factor you control. You need to put in the effort improve. Just because you spend an hour a week on the range with a pro doesn’t guarantee that you are going to improve. You need to put the time in practicing on your own, applying the new knowledge and skills that are being taught to you.
If you are doing this, along with the guidance from a golf professional, you are certain to improve!