Are Golf Lessons Worth It?
Golf lessons can help you improve your game in a dramatic way. But are golf lessons actually worth it?
Improving your golf game can seem like a daunting task when you’re not sure where to begin. If you’re a beginner golfer, simply learning the fundamentals is an important step toward enjoying the game. The best way to accomplish either of these goals is to get golf lessons from a certified teaching professional.
Costs associated with golf lessons can be steep, leaving players with the question: are golf lessons worth it? This article will examine a few options for golfers of any skill level, as well as what you can expect in terms of improvement.
Golf lessons are everywhere
In today’s social media society, chances are you can find golf lessons in every corner of the internet. Teaching pros – and others who want you to believe they’re pros – on YouTube are aplenty and only a few mouse clicks away. Social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and TikTok feature additional videos of swing fixes or short game tips.
While many of these videos can be helpful for your game, there’s no real replacement for one-on-one golf lessons with a certified professional. Depending on the skill level of the “pro” on social media, you run the risk of hurting your golf swing more than helping. This is due to the general advice nature of the tips these videos provide, as the creator is hoping to reach as many golfers as possible in one video or social media post.
Improving your game is best achieved from a personalized golf lesson with a certified teaching professional who knows what they’re talking about.
Benefits of a Golf Lesson
Working directly with a certified teaching professional has many benefits. First and foremost, they will take a detailed look at your golf swing at the first lesson. This will allow them to diagnose any swing flaws or improper tendencies in your current golf swing. Doing so will prompt them to offer advice on how to fix your specific swing flaws as opposed to offering general advice that might apply to every golfer.
A certified teaching professional has been trained for years on not only how to diagnose a swing flaw, but to recommend drills and tips to address any specific flaw. They will also be able to provide evidence from other players who move their body in such a way to prevent the swing flaw from occurring, and relate it to your specific swing characteristics.
While there are certainly fundamentals every golfer should know – such as how to grip the club or address the golf ball – the number of intricacies in a golf swing are immense and tailored to the player. No two players swing a golf club the same way due to physical differences in body type or flexibility, to name a few. It’s always best to inform your golf professional of any flexibility limitations prior to a lesson.
A certified teaching professional will not only identify these differences in swing capability, but also recommend the best possible swing type for the golfer. It’s almost impossible to diagnose and recommend fixes to a swing flaw without first seeing a golfer’s swing, and this is best done in-person.
It should be noted that some online golf schools offer video lessons, which seek to offer a lesson experience like what you’d expect in-person. These could be a success “Plan B” if in-person lessons are not possible or available in your area.
Golf lessons can be pricey
It is true that golf lessons can be expensive, but this isn’t always the case across the board. It all depends on where you go and the length of the lesson.
Most golf teaching professionals charge by the hour and are affiliated with a golf course or country club. These pros are either paid by the course as salaried employee, work as independent contractors who charge students directly, or a combination of both. These professionals usually set their standard lesson rate – which can be as high as $100 per hour or more – and receive gratuity in some instances. It’s always best to call ahead to ask about the pro’s pricing structure before your lesson.
Other golf professionals work out of a large golf retailer and offer lessons indoors and on a golf simulator. These lessons are most often available in a package or membership of some sort, offering multiple lessons for a lump fee. This option can be as effective as seeing a golf professional at a course, however may only offer a limited number of time slots to the student for a lesson. A benefit of this golf lesson type is that discounted packages are sometimes available, especially around the holidays or early golf season months.
Do golf lessons really help?
There’s no question that a golfer will learn something to help their game from taking a golf lesson. The magnitude of improvement, however, usually depends on the golfer’s current skill level, number of lessons purchased, and practice time following a lesson.
Every golf lesson will give a player “homework” to practice following the lesson. This is independent time a player must spend at a driving range, practice green or on the golf course working on the tips from a previous lesson. Since golf lessons are usually one hour long (or less), a limited amount of information is provided to the golfer. They must continue to practice after the lesson to reap the benefits of what they’ve learned.
With time and practice, and perhaps a few follow-up lessons, a golfer can expect to improve their golf handicap. The rate of improvement will differ from one player to the next, but beginner golfers have the most chance to improve as their learning curve is steepest. Better players can also improve, but perhaps only by a few strokes in a round while the newer, less-skilled player can see changes that are much more dramatic.
Regardless of your skill level, it’s best to maintain realistic expectations on how much you’ll improve following a lesson. You might not become a golf pro overnight, but you’ll definitely learn ways to score better and enjoy the game more.
My Golf Game is in Shambles
Adam’s golf game has seen better days. Follow along his progress — or lack thereof — in a new ongoing journal.
They say the first step toward making an improvement is to admit you have a problem. As it comes to my golf game so far in 2021, rest assured that we have a freakin’ problem, folks.
Working from home for the better part of 14 months paved the way for me to play more golf over that period than I had in years. Late afternoon tee times were abundant last summer, sneaking out to Cog Hill for a quick round or range session the norm. A brief “membership” at the nearby Ruffled Feathers served as a catalyst to even more swings well into the autumn, leaving my golf clubs tired yet satiated.
A very cold and snowy winter soon followed as COVID-19 spiked throughout the United States, prompting me to remain indoors and handcuffed to my laptop researching indoor golf solutions to tide me over.
In retrospect, I think this moment was the beginning of my downfall.
Living in a nearly 100-year-old home has its challenges. Walking three feet in any direction presents another part of the home that needs to be repaired, updated, or torn out. My basement, while large, consists of a damp cinderblock foundation surrounding a crumbling cement floor that can best be described as “lumpy.” It is also the one section of my home that provided enough space to swing a golf club. Sort of.
While I had more than enough horizontal space for a hitting net and driving range mat, my basement ceiling presented a vertical problem. At a tad over 8 feet, the ceiling quickly became my obsession as I pondered whether or not a 7-iron would rattle the exposed pipes as I chased dreams of B-Flight trophies. Luckily for me, I had spent over 25 years honing a flat backswing that provided just enough clearance to take a swipe at some old Titleist Pro-V’s I found in an egg carton.
What followed next is a routine of which I assume millions of golfers partake every day: watching hours of golf swing tips on YouTube. WARNING: this is an extremely slippery slope that I do not recommend as the risk of tumbling down a rabbit hole is very real.
After spending months making what seemed like progress in my makeshift basement driving range, I ventured on golf courses with a renewed sense of confidence. My membership — and sponsorship — of the Chicago Golf Tour heightened my excitement as I felt, for once, I could compete among peers and not make a damn fool out of myself.
At the time of this writing, four events on the Tour have come and gone. To place a grade on my game right now would be a travesty, as I’ve managed to break 90 one time in that short stretch. While Midwest weather patterns have been less-than-ideal this spring, I can hardly blame the flurry of blocks, hooks, three-putts, chili-dips and (dare I say) shanks that have plagued me thus far.
There’s something about golf that hits you dead in the heart when things go poorly. I don’t play more than once a week (at most), and the anticipation leading up to every round borders on unbridled chaotic excitement by the time I’m on the first tee. To play poorly, then, is a travesty that resembles a loss of a loved one, or a broken heart that can only be felt at an abandoned wedding alter.
A recent visit to the driving range (yes, following yet another YouTube frenzy) has left me with some hope of having figured things out, but I know only time will tell. These are dark times, indeed, however hope springs eternal.
Until the next first tee.
SwingTIP delivers the ultimate interactive learning experience
All golfers have a common trait when it comes to practicing: tinkering with their golf swing. Unfortunately, most amateurs don't have access to a teaching golf professional or high-tech swing video tracking. Watching one's swing on video and understanding swing plane, angle of downswing and correcting swing flaws can be more confusing than rocket science.
The SwingTIP Golf Swing Analyzer by Mobiplex just made things much easier.
This innovative Bluetooth-enabled 3D motion sensor device clips to your golf club and is paired with a mobile app for your Android or iOS smartphone. After opening your MySwingTip.com account, you are then able to hit golf balls as you normally would at any driving range while your smartphone and SwingTIP device record your club movement. After each swing, the golf app registers a video-like swing animation that details the swing path, mechanical statistics, and presumed shot shape for the golf swing you just made.
Weighing just one ounce and with dimensions similar to a USB flash drive, the SwingTIP device won't affect your swing. The device is comprised of a two-clamp holster that keeps SwingTIP securely in place throughout your swing, so no worries about sending the device down range. Even better, the SwingTIP turns off when not in use, which allows it to stay charged long enough for a 200-swing session on the range.
What I enjoyed most about the SwingTIP was the feedback I received from the smartphone app that accompanies the package. For years I have struggled with taking the club back too far on the inside while also attacking the ball to impact from the inside. This often causes a nasty hook, but I never had a grasp on how to correct the issue. Simply put, I didn't know what "taking the club on an outside plane" felt like. SwingTIP not only showed me what my swing path was, but it also showed me when my swing path was corrected.
Finally, and possibly most helpful, SwingTIP's smartphone app includes videos and text narratives on how to correct your swing flaws after the device records your last swing. So not only do you now know what is going wrong in your swing, but you also receive advice on how to correct it.
Technical specifications for the SwingTIP are available at www.swingtip.com/specifications. You can also connect with SwingTIP on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest and YouTube.
The SwingTIP Golf Swing Analyzer retails for $129.99 and includes the 3D motion sensor, club holster clip, shims, micro-USB cable and Quick Start Guide (with free mobile app).
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6aPUOWlV0E]
YouTube Review: My Swing Evolution
While scouring the internet last night looking for the best lessons available on YouTube, I came across an interesting channel focusing on one man's quest to improve his golf game. Coined "My Swing Evolution", a former martial artist/ballet dancer chronicles his efforts to lower his handicap while recording webisodes with his Flip camera. All of his videos are very well-edited and include lesson footage, workouts, and numerous driving range sessions where the viewer can witness how dedication and practice can really pay off. I highly recommend checking out his YouTube channel.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=videoseries?list=UUKhzOGU4U8o9xVU7MqK6s9g&hl=en_US]
Q&A About Your Golf Game with Peter Jacobson
Got a golf question? Want to ask a pro about your swing? Curious about the competition at this year's U.S. Open? Get ready to tweet your questions to Peter Jacobsen (@JakeTrout). Leading up the U.S. Open (June 11-17) in San Francisco, golf fans can tweet questions to Peter Jacobsen (@JakeTrout) using the #LexusGolf hashtag.
On Thursday, June 14, Peter will be on-site at the Lexus Performance Drive Pavilion and will respond to fans, some will even receive video tweets. Anyone can submit a question, just be sure to use the #LexusGolf hashtag.
The Golf Improvement Pyramid
Players who are new to the game of golf - or even those who have played for years - are on a constant search for enlightenment in regard to taking his or her game to the next level. This is a unique aspect to the game of golf; perfection is always sought and never achieved. Even the best players in the game continue to tinker with their golf swings and continue to practice, just as any serious athlete should. The search for something more is at the forefront of every golfer's mind. But is unlocking this path to enlightenment or perfection a matter of your mental acuity, physical prowess, or another characteristic entirely?
According to GolfProgress.net's Nick Chertock, improving your golf game must first start with what he has deemed the "Golf Improvement Pyramid". Similar to the nutrition pyramid guide that everybody learned about in grade school, this pyramid provides a graphic representation of what Chertock believes are the four most important elements to improving one's game: Physical elements, Technical skill, Strategic planning, and one's overall Mindset.
What I find to be interesting about Chertock's model is how he defines each of the four elements within the pyramid. For example, he suggests that the base of the pyramid - Physical elements - are basically comprised of general physical ability and fitness characteristics that will provide the foundation of any player's game. Chertock then argues that this physical component to his model is the most important factor for a golfer:
Why is Physical at the base of the pyramid? Because no matter how good my decision making is, if I’m unable to bend at the hips and establish rotary stability in my swing, I won’t be able to make the club do what I want and my choice of shot becomes irrelevant if I’m not hitting the golf ball solidly.
While I agree that a player's physicality is extremely vital to his ability to execute certain shots, I am not fully convinced that this is the most important element to improving one's game. Likewise, while Chertock's model suggests that a player's mental acuity is least-vital to overall success, I would argue the exact opposite.
Golf, as we all know, is a unique sport insofar as that a 16 year-old high school student can play the same round of golf as a 70 year-old retiree. "Golf is a game you can play for the rest of your life". Obviously there will be differences between the younger player and his older playing partner, especially in a physical sense. However, there is no guarentee that the 16 year-old novice player will score better than the older - and more experienced - golfer just because the younger golfer is stronger. Likewise, if the senior player has stiff joints and lower flexibility than a teenager, this doesn't guarentee that he will play worse than his younger opponent.
The key to success is not establishing a strong foundation of physical strength. Instead, it is my opinion that a proper mindset and mental approach to the game will benefit the player far greater than physical strength.
Chertock does point out the irony within his model, however, by stating the following:
The irony of the pyramid structure that I have in mind is that in the long term, the pyramid is best built from the base up, with improvement layered on top of the level below. But in the short term, such as when you have a 175 yard shot over water with bunkers to the right of the green, the tip of the pyramid proves most influential on the outcome of the shot.
Overall, I believe the pyramid itself is a solid model to accurately explain the levels needed to attain golf excellence. There are many levels that a player must address in order to improve, all of which varying in level of importance. How these levels are ordered, however, is certainly open to debate.
Train Your Brain with Pro Mental Coach
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOHa94jkqCk] The mental aspect of golf (and sports in general) has always been of interest to me due to my background in psychology and health care. Understanding - or attempting to understand - what goes on in the minds of the world's greatest athletes is something I have researched for many years as both a student of the game and journalist. Many books have been written on the subject of "mental toughness" and preparation, however I have yet to see any real-time demonstrations as to what the top golfers on any TOUR actually "do" in their heads when preparing for a tournament or their next shot.
That is, there hasn't been a demonstration to that affect until the Pro Mental Coach.
Developed by a team of doctors, golf professionals and brain experts, Pro Mental Coach is a computer software program that not only aims at teaching you mental tricks and methodologies used by the game's greats, but also offers simulations that you can practice in the comfort of your own home. I was lucky enough to come across a copy of this software over the holiday weekend, so I decided to throw the CD-ROM into my laptop and prepared to be "mentalized".
According to the program, Pro Mental Coach only requires the learner (i.e. golfer) to set aside one hour a week to boost your mental preparedness aimed at improving your golf game. In the program, I was introduced to a great deal of content that not only discussed how the brain functions in terms of memory, reactivity, and athletic preparation, but also showcased specific examples that allowed me to practice and better understand the content being presented.
Pro Mental Coach is a highly-interactive, educational program presented on a clean format that allows the user to complete various "brain exercises" (including object recognition and muscle reactivity) and compare his or her results to that of the national average. After a few runs through the various exercises on the program, I learned that while I was above-average in muscle reactivity, I tended to let my mind wander a bit during the timed recognition exercises. According to the program, these results suggest that I have a high hand-eye coordination factor while lack the long-term mental stamina to maintain this coordination throughout a 4-hour round of golf.
While many of these findings - and the brain exercises in the program - may seem a little far-fetched at first, the underlying message is one that we all can understand and relate to: golf requires a high level of mental acuity and stamina to perform at your best.
The interactive software ($139.95) is based on proven neuroscience and years of research by the program developers. You can learn more about Pro Mental Coach by visiting their company website or by viewing the YouTube video above.
Golf Confessionals: Struggle, Struggle, Struggle
Throughout the past two years I have covered a few instructors, theories, and mechanical tips regarding the golf swing and how I attempt to incorporate these teachings into my game. I have shared my ups and downs with the process, especially during the span when I had no formal lessons or training... which is approximately 16 years of my life. In fact, it hasn't been until recently when a golf pro has taken a look at my swing from an analytical standpoint.
I have learned a great deal from both instructors -- Brant Kasbohm and Greg Baresel -- in regard to swing plane, takeaway, release, and posture. However, perhaps the most important lessons I learned during these two short sessions is that improving my game will take a little time and a lot of hard work. At least, to get my game to where I can score below 80 on a consistent basis.
As of today, my handicap index is an 8.8; approximately a full point higher than it was when 2011 began. I know this is technically better-than-average, however I will also make the argument that seeing improvement at this level is incredibly difficult to achieve in comparison to higher handicaps. For example, it is of my opinion that a drop in handicap can occur more dramatically for players with an index of over 15-20 than for players under an index of 10. This is primarily due to what I will call the "adjustment factor"; the amount of strokes that can be saved by making a fundamental change in a golfer's swing or mechanics. For players of a higher handicap index, this adjustment can be something as dramatic as a complete swing overhaul aimed at helping the golfer establish fundamentally-sound mechanics (to fix a slice, hook, topping the ball, etc.). For players of a lower handicap, however, this factor will focus more on intricate "tweaks" to a swing that may not yield immediate results on the course.
Short game is always something that should be practiced on a regular basis as most strokes are saved or lost on or around the green. That much is certain, and this is a belief that I have established into my own practice routine. However, I have become somewhat obsessed with the proper movements and theories involved in the full swing... especially involving iron play. Making a divot after the ball at impact. Starting the club back on the proper plane. Making the correct transitional move from the top of your backswing. These are all aspects of my game that literally keep me up at night.
As I continue my journey to "sub-80 Land", I will continue to post my tranistions and lessons-learned in the Golf Confessionals section. Perhaps we can both learn something along the way in the process.
Brant Kasbohm: Coaching vs Teaching
(Brant Kasbohm is a licensed PGA teaching professional and Director of Instruction at FixYourGame.com. Periodically, Kasbohm also provides expert analysis to ChicagoDuffer.com on a variety of different topics. The following is an exerpt from his blog at FixYourGame.com.)
[L]et’s talk about the differences between teaching and coaching. A teacher will instruct a student on how to swing the club, stroke a putt, etc. but a coach will instruct a student on course strategy, mental preparation, practice techniques, physical training, etc. Often people get these confused and mistakenly use terms like “swing coach” when they mean “swing instructor” or “mental coach”. Instructors can be experts on the mechanics of the swing, coaching, or both. Or, an instructor can break down each category into specialties to focus on. Someone like Dave Pelz is an expert short game instructor; Dr. Bob Rotella is an expert psychologist / mental coach, and Pia Nilsson uses coaching and teaching techniques as part of her instructional philosophy. It’s very important to diversify your knowledge base to get as much information as possible. Do not stick to one philosophy, or technique, or instructor, as you may be shutting out valuable information.
It’s important for golfers to study and learn all aspects of the game and apply the relevant portions to their own situations. Often people focus on one aspect (usually the swing mechanics) and ignore the other parts. We’ve all seen these people, and you may be one of them—are you constantly tinkering with your swing? Changing equipment? Scouring the Internet for the latest tips and advice? If so, you may be forgetting a huge side of the game that can improve your scores.
