While the golf swing is as unique as the person swinging the golf club, the trained eye of an experienced teaching professional might be your missing link to better golf, regardless if you are a beginner, intermediate or low handicap player. Even golfers of many years who are self taught often think nobody can help them because they wouldn’t understand their swing or would simply criticize what the self taught player has done. This could not be further from the truth. A good teaching pro’s job is to help a seasoned player understand what they do right as much as what they do wrong, not tear down and rebuild the swing from the ground up unless that is what you desire.
Below are a few simple steps to help you choose the right professional.
1. Compile a list of 4 to 5 teaching pros in your area that you think might help you. These could be: someone a friend has recommended, someone you have heard is a good teaching pro, someone you have simply seen teaching at your course or driving range and someone you just happened upon one day at the range. Be sure they have a relationship with a facility and are, in fact a teaching professional.
2. Take the time to watch each pro as they work with a student. How? Simply get a basket of balls and get as close to the teaching area as you can so you can hear and see what is going on between the teacher and student. Listen to see if you understand what the pro is communicating. Does it make sense to you? Does the pro seem engaged and genuinely interested in helping the student? Are they too technical? How do they use their technology if they have it? Are they using the equipment as an adjunct to teaching or does it appear the technology is actually the mainstay of their instruction? If so, I suggest you be wary.
3. After observing and selecting 3 final candidates, ask questions of your potential teaching pro. Questions like: What is the cost of a private lesson? How long do lessons last? How frequently do you suggest lessons be taken? Do you, (teacher), subscribe to any particular swing method? How long have you been teaching?
4. Be honest with the professional about what you are doing. Tell them you are looking for a teaching pro to help you with your swing. Most teaching professionals will understand and respect that. If you get the sense they do not understand or resent what you are doing, I suggest you move on to another candidate.
5. Ask the pro for 3 references. (Note: it would be nice if you could check with a beginner, intermediate and low handicap or better player, as this will give you a good array of students.)
6. Schedule a lesson with each of your top three choices before making your final decision. You are going to be surprised at the difference in the approach of each professional.
While you may think the above a bit cumbersome, very few people I have suggested this approach to have been disappointed with their final choice of teaching professional. Further, every person felt it was time and money well spent.
Good Golfing!
(Steve Riggs is a retired teaching professional with over 30 years experience working with students around the U.S. and Caribbean. He designed and consulted on several swing improvement training aids like the Grip Trainer Golf Training Glove and the Sindelar Putting System. Steve is a member of the GWAA (Golf Writers Association of America) and Producer/Host of the myNEGM Lesson Tee Radio/Internet Show now in its 4th year. The show, on WNRI 1380AM radio, streams live Wednesdays 10:05-11am at mynegm.com and wnri.com)
About Steve Riggs
30+ year Teaching Professional, retired. Originally from Central Ohio. Co-host professional of 41st USGA NATIONAL JUNIOR GOLF TOURNAMENT, Yale Golf Club in '88. College golf at Indiana University, Bloomington. Golf Facility Consultant in U.S. and Caribbean. Producer/Host of mynegm LESSON TEE radio/internet show. Golf writer and member of the GWAA, (Golf Writers Association of America).
