Finding the right golf teacher by Mark Wallace P.G.A.
Before jumping out of your chair and reaching for the yellow pages, the first thing you should do is talk to any golfers you know to ascertain the good teachers in your locality. Once you think you have located one, go along and have a chat with him over a beer or coffee. You will soon know if you feel comfortable in his or her company and whether you think you will successfully respond to the tuition. Incidentally, tuition fees vary.
You may discover you are willing to pay that little bit extra for a good, experienced teacher. And forget anything you may have heard to the effect that experienced professionals do not like teaching beginners - most are happy providing lessons for all abilities, so don't feel intimidated. Having found your teacher, you then need to discuss fully the type of programme suitable for your aspirations and needs. And, of course, your pocket. Most professionals like to offer a course so they can ascertain your aptitude and arrange a suitable tuition programme. I normally recommend that pupils take 2 lessons in each of the first 2 weeks. Frequency after that depends very much on the individual.
If you have been playing the game for quite sometime, you might have to be prepared to return to basics and take what appears to be one step back in order to progress two steps forward. Once you have made contact with the pro you have selected, establish your short and long-term goals and on which department of the game you are going to concentrate. Be absolutely honest regarding your current ability level and your aims.
Always have a 10-minute warming up session on the practice ground before reporting for your lesson. If you don't, the first 10 minutes of tuition will be virtually wasted. Hitting a few balls not only relaxes you, it also helps your coordination and rhythm. If you have any doubts about what you should do during your warm-up session... ask the pro!
Get your swing videoed
The best way to get a clear picture - literally! - of what the pro is explaining and what he wants you to achieve is by watching yourself on video. Most leading professionals have video facilities. If not, ask if you can take one along. Record every lesson and you will then have a perfect library to refer to during and after the course of lessons.
Work on one or two things
Having seen you in action, the pro will establish what you need to work on. Most good tutors will get you to concentrate on no more then a couple of things at a time, until you have got them right. Most of us use visual images and set drills to clarify the points we are making.
Very important note : Do not be afraid to let the pro know if you do not fully understand what is being explained to you. And don't be afraid to say when you've grasped a point - communication is a two-way thing.
The short game
Your instruction should reflect the fact that the short game constitutes 65% of golf . So, if you are a serious student and really want to shave shots of your scores, don't expect to spend all your lessons swinging away at the ball. Putting, chipping, bunker play and awkward shots off slopes and out of tough lies should be covered if you invest in a course of lessons.
Equipment check
Now and again pupils experience difficulty or need help with clubs etc. Your professional is fully-trained to deal with such queries and give advice on suitability. A good pro will never take advantage of his or her position by using lessons as a platform for selling equipment.
Practice after the lesson
Back to the grindstone!! It's a good idea to stay on the practice ground when the lesson has ended, if only for a few minutes, and further ingrain in your memory bank what you have been taught and what you should be working on.
Take notes
At the end of the session, ask your tutor for a written evaluation or dictate notes to you so you fully understand what is required of you before the next lesson. Suggested practice drills should also be noted.
And finally
Remember a good teacher gets as much pleasure from your success as you do. His best advertisement is the improvement shown by his pupils.
