Cost of lessons

[timberwolf]

I'm fairly new to playing, and practising at the range isn't helping, so the time is at hand to start taking some lessons from a professional. Anybody suggest what I should be looking for in an instructor and what questions I should ask before signing up ? Also what would be the typical cost of a lesson ? I am based in MI.

[sprinterpd]

Re: Cost of lessons

I paid $35 for 45 min. in California last month for a one-on-one beginner lesson.
Michael
(worth every penny)

[Ian Hancock]

Re: Cost of lessons

Timberwolf,

Lessons are the way to go for sure.....................

But first decide what type of person you are, do you learn by feel, by watching someone else, by watching yourself on video, for example I would never have a lesson unless I can watch my own swing and then try to change it from there...................aka I am a visual learner.

Find a coach that you like personally, who is enthusiastic, helpful and works slowly, you should come away with only one, maybe two things to work on.

Remember lessons take time to benefit from you will need at least 6 over a six month period to achieve anything.....................to many people have one lesson then think it to hard and give up trying. If you one of thoses then spend your money on a big club and have fun because you will never be any good.


Good Luck


Ian.

[TEJAY3806]

Re: Cost of lessons

Hello mate,

He is completly right mate, Different people learn better in different ways. For me i have a PGA train pro having 1on1 lession for about £35 per hour then i go on the range twice a week to go over that i learn in the last lession.

[timberwolf]

Re: Cost of lessons

I was planning on at least a lesson a month (maybe two) and being on the range twice a week to work on my swing now the good weather has arrived. I hit my irons fairly straight but don't get good distance with them and my woods consistently slice to the right.

My concern is not so much the cost, but finding a good coach. The USPGA has a 'find a pro search' on their website and I was wondering if this was the best way to go ? After all anyone can set them self up as golf coach. I don't know anybody in my area who has worked with a coach so I haven't had any recommendations.

[chessbum]

Re: Cost of lessons

I am a crusty old S.O.B. but I have my opinions....especially when it comes to golf. Talking about golf lessons...last year I had a severe case of the push slice. It about put me on the nut farm.

Through shear desperation, I went to THREE...not one or two but THREE PGA certified instructors. One of them was voted best coach of the year in our state, I won't mention the state.

Guess what, Not one could give me a definitive cure or reason for this affliction. I had thoughts of giving the game up. I decided I enjoyed it too much. I decided I would solve the problem myself. I read so many books, looked at so many videos it was ridiculous, but guess what? I learned a ton about my swing and now I can pretty much figure out how I am swinging what is wrong when it goes wrong and how to correct it.

It is a much harder route to take but so much more satisfying and beneficial. I feel I am much the better player for taking that route.

Don't get me wrong, it is good to have someone take a look at your swing other than you sometime but for the most part, you must step up to the plate and take responsibility for it yourself. It's too easy to go to a pro and expect to walk away with all your problems solved, it isn't going to happen. Furthermore, anyone who has taken lessons, if they are honest with themselves, will tell you that after a week or a month, they tend to go right back to their natural habits and swing tendencies. Read books, watch videos, view the golf channel and practice, practice practice. All the golf coaches in the world can't help you a bit if you don't put the time in.....it's the cold hard truth....

There are a lots of pro's who had very few lessons coming up and still don't have that many. How about John Daly and Tim Clark, both self taught. Guess how John Daly learned the game? He read Jack Nicklaus's comic strips in the newspaper. He mentions that in his episode of "Playing lessons with the pros".

Hard work is what it takes. A few lessons will help, but one a week .....total waste of time and money.....

My humble opinion....

Chessbum....

[timberwolf]

Re: Cost of lessons

Chessbum, yes you are a crusty old S.O.B but thanks for the reply


My swing problems are basic beginner problems, rather than trying to fix a very specific problem which is more subtle.

Furthermore, anyone who has taken lessons, if they are honest with themselves, will tell you that after a week or a month, they tend to go right back to their natural habits and swing tendencies. Read books, watch videos, view the golf channel ...

Since I am relatively new to the game I am hoping to try and develop good habits and not ingrain bad ones. I've read books, watched videos and viewed the golf channel and the problem is that it leads to an information overload in terms of advice, that is probably accentuating my problems at this time.

... and practice, practice practice

Not afraid to do that.

Thanks


Timberwolf

[bigdawg5549]

Re: Cost of lessons

I thought about private lessons but in the end I enrolled in a Golf class thru the local community college. The cost for the class was $26.00, tuition, and the lenght is 2 classes per week for 16 weeks.

The instructor is a great person and he is very good at Golf. Everything I've learned from him has been re-iterated on all the Golf sites and magazines. Even the pro's say the same thing, twist your shoulders, and take a nice easy swing. I'm due to play my first game with him and other students next week.

For me, this worked out great, and the money I saved I bought a set of clubs from Big 5 and a cart from Sun Mountain.

[Hannu]

Re: Cost of lessons

Hi,

I am new to the game, but decided to teach my self. (Like the winner of China Volvo Open today - Jeev Milkha Singh:-)

Idea is to videotape my own swing and teach and coach my self. This is a very expensive way of learning! It takes a lot of time to learn about golf and different swings.

Put I think this works. I learn to listen to my body. I feel good about my swing - even though it needs a lot of work.

(About Singh's swing - it's very person looking - that's what you get from coaching you self - but on the other side - he did win today.)

Hannu
http//:xo4us.blogspot.com

[timberwolf]

Re: Cost of lessons

$160.00 for four 30 minute one-on-one lessons with the local PGA pro. Had the first lesson tonight and was consistently hitting the ball about 50 yards further halfway through the lesson. Definitely worth it Looking forward to the next three.

[Hannu]

Re: Cost of lessons

Hi Timberwolf,

sounds like a very impressive lesson!

Have you thought about, how are you going to prevent from going back to your old habits?

[jambalaya]

Re: Cost of lessons

I am going through my second set of lessons. I bought a series of five one hour lessons at $60 apiece. Individual lessons were $70. One advise I would give you is to space your lessons. Make sure you go to the driving range and work on what you have been taught and play some rounds to exhaust your effort on that aspect. If you're like most people you will be working on other aspects of your game too because they will occur to you as you practice. Lessons too close together give you too many things to work on and are not as productive I find. I would wait at least a month maybe longer. It depends on how much you are able to get out and practice and play.