[Nothatspecial]

When I started playing golf just over a year ago, I was shooting between 112-120. After 8 lessons, (5 from GolfTec) I now shoot in low 90’s. Loving the game and the results, I wanting to get better. So I signed up for another Golftec package that includes 15 lessons. Since it’s the off season, I can work strictly on the mechanics of my swing. I have a setup in my basement that will allow me to view my swing, so everything that I’m taught at my lesson, I take home and work on. I’m not looking for a quick fix, I’m working hard to improve my swing. (I hit about 700 balls a week.) I have a lesson every other week, and I’m half way through my package. I had a problem of swinging from the outside in, and casting my hands. I’ve done all the drills, hit a million balls, and feel that I have improved. However, the past three times I’ve taken lessons, the instructor keeps pointing out what he’s already told me to work on. I know it takes thousands of swings to get something in muscle memory, so how does he expect me to get it all right in just a few weeks? I feel like I’m wasting lessons here! I go in, and he says, “Yup, your downswing still isn’t coming inside enough.” I know it doesn't look like a Tour Players swing, but it IS coming from the inside. He’ll tell me to keep working on this, and keep working on that, and “we’ll see you in two weeks.” For those who haven’t taken lessons at GolfTec, there’s a black strip on the net that’s off to the right. They want you to hit the ball on the right side of that black line. (Promotes and inside swing, I guess.) That’s all I’ve been working on! Every ball I hit is in that region. Every ball! He told me that we’ll worry about squaring up the club face later, to promote a draw. And I understand that. But, I feel like I’m being taken advantage of. Like he’s stringing me along, and after these lessons are over, he’ll try and get me to sign up for another package.

Anyone ever experience something like this? Any advice? Should I talk to him about it? I’ve trusted him to totally break down, and rebuild my swing. I don’t want Spring to get here and me hit the course, and I’m hitting balls to the right because that’s all I’ve been working on. Now I HAVE to sign up for more lessons, just to get it fixed.

Please forgive my ranting, just a little concerned. Thanks for any information you can provide.

Sorry for the novel.

[cmruloah]

oh man, i've never had a lesson in my life (mostly due to budgetary constraints) so i'm not sure how i can feel your pain here, but i would like to think that he's not stringing you along. a good instructor knows what he's talking about and i'm sure he's still trying to drive home a point. sorry i couldn't be more useful, but i'm just one of those guys that gives people the benefit of the doubt, and often that comes back to bite me.

i wish you the best of luck and i'm just glad that you take your game seriously. there's some guys here that will be able to help you out with this predicament and it would be worth your time to express these concerns to the in house pro.

[invasuant]

If I felt that someone was stringing me along - I'd switch instructors. However, that is just me.

[gundos]

It does take some time to get the right feel. Stick with it. When I took lessons a few years ago we spent 4 or 5 of them working on the same few moves that I needed to improve. It just takes some time to get it right. Like you, I felt like I was was doing it right, but I wasn't.

If you really feel that you are being strung along, ask him to video your swing so you can see what you are doing wrong and compare it to what he is wanting you to do. Maybe if you see where you are going wrong it will help you to fix it. If you are doing it right, then you will know he is full of it.

[aquadayAquaks]

You need to discuss this with your instructor. You both need to be on the same page as to what you are learning, what you are being taught, and why. The initial instruction has helped your overall game, but you, and/or your instructor have progressed into a grey area so to speak with regards to you instruction. What you are describing is a common problem between students, and golf instructors. Have a sit down and explain your thoughts to the instructor. You have paid for a service you need to be satisfied with.

[Nothatspecial]

Thanks for the replies! I really do want to give him the benefit of the doubt. He's a nice guy, and has taught me a lot so far. I thought about switching instructors - but not sure if Golftec will allow that? Something I'd have to look into.

StLCardsFan - maybe you're right. GolfTec does all of their lessons on video, so I do have something to compare to. And I totally understand the need to emphasize a point. He's done that a few times - but we've moved on, and I've fixed it along the way. But, maybe this part of my swing is very crucial. Maybe if he shows me how to square up the club face now, I might pull hook everything. I dunno - just thinking out loud.

[Nothatspecial]

You need to discuss this with your instructor. You both need to be on the same page as to what you are learning, what you are being taught, and why. The initial instruction has helped your overall game, but you, and/or your instructor have progressed into a grey area so to speak with regards to you instruction. What you are describing is a common problem between students, and golf instructors. Have a sit down and explain your thoughts to the instructor. You have paid for a service you need to be satisfied with.

This is a good point. I didn't know this was common among students and instructors. I've found that this game is a game of confidence. And I'm not feeling that at all when I leave my lesson. to be honest, I feel defeated, so-to-speak. I may have a chat with him. One that won't cost me a lesson, of course!!

[Atmotteenrift]

That is a tough one. You have to be comfortable with your coach and the instruction that you are recieving. If you don't feel like you are moving forward then you need to talk with your coach and find exercises that you can do in your practice sessions that benefit you.

The one thing that I will caution you about is that you cannot expect the same level of improvment with your swing and your game in the same timeframes. You are moving into the area where the signs of improvement some in smaller increments. Moving from shooting to 110 to 90 came to you with some hard work and commitment but to move from 90 to 80 is going to take that same hard work and commitment but the time that it takes for those improvements is going to be a bit longer than your first jump into shooting in the 90's. Once you get below 80 those improvements are going to be single digit improvements and the time commitment is going to be even longer.

I hope that you can find a solution with your instructor because in the long run those lessons are really going to pay off.

[HenriRow]

I've had plenty of lessons in my life from two different PGA Teaching Professionals and I have heard both of them say the worse golf related item ever brought to market is a net. Nothing grooves a bad swing like a net.
I think I would find another instructor, a certified one that gives live lessons, outdoors where you can see every shot finish. JMO of course.

[aquadayAquaks]

You make a good point. The European John Jacobs said that the best way to develop a hook, or pull hook is for the golfer to hit too many balls into a net. Occasionally is OK, but but not prolonged practice sessions. I had a buddy who set up a net in his garage during an Idaho winter. He hit balls into the net every night. Once spring came around, it took him almost two months get rid a severe right to left ball flight. The best way to know how well, or not a swing to impact is working is the ball's flight. The ball's flight tells a golfer every thing they need to know about their swing....assuming they can properly interpret what they see the ball do in the air.

I've had plenty of lessons in my life from two different PGA Teaching Professionals and I have heard both of them say the worse golf related item ever brought to market is a net. Nothing grooves a bad swing like a net.
I think I would find another instructor, a certified one that gives live lessons, outdoors where you can see every shot finish. JMO of course.

[OpVJokl8]

I would take a little time away from it. A week or two. The lessons are paid for, is there a time restraint?

[JohnfAclambrJA]

So I would disagree with the comments on hitting into the net, but with one condition, you are watching each swing on video so you can analyze each swing that you make. Without the video I agree you have no idea what is happening on each swing. With video you can make a decent analysis of what you've done and make improvements.

As for the lesson, you might want to go to another teacher. I think sometimes that certain teachers are good at certain areas of the game. He might be very good at taking you from beginner to a 90's shooter, but another pro might be better at taking you from 90 to 80.

[Nothatspecial]

Wow - lots of good advise. Thank you!

Maybe I should take a small break. Instead of taking two weeks to try and incorporate something into my swing, maybe I should take 4 weeks instead. Yes - the lessons are all paid for.

I can see how hitting into a net all the time could have unwanted results in the end. When I'm hitting balls at home, I'll hit 4-5 balls, and then view the footage. I normally try and hit anywhere between 75-100 balls a day.

I appreciate all you guys taking the time to post your thoughts. Lots to think about...

[HenriRow]

Not sure what watching your swing on video does for you if you are hitting into a net? You still have no idea where the ball is really traveling without seeing it finish. I have had my swing video taped, from two angles at the time, but the results of each and every shot was recorded as well. This however was done outside on the range where you could see what was happening once you hit the ball.

[JohnfAclambrJA]

Not sure what watching your swing on video does for you if you are hitting into a net? You still have no idea where the ball is really traveling without seeing it finish. I have had my swing video taped, from two angles at the time, but the results of each and every shot was recorded as well. This however was done outside on the range where you could see what was happening once you hit the ball.

In my opinion you could double check your position. If your pro told you to be in a specific position you could tell that from a video irregardless of where the ball went. Sure the ball traveling in a specific direction could reconfirm that you are doing it right, but that does not say that you were in the position that your pro suggested. Pictures tell the whole story.

[HenriRow]

In my opinion you could double check your position. If your pro told you to be in a specific position you could tell that from a video irregardless of where the ball went. Sure the ball traveling in a specific direction could reconfirm that you are doing it right, but that does not say that you were in the position that your pro suggested. Pictures tell the whole story.

I agree. When I have been taped in the past, the instructor had a helper who recorded each and every shot, so when we sat down later watching the video we knew the shot results when I was in or out of postition with the swing.
I'm sure everyone does it a little different and I feel VERY lucky to have a pro at my home course that has been there for forty years, knows my swing better than I do and has a very sound system for analyzing and teaching. Bottom line for me is, I have never hit into a net and never will. To each his own and I'm just a middle of the road average at best player.

[Rurcextedutty]

i did a similar thing to you in that i initially purchased a package of lessons at my local range. we worked through a number of things and eventually i was hearing the same thing each lesson.
best time to work on it by yourself. no point wasting lessons.

[Nothatspecial]

I don't like hitting in the net. I'm afraid it's doing more damage than good. While hitting into a net, I do get the sense of where the ball is going, but if he's trying to get me to draw the ball, I have no idea if it's actually drawing back, or if it's staying out to the right.

With the video I have setup, I can view each swing. If I want to view it from a different angle, I have to move the camera, which is no big deal. (I should pick up another camera so I can see both angles on one swing.)

I'm trying to figure out if I'm frustrated with my self, or if it's a combination of things I mentioned earlier. I really want to avoid going back to take a lesson, only to have him tell me the same thing. And now I'm going to go to the lesson with a preconceived notion. And that can't be good.