Whatever your goals are – whether you’re just getting started or are looking to move up to the next level – the right golf instructor can help you achieve them. No matter how long you’ve been playing golf, you can benefit from having a golf professional look over your game. It’s all too easy to fall into poor habits, especially after playing for some time, and to get stuck in a golfing rut. And if you’re just starting out, it’s wise to seek some professional help to set your game on the right track for life.
The good news is that golf teachers are pretty thick on the ground these days; however, this can make it difficult to choose the right teacher to trust with your game. How do you decide which of the many golf pros around is the one who can help you the most? Well, read on, this handy guide should help.
What makes a good golf teacher?
Good golf teachers exhibit many elements in common, and you need to find one who displays the following features.
Strong technical capabilities and experience
A detailed and in-depth knowledge of golf is extremely important in a golf teacher.
A great teacher will be able to accurately identify areas of your game that need to be addressed and improved, and will have excellent knowledge of the technique tweaks and drills necessary to achieve these improvements. Their expertise, advice and guidance are invaluable to their golfing students, who can rely on their instructor’s knowledge to improve their game.
Experience is undoubtedly important – but don’t only look for a golf teacher who used to be a tournament or championship player. They can still be a great teacher even if they weren’t a championship golfer. You’ll also need to make sure that your potential instructor is a certified PGA or LPGA professional.
Clarity of instruction
However, all the technical knowledge in the world makes no difference if the teacher can’t communicate that knowledge to their students in a way they will understand. A good golf teacher will have a strong handle on communication, and can make sure their students don’t feel confused about what they’re trying to achieve.
They can find a way to communicate to students in a way that will reach them, and that the student will understand (and this is not necessarily the same method of communication for every person). A good teacher (of golf or any subject) will understand that people learn and understand things in different ways, and will be able to find the right way of reaching each individual student so that they can best learn. Many coaches will experiment to find the way that best reaches each student so that they can really feel what they are trying to do with their swing. And as well as doing all the talking, a good teacher will also make time to really listen to their students and hear their questions and concerns.
Diverse styles and methods
A great golf coach is not glued to just one style or method, but will rather recognise that everyone’s body is different and everyone swings the club a bit differently. They will be able to get the best out of each individual’s game rather than imposing a single method or technique on each one of their students. A good golf teacher will be able to adapt their style of teaching to help you improve the good habits you already have and let go of the bad ones you’ve developed.
Confidence
A good golf teacher will help you feel comfortable and secure with your technique, skills and swing, so that you feel confident when you head out onto the course.
Compatibility
This one is a bit more intangible, but the coach-student relationship is a very personal one. You should be able to get along with your golf teacher, understand the way they communicate and be able to get on board with their coaching style. You might need someone to hand-hold you throughout the process of learning, or you might want a teacher who can push you beyond what you think you’re capable of. Whatever you’re looking for, make sure you’re compatible with the personality, teaching style and philosophy of your potential coach.
Use of technology
Modern golf coaches have a great deal of technology at their fingertips, which can provide useful data on your game. Look for an instructor who makes good use of technology to help you understand how to improve.
A good reputation
Word of mouth is one of the best ways to find a great golf teacher, as people are usually happy to share when they’ve had a positive experience. Look for a golf teacher with a good track history, good reviews online, or one whose current students have good things to say about him or her. Local golfers and course managers will likely have a good knowledge of the multiple golfing pros about, and might be able to give you some insight about why they would prefer certain instructors over others. However, don’t just ask simple questions about the pro, such as whether they are a good teacher or not. Ask WHY they are liked or disliked as a teacher, and what are the pros and cons of working with them.
Someone who is busy
You might think it would be better to have a coach who you can get in touch with quickly and who will quickly answer your communications, but it’s probably a better idea to find one who is busy. A busy golf instructor is one who is great at what they do and whom everyone wants to train with – and that’s probably the kind of instructor you want.
Fits within your budget
Each instructor will charge a different price for a lesson with them, and you’ll need to find out whether you can afford the instructor you want. You might be able to find out rates from the instructor or golf club’s website, or failing this, just call them and ask. Go for the best instructor who fits within your price range, and look for one who is good value for money.
Location
This will of course depend on how much time you have at your disposal, and how far you want to drive to get instruction, but usually it’s better to find an instructor who’s located conveniently close to you. This may not always be a consideration, however, and some people are willing to go further to get better instruction or access to better facilities.
Click here to discover how to find a good golf course.
Red flags to look out for
Teaching a method rather than teaching the student
If all the players coached by a certain teacher appear to have the same style, that’s a sign that the teacher is imposing a one-size-fits-all method on every student, regardless of their individual style or needs. This is not the best way to coach, and a really good teacher will be able to draw out the best from each player while utilising the individualities of their game.
Relying too much on technology
While all the modern technology available for golfing instruction is great, your instructor shouldn’t solely rely on technology to develop insights about your game. You can’t carry the technology around on the golf course, so becoming over-reliant on it is never going to be productive. Technology should be used in conjunction with a good instructor’s eye and intuition.
Someone who isn’t busy
If your instructor has plenty of time and free slots on their hands, it’s usually a sign that they are not a popular coach – and that’s probably for a good reason.
Someone who spends too much time on the driving range
The driving range is great for working on swing mechanics, but that shouldn’t be all you do in your golf lessons. A good instructor will work holistically; and will work on improving your short game, your putting and all aspects of your game.
To read more about developing good practice habits, click here.
Choose the best golfing professional
It’s a good idea to take a trial lesson from a few different golf pros to help you find the one who best suits you. While you’re having your trial lesson, make sure you ask them any questions you need answers to. Ask them their opinion of your game, and what they think you need to improve. Listen to the way they communicate to you – are they clear and easy to understand, or do they use lots of jargon and can’t explain what you need to know?
After you’ve had a few trial lessons, you’ll be in a better position to compare the pros and cons of each golf teacher. Spend some time considering each one, and pick a golf instructor who you are comfortable and confident with, and who can communicate and help you in a way that resonates with you. You don’t want to be switching golf teachers all the time, so put some effort in to find the right one from the start, and stick with them so they have a chance to do some great in-depth work on your game.
To help you find a golf teacher in your area, click here.
