Golf instruction in Ireland

Quahog217

Hey guys, just wondering what peoples thoughts are on this subject. Ive been to a few high profile pros such as neil manchip and fred twomey aswell as a few lesser known guys through the years. The thing ive found is they all have different styles of teaching which is normal but im not sure of the quality of instruction in this country. Im not talking about the guys ive mentioned above, its more of a general statement. Ive too many coached want to teach the perfect swing, perfect takeaway, on plane blah blah blah. Which is fine if your teaching a pro who practices 8 hours a day, but most of us play or practice maybe 2 or 3 times a week. I really like the style of mark crossfield who works with the players swing rather than trying to give them a perfect swing. Now I do know through the years ive given up on stuff that coaches have said because I was getting frustrsted. Im a 5 handicap with a pretty awful swing to be honest, and I do practice and play a lot, but I will never get any lower without some swing changes. My ball striking is simply not good enough. So what do you guys think? Anyone in the same boat as me? Whats your feelings on golf coaches in ireland? Feel free to name drop any coach that you think highly of. Do you prefer a coach with launch monitors?
I think a crucial think to mention is alot of these guys are really good coaches but the main thing I found wad they dint treat you like a student, more like a one off lesson, even if youve been to them a few times, to be fair a lot of then are probably busy but I think a little more attention to there students would go a long way. Most just give a few tips on posture, grip and takeaway etc which I know is important but they neglect the most important part which is how the student practices after the lesson. Im sure some coaches do this but a detailed plan for range sessions and practice sessions, what drills to do, how often to do them and how to bleed the drills into full on swing changes. This is where I feel most golf coaches fall down. Anyway enough of my ramblings, please discuss.

Ps this is just my opinion from my experience

Hoof Hearted2

To be fair, without putting too fine a point on it, while there are bad teachers out there, the biggest obstacle to improvement is the student.

Quahog217

Hoof Hearted2 wrote: »

To be fair, without putting too fine a point on it, while there are bad teachers out there, the biggest obstacle to improvement is the student.

I agree 100% but that coaches still need to be better too I think.

mike12

In my club all the juniors are coached and we basically have 20 mini Rory's running around the place.
The amount u can change your swing is minimal once you have it ingrained a couple of buckets of balls a week will never fix it.
You need to talk to the Pro and explain what u want and what he thinks is possible, u are never going to change a Jim fyurk into Adam Scott
Personally I have a picture perfect back swing, so when I go to a pro we are basically trying to get the club coming from the inside instead of over the top. It keeps creeping back not sure if I will ever get it perfect, have change pro a few times just to hear a different take on it.

No matter how u swing the basics are fundamental there is no excuse u can practice them anywhere.
Grip, alignment, posture, ball position shouldn't be something you have to have the Pro tell you everytime you go to him.

FixdePitchmark

mike12 wrote: »

In my club all the juniors are coached and we basically have 20 mini Rory's running around the place.
The amount u can change your swing is minimal once you have it ingrained a couple of buckets of balls a week will never fix it.
You need to talk to the Pro and explain what u want and what he thinks is possible, u are never going to change a Jim fyurk into Adam Scott
Personally I have a picture perfect back swing, so when I go to a pro we are basically trying to get the club coming from the inside instead of over the top. It keeps creeping back not sure if I will ever get it perfect, have change pro a few times just to hear a different take on it.

No matter how u swing the basics are fundamental there is no excuse u can practice them anywhere.
Grip, alignment, posture, ball position shouldn't be something you have to have the Pro tell you everytime you go to him.

I'd be like that a bit mike.

Over The Top and never going to change.

I go to a pro when something else comes in - funny things can happen with your alignment/path and the most useful thing I find going to a pro is another actual view from a 3rd angle. Also, to hear a view outside your own head - sometimes the conversation is a reaffirmation of what you know.

If I go to a pro - it can have remarkable improvement for a short duration , but over time my old swing comes back.

I actually said this to my pro the other day - but the pro reckoned that my swing was way better now and would never go fully back to the old one. "My bad shots are better".

I'm not so sure and to get what is a slightly better on plane swing has taken me over 3 years and 100s or range visits and over 20 lessons.

You do wonder was it worth it at all at times.

I'd say I could have got to single figures by just playing golf to be honest.

mike12

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

I'd be like that a bit mike.

Over The Top and never going to change.

I go to a pro when something else comes in - funny things can happen with your alignment/path and the most useful thing I find going to a pro is another actual view from a 3rd angle. Also, to hear a view outside your own head - sometimes the conversation is a reaffirmation of what you know.

If I go to a pro - it can have remarkable improvement for a short duration , but over time my old swing comes back.

I actually said this to my pro the other day - but the pro reckoned that my swing was way better now and would never go fully back to the old one. "My bad shots are better".

I'm not so sure and to get what is a slightly better on plane swing has taken me over 3 years and 100s or range visits and over 20 lessons.

You do wonder was it worth it at all at times.

I'd say I could have got to single figures by just playing golf to be honest.

When I'm with the Pro on the range I hit the ball like a scratch golfer, everything I've been taught comes back and there is a bit of wanting to look good and have been a good pupil.
I seem to have no problem making changes while he tells me what I should be feeling or doing.
But to ingrain that takes way more time than any of us have.
I'm the same as u in I tend to go now as things slip or something new starts to go wrong, swing has definitely improved over the years but by small amounts.

Jawgap

I think the number of 'bad' pros is minimal - but most pros are potentially 'not good' for a student. It's about finding one who can teach you and, importantly, you can work with, in my view.

If I was 12 and starting out, yeah I'd take myself to someone and build a perfect swing from scratch, but my preference now is for a pro who 'tweaks' (not twerks.....tweaks!)......by getting me to make a few minor adjustments and giving me a few drills and thoughts to go away and work on.

I like messing with TrackMan, but again my preference is to hit golf balls (not range balls) on the course because that's closer to reality.

EDIT: The other reason I prefer the practice area is that straight after the lesson I can either continue to hit away to my hearts content, or go play a few holes using whatever I've been taught.

At the start of the summer I booked a 90 minute lesson with the pro that involved a session in the practice area then about 6 holes with him on the course - I'd say I got a ton more from those 90 minutes than I would've got out of 3x30 minute sessions just in the practice area - we covered not just swinging and shotmaking but course management, concentration etc

I've been to some guys who want to completely dismantle my swing (not that it would take much to do that) and rebuild from scratch and one guy who wanted me to switch to playing leftie (I'm left handed but play right) - there was no way I was spending the next year to 18 months indulging in that level of annoyance on the golf course