Good, technical teaching pro in Dublin

Smyth

Bit of rant. Question at the end.

I've relied on a natural swing I had as a kid and stopped playing 4 years ago or so. Got back into it at the end of last year with a much more academic approach. Actually started to look at the swing properly and study the fundamentals. Have hit a ridiculous amount of balls over the last 6 months and worked very hard on it. The results have been great. I'm striking it better than I would ever have hoped.

But my miss is still there. And that ingrained way of swinging with it's flaws is not completely gone. I would still like to get a really good pro I can work with to iron out some of these flaws. It's just not a smart use of time to grind away day after day on the range without some guidance. At least knowing you're on the right track is a good thing.

I had a lesson recently. 3rd one ever. It was terrible. Not because he asked me to do something uncomfortable, but because he asked me to do something that was just plain wrong. Got the impression this guy knew how to swing himself, but beyond the basics wasn't really that technical. More for starters than anything. Whenever I'd ask about something, he really didn't have the answers. I just figured i'd take the 40e hit and be on my way. I later found out from other members that they all avoid him like the plague for the same reasons as I had.

So does anyone have good recommendations for top quality teaching pros in Dublin? Someone who is current and knows their stuff. Takes the teaching part serious rather than a way to generate a bit of cash on the side.

the lawman

Gonna be loads of answers to this and it's very subjective. I've been to a good few pros over the last 6 years playing golf and my current pro is making the changes that I've been searching for.

I have no doubt that you will enjoy working with him. Gavin Lunny up in Naas. He has a raft of juniors coming through into the professional scene after they have ripped up the amateur comps. Jack Hume being one of them.

My opinion of course.

Smyth

He looks legit. Thanks lawman!

the lawman

Smyth wrote: »

He looks legit. Thanks lawman!

You won't go wrong at all. Trust me.

Tell him I sent you! I'll PM my name...

Tom.D.BJJ

I went to Deirdre Judge based on a recommendation here. She breaks down the swing very nicely and gave me drills to ingrain the corrections into my swing. Based in Drynam driving range near swords.

Mat the trasher

Actually started a couple of sessions with Gavin in Naas just recently, had simlar requirments to the OP, so far going well. best of luck with your practice!

ArielAtom

Gavin obviously works for you but I think (Mod Snip) can take the most from Jack Humes success. Had him at Ratsallagh for years, think he won the four boys provincial titles while a member there.

bobwilliams

I will totally honest here..there are a lot of poor coaches around the Dublin area especially for good golfers..I won`t suggest anyone but to the op make sure you're very clear on what you're looking to get out of the lessons.
You will have a good idea by talking to the pro before handing over any dosh if he/she will work for you.

neckedit

bobwilliams wrote: »

I will totally honest here..there are a lot of poor coaches around the Dublin area especially for good golfers..I won`t suggest anyone but to the op make sure you're very clear on what you're looking to get out of the lessons.
You will have a good idea by talking to the pro before handing over any dosh if he/she will work for you.

That's a really poor post IMO, have you been to every coach in Dublin? if a player does not see the Benefit of coaching, The majority of times the player has not put in the work, going to the range and hitting balls while telling yourself your "working on your game" is not practice. If I had 100€ for everytime I heard "I went to *insert PGA Pros name* last week....... destroyed my game..... playing in the singles on saturday.... went back to my old swing.... played great after that" improvement takes time and commitment on both sides. The player needs to manage his/her expectations of what a lesson alone can achieve. The coach doesn't sprinkle magic powder and transform you over night. You genuinely want to improve.... you genuinely have to work at it.

bobwilliams

neckedit wrote:

That's a really poor post IMO, have you been to every coach in Dublin? if a player does not see the Benefit of coaching, The majority of times the player has not put in the work, going to the range and hitting balls while telling yourself your "working on your game" is not practice. If I had 100€ for everytime I heard "I went to *insert PGA Pros name* last week....... destroyed my game..... playing in the singles on saturday.... went back to my old swing.... played great after that" improvement takes time and commitment on both sides. The player needs to manage his/her expectations of what a lesson alone can achieve. The coach doesn't sprinkle magic powder and transform you over night. You genuinely want to improve.... you genuinely have to work at it.

I work in the industry so I can assure you I have encountered more than most and my opinion is based on my vast experience.
I have also worked in the UK and standard is a lot higher over there from my experiences.

neckedit

bobwilliams wrote: »

I work in the industry so I can assure you I have encountered more than most and my opinion is based on my vast experience.
I have also worked in the UK and standard is a lot higher over there from my experiences.

As do I for the past 25 years, as a teaching pro, Retailer and currently a Director of golf. I too have worked in the UK and mainland Europe, and my opinion too is based on my vast experience.
but my vast experience has taught me not to tar everybody in the coaching world or in Dublin with the same brush as this serves nobody any good. There are for sure some PGA coaches who coast on by with the same old doctrine, yet i can think of a few in the Dublin region who are now qualified up to level 2 and are resitting level 3 this year. And i know of 3 level 3 qualified coaches with in an hour from dublin. These people have spent a fortune furthering the career they have chosen, and for some to come out with that statement is disrespectful and a little ignorant.

bobwilliams

So the 3 level 3 that you know of are 1 hour from Dublin. I'm thinking (Mod Snip) might be 1 but none in Dublin???
Anyway I didnt mention names and obviously I don't mean EVERY coach in Dublin is of a poor standard.
Dont be getting your knickers in a twist.

neckedit

bobwilliams wrote: »

So the 2 level 3 that you know of are 1 hour from Dublin. I'm thinking (Mod Snip) might be 1 but none in Dublin???
Anyway I didnt mention names and obviously I don't mean EVERY coach in Dublin is of a poor standard.
Dont be getting your knickers in a twist.

Why ya getting defensive? How are my knickers in a twist? I simply responded to your post, in a fashion similarly to how you responded to mine? There are 20 odd
Level 3 coaches in Ireland with 5 Dublin based. And around 100 level 2 in Ireland. Ya see what i did, I called my buddy who is a Dublin based level 3 coach and asked him.
At the end of the Day my point is, there are plenty of good teachers and coaches out there. You just gotta find the one they suits the individual player. I won't recommend my coach as a coach for all. But I also won't comment on any coach I've never been too. It's just not right. I'm not having a go at you man I'm just giving my 2 cents worth.

Ichttp://www.wired.co.uk/article/nokia-3310-and-nokia-6-global-launchalled

bobwilliams

neckedit wrote:

Why ya getting defensive? How are my knickers in a twist? I simply responded to your post, in a fashion similarly to how you responded to mine? There are 20 odd Level 3 coaches in Ireland with 5 Dublin based. And around 100 level 2 in Ireland. Ya see what i did, I called my buddy who is a Dublin based level 3 coach and asked him. At the end of the Day my point is, there are plenty of good teachers and coaches out there. You just gotta find the one they suits the individual player. I won't recommend my coach as a coach for all. But I also won't comment on any coach I've never been too. It's just not right. I'm not having a go at you man I'm just giving my 2 cents worth.

I think you should go back and read my op...I said...'there are a lot of poor coaches around Dublin'....im going to leave it at that but for you to lash my post and suggest I said ALL coaches in Dublin are bad is unfair.

neckedit

bobwilliams wrote: »

I think you should go back and read my op...I said...'there are a lot of poor coaches around Dublin'....im going to leave it at that but for you to lash my post and suggest I said ALL coaches in Dublin are bad is unfair.

Cool, I didn't lash your post I simply countered and offered a differnce of opinion and gave some info on the level of coaching around Dublin. But yeah.... lets leave it there.

Tom.D.BJJ

What the difference between L2 and L3?
Who are the Dublin based L3, and do they give lessons to hackers like me?

FixdePitchmark

Are the levels published ?

There is a practical problem too with coaching.

You can have a club with no pro or a good pro at a different club. Then you can have pros at ranges and without having a designated area at a range. It can be a poor enough environment for a lesson .

You then have very varied practice facilities at ranges and clubs . And you can only get a lesson where the pro is based .

John Kelly has a facility that is very good . Is John a higher level ?

But for Northside of Dublin . It is not swamped with top level coaching with good facilities easily accessible (imo) - a few in clubs . But I'd imagine that works well when you are in club and build up a relationship with them.

In fairness to pros in Ireland . The downturn had people expecting 5 lessons for 150 quid . I don't think that enables the pros to invest in their product / facilities training and technology.

I do often look at UK videos (I know popular videos) with envy of facilities.

Russman

Op, the problem with recommending a coach is that, purely IMHO, its mostly down to communication and the way he/she gets their message across. From what I've seen, the vast bulk of them teach much the same thing but its how they communicate it and how the pupil understands it that is key. What method of explaining works for one pupil might be totally misunderstood by another.

For example, I took lessons off a very highly regarded coach over the last 4 years or so (probably 2 or 3 per year max) and I thought, and still think, he was excellent.
However he's moved to a different course now that's harder for me to get to. My club pro has been doing group lessons over the last few weeks and he's been telling me stuff that I was having a hard time grasping until last week when the penny dropped and he was essentially telling me exactly what the earlier pro was, but in a totally different way. One guy was more into the feel aspect and one was more into explaining the positions and the why of certain positions.

Try a few different guys and see which one you gel or click with is my advice. A good pro for you could be anywhere and not necessarily the most well known or high profile.