I thought I was a go-it-alone kinda guy until I got some lessons this year and realised just how little I knew about my own swing, and more importantly what causes what.
I saw very large improvements in my game after a series of lessons, and I would imagine this would be the same for nearly all golfers.
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Great job on you, I think for you maybe a coach might be helpful for scoring strategy as your swing is probably pretty good. I’m interested in getting lessons but I’m still a 29 handicap- for me it’s trying to choose the right coach.
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I have a friend that I play with, same one I wrote about whom is a sandbagger, probably between a 2 & 4 but claims he’s a 7, and he’s never seen a coach. He has also never been fitted for clubs. I’ve asked him on several occasions why, he said because he knows he’s standard and he’s too old for a coach to make any changes in his game. It baffles me that someone is that close to being scratch and two little adjustments: 1) properly fitted clubs 2) a golf coach who would see your little tendencies that are causing small misses.
Yet he’d rather go it alone. It makes me laugh all of the time because his common miss is a snap hook and I always tell him, I bet Justin (my golf coach) could help you with that. He just says, no I know what it is. Then I ask, so why don’t you stop doing it then. 
He’s probably right that a coach couldn’t help him, but only for the fact that he’s so closed off his mind to the idea that he’ll make it impossible. It’s hard to coach and it also really requires someone willing to be coached.
I will say not every coach is a silver bullet. I did try a golf Tec package once and that was awful. Very much technique based and it just involved a lot of drawing lines on the screen of my swing compared to Tiger/Adam Scott/hunter mahan and then trying to get me to hit certain positions that looked good on the screen when frozen. My swing started “looking better” on screen but my scores stayed the same and got worse when all the technical work led to a neglected short game
Was definitely a great example of golf instruction versus golf coaching.
If I do go back to a coach I would definitely want to find one who can identify my biggest faults holding me back and target those.
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Definitely yes. I’m fairly self taught but there are definitely times where a few lessons takes you to next level or can fix bad habits that creep in. Lesson tomorrow as a matter of fact!
I went to GolfTec (2002 maybe?) for an intro package and had that same experience (same reaction too). I liked being able to see my swing on video from multiple angles, so I wound up just buying a bay pass from them where I could book time whenever I wanted to come in and use their stuff on my own.
I’m somewhat amazed that in the world of launch monitors and etc, they can still get away with the exact same business model for indoor instruction they had 20 years ago.
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I’m currently working with a golf coach… We have the occasional lesson on swing mechanics and different shots I need to work on but usually it’s just brief chats about strategy, what I need to work on and how to make better decisions on the course.
It’s forced me to think more on the course, and reflect on “do I want to tell Ben I made this decision?”… My handicap was trending down, I knew where I needed to improve and I was improving until I got injured… When I go back, I still know where my weakness were, and as I ramp back up to swinging full, I’m hoping to avoid the same old mistakes in both my swing and my strategy.
I think I approach the game better when I can discuss my overall strategy and desires with someone else… it’s like seeing a therapist… (something I also recommend). They are helpful when things are really bad, but if you see them consistently, you can prevent things from getting worse, and maybe make the good times better.
One of the guys I play golf with is a good stick… long for his age, great putter… but just kills himself with decision making. I saw him blow an even round with a double after losing his drive into the rough… He wasn’t in a bad position to make par, but got aggressive and tried to chase a pin… after the round he went to the range to work on his swing, because he “mishit” the ball out of the rough… His physical game is as good as it can be… his mental game needs work. He takes lessons, but doesn’t take coaching. I’m looking forward to beating him once I get my game to click.
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I like that accountability bit. In daily life, I figure if I wouldn’t be able to adequately explain a decision to my significant other, then I probably shouldn’t do it. Probably good to have something similar in the back of your mind on the golf course!
I think working with an instructor or coach is extremely important for beginners. Getting started the right way in this game will save hours and hours of frustration and make the game more enjoyable.
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Yes, I’m one of those - committed to a series of lessons (and doing the associated drills and practice) and have a really nice, supportive coach … who’s also a good communicator … and have been making real solid progress!!
For example- been working on the iron swing; was at a Par 3 (holes from 85 to 160 yds) and hit 6/9 greens … my PB on that course to date 
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My sis played for years self taught. Last summer she heard of group lessons for women, local golf pro, and attended! I did also, having never even considered golf before. She vastly improved her game, and I literally learned everything I know, with those lessons, (leaving out what I’m learning HERE and watching online) and one personal lesson…When this covid is over, I can’t wait to get more lessons, especially the personal ones.
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You need to interview your coach on the 1st lesson and tell him your goals.
I go to someone who learned under chuck cook and is a former baseball player. I played baseball so it really works for me to hear him coach different things.
He was also very frank with me when I told him my goals (better compression, better driving and more gir s). He said if you really want to get there you need to hold the club a knuckle stronger and learn to rotate. He said very matter of factly that grip changes suck, and that he could give me a band aid if I had events or tournaments coming up.
We are 4 months in and I feel like I am on the right track. First 2 months were brutal but now I am really seeing some results. I also had a playing partner comment that the sound of my compression has really changed. Felt really good to hear that
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I also really liked when he told me the following piece of advice.
“There’s no use in getting another lesson if you haven’t had 4 or 5 range sessions working on what we discussed last and you can’t make this change with out getting to the range once per week and doing some drills at home”
Just cemented my impression that this guy wasn’t going to blow smoke up my rear end
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With my in to out path swing I couldn’t stop shanking my irons so had a lesson with the pro. He made me stand closer to the ball, have me weight further back at address and swing more upright. Also work on the 9 to 3 to sort out release and low point. All good and I started to hit straight high irons. Then I started to fade my driver and that led to missing left and right. As a hooker that was unacceptable after being used to only 1 miss. Then I started hitting shanks again and rather than waste $ on another lesson I found my own unconventional fix. The whole reason I changed to a flat in to out swing was to avoid missing shots right. I was sick of hitting fades when it didn’t matter but when ob was on the right it would become a slice. I feel the pro wanted to completely change me without addressing the reason for the lesson, the shanks.
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That’s awesome, and that’s really at the core of this discussion - someone who actually cares about your progress vs someone who just wants to take your money…
The problem … as had been mentioned … is finding that “right” person for you - especially for newer golfers who don’t yet have the experience to evaluate who could be a good coach for them.
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Try and find some low handicap golfers that have been at it for a while and ask for recommendations
I asked a former college player at our club who is still a plus handicap
He made the recommendation and I found a match.
I have had plenty of two date burnouts with some other instructors though 
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That’s a great insight
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But the most important part of the story is omitted.
In the name of sweet baby jesus, please tell us more about the unconventional fix.
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Still swinging from the inside with my left hand trying to brush my right trouser pocket on way to impact. Now I don’t hook anymore. Straight to pull draws.
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