Golf lessons are a great way to improve your game no matter your level. Nowadays there is so much content online and some really superb You Tube channels offering great advice. The problem is alot of the time that advice could be aimed at tens if not hundreds of thousands of golfers. Now I’m quite sure that many viewers do benefit from that magical tip online (if they are lucky enough to have the same match ups in their swing as the video suggests) but i see many confused golfers coming to see me, suffering from information overload. What face to face lessons offer is the opportunity to get tailored advice to help YOUR game.
Through years of experience, a good coach will assess your technique and through dialog with the pupil come up with a plan that takes into account your personal goals, your limitations (both physical and time) and most importantly one that takes into account your current swing and match ups. Match ups are what allows you to hit the ball and play the game. For example an out to in swing is often seen as a fault, but it is almost always a match up for an overly open face. If the golfer didn’t swing to the left (right handed golfer) then they wouldn’t be able to keep the ball on the golf course! if you changed the match up and didn’t change the original fault (open face) you can do more harm than good. This is what golfers can see in a You Tube video and then go to the range to try this ‘secret move’. They may make the swing change they desired but they have made themselves worse in the process!
A good coach will ALWAYS consider any change in technique and how it will impact your ability to perform. Next time you have a lesson, make sure you ask questions too. Your coach should always be able to explain the reason and end goal for any technical change if required. Enjoy the process of learning and see your game improve!
Sam