The New Rules of Golf Instruction Blog and Golf Tips

1. As a 10 handicap, playing like a champ for a long stretch of holes, then playing like a chump for another long stretch... Inconsistency 
 
2. Understanding what the instructer is trying to have me do, but watching the old body revert to its bad habits within days of the instruction.

1. As a 10 handicap, playing like a champ for a long stretch of holes, then playing like a chump for another long stretch... Inconsistency 
 
2. Understanding what the instructer is trying to have me do, but watching the old body revert to its bad habits within days of the instruction.

I get frustrated by instruction that requires an undersanding of the problem to understand the solution. If I understood what it means to clear my hips, pronate my wrist, lock my elbow, etc, I wouldn't be a 19 handicap in the first place.

1.The two S's. Sand and the once a year case of the shanks. 
 
2. The inconsistency or contradiction of instruction and teachers who try to teach the same swing to everyone rather than working with your strengths.

1. Inability to physically execute what my mind plans; inability to create sustainable new muscle memory. 
 
 
 
2. Lack of continual improvement and teaching approach/plan by instructors resulting in a "only get a lesson when there is a problem" perception by students; "Bend your knees, 50 bucks, please" instructor attitude. Instructor should be committed to helping student improve over the long-term rather than short-term fixes.

Confusion- tips,drills.dvd's and books don't all apply to my stature and swing. hard to figure what works best for me...

Frustration: 
 
With instruction: The instructor doesn't take the fact that I'm not very flexible and keeps harping on getting me in that very uncomfortable position in the back swing. We were not able to move on because I just couldn't get there. I gave up on GolfTec because of that. I went no where with those lessons. A friend had me hitting little punch shots with an 8 iron and I'm hitting the ball better. 
 
With golf in general: 
I have the hardest time taking the shots I hit on the driving range out to the course. It's probably due to not enough practice shots, but I'm a busy person. I hit about 150 balls when I can make it to the range.

Virtually every response was from a male, which isn't surprising. What frustrates me most about golf instruction is that it is the rare exception that an instructor will provide beginners virtually any guidance on the basics of golf etiquette - which is essential. The result is often that a newbie may come away with some solid mechanics, yet will remain very hesitant about setting foot on a course due to lack of comfort or thoughts of embarrassment. If not covered. We can't expect husbands to teach wives, or parents to teach children (although it's done). Many can relate to those communications. It must be built into early instruction or we may lose a golfer who could otherwise be out loving the game.

1. The top 2 things that frustrate me about golf are: 
 
a. A lack of etiquette at the T-Box and on the Green. 
 
b. My inability to correctly execute the shot I visualize. 
 
 
 
2. The top 2 things that have frustrated me about Golf Instruction were: 
 
a. Spending too much time during a lesson doing things that I could practice by myself e.g Line Drills, and not enough time on customized input as to how I could improve my game. 
 
b. Contradictory input from different Instructors at the same facility.

1. People not repairing their ballmarks 
2. People that take divots on pactice swings 
 
1. Getting good instruction but not getting advice on how to incorporate that instruction into playing 
2. Not incorporating knowledge of how students learn into teaching

Golf in General: 1. Inability to hit a still ball straight. 2. Play 14 holes OK but completely blow 6. 
 
Golf Instruction: 1. Difference of opinion on how to do different shots. 
2. Not given practice drills

1. I may practice what I "think" is the correct swing thought or move, but my review of video shows I am still do the same stupid things over and over again. -- Failure to self-correct 
 
 
 
2. Teaching pros make it look easy, while I struggle to hit 2 or 3 consecutive good shots. There has to be a better way to communicate golf instruction to allow 30+ handicap golfers to break 100 consistently.

Frustrations about golf. 
 
1. slow play 
 
2. unable to play 9 holes-not always time to play 18. Warm up and playing 18 can take from 4-6hrs 
 
Frustrations with golf instruction. 
 
1.Basic skills like chipping and pitching never taught the same by an instructor. One instructor might say chip with toe up, another something else. Makes it too confusing. 
 
2. No accountability with golf instructors and you never know whether the instruction is right for you. Golf instructors should be held accountable and if no improvement then the student should get their money back.

What are the top two things that frustrate you about golf? Lack of consentration and distractions from other players.. 
 
I hit about 300 balls a day in a private setting and and have become consistant in ball striking. It is when I get on the course with other people that I seem to lose consentration and make bad shots. I believe that it is the intent of other players to cause distractions to my game...I know that the very second I hit the ball, that my normal setup was altered because of the distractions. How can I tune out the distractions?  
 
What are the top two tings that frustrate you about golf instruction? 
 
Negative comments from the instructor and taking lessons inside... an instructor should never say anything negative about a players abilities..He should strive to keep the players faith in the game at a positive level...taking lessons inside...never knowing what the ball is acctually doing is worthless!

1. Issue with Golf: Lack of quality golf in the public realm. More municipalities need to provide quality golf for family fun or the sport will continue to stall. After living in Scotland I appreciate how many courses are available to the public. 
 
2. Instruction: I wish they treated instruction just like a hunting license, technical degree, etc. Develop a system for teaching the rules with a certification as the goal. 
 
For instance, start with the rules and etiquette. Then graduate to putting, chipping with 5 iron to 7 iron and if mastered then wedges. After the short game, learn half swing iron punch shots…Byron is famous for saying that people need to learn how to hit the same club different yardages. After punch shots, flow into full swing iron shots. Only after irons are learned graduate to the next level like in karate …hybrid/fwy wood shots, then driver! 
 
Once you are ready you before graduating you have a final playing lesson aka test with a pro. 
 
If you sell the idea to students with an upfront fee and offer that if they complete the course in a certain number of days they get 30% of deposit back….or free stuff like balls and rounds of golf or free night stay at Reynolds? Let’s face it our society thrives when there are defined goals, trophies, diplomas, etc. Hence my entry to your question...wink, wink, wink, free pentas? 
 
If there was a specialized course I think we would see play improve and the word would spread about a place that gives you the full “course” to learn your hobby. For instance if you offered the some rigor of training for PGA certification to the average bloke on the street….you might find tons of applicants that enjoy working toward a goal even they never plan to work as a certified PGA member.

I'm Irish, an Whaf moost goof instructors neber tak into accoont is (hic!) dat moost Irish golfers are always a wittle drunk wen playing da game.(hic!)dEY nebber sho ya how 2 hit ball wen smashed,ineeberated,loaded. I ueslessly start wit 4 Jackie Danels be4 I play,(hic!) den 6 bers on da course, and 4 mor after da rond.(hic!) 
 
Mi questin is....Wait...How do I... Whre...wat...Who (hic!).............? 
 
Forgetaboutit, I tink I hab anutter drink!(hic!)

1. Not being able to hit good drives consistently during a round. 
 
 
 
2. The few golf instructors I have experience with have all said "I will not attempt to change your swing as everyones swing is unique". Results - no improvement. 
 
Before I took up golf I recall my neighbor, Mack McCarg, who was golf pro at Ft.Devens, MA, tell me "it's ALL in the SWING! I had asked him what makes a good golfer.

1. Missing a two foot putt. 
 
2. Nothing really. I never took a ton of lessons, and still don't. 
 

#1: a) The difficulty in translating the "know what I'm s'posed to do" to the "do it"! I KNOW I'm to not rush from the top....why do I???? b) The inability to 'stay steady'---keep an even tempo through a round 
 
2) a) I don't sense any instructor I've ever had really cares if I get better---none has ever taken the initiative and followed up with me b) Not providing enough specific guidance on what to do between lessons. 
 
 
 

1.What are the top two things that frustrate you about golf? 
 
 
 
Being inconsistent 
 
leaveing a putt short 
 
 
 
2.What are the top two tings that frustrate you about golf instruction? 
 
 
 
a instructor who has you stand 40 degrees left to "fix" a slice 
 
 
 
a instructor who band aids a problem instead of showing you a A whole new perception of what to do correctly!

Not being able to hit fairway woods, mostly topping them. Not being able to hit a good shot out of sand

Slow play It's a matter of effort, consideration and knowledge. People don't take the time to figure out why and if they're slow and take the steps to speed up. Having played in England, I noticed more golfers make a concerted effort to move along, dreary weather notwithstanding. 
 
Walking not allowed This, plus layouts that resemble suburbia/exurbia, too spread out. As a nation that's typically out of of shape, people think it's some kind of miracle it's not that hard to walk, even on hot and humid days on a hilly course. 
 
InstructionI can't put a finger on why, but the way golf is currently taught seems broken. It's both the fault of teacher and student. You can't take a couple of lessons and expect results. When people learn to play the piano, they take a continuous stream of lessons. They don't take a lesson to learn how to get through 5 difficult measures of a Beethoven Sonata. As for teaching, from my own experience, there are alot of bad instructors out there. It's one thing to be a good player, but teaching is hard.

One more... 
 
Short game practice areas This might not be a problem if you live in Florida or North Carolina, but in the more densely populated parts of the US, it's hard to find a decent practice area to pitch, chip and putt. It's hard to maintain and I would guess most people just want to hit balls and disregard the short game, but that's how you lower your score.

1.What are the top two things that frustrate you about golf? 
 
 
 
A. Practicing for hours, thinking you are practicing correctly and getting better and later finding out you have reverted back to your old (bad) habits. 
 
 
 
B. Golf courses that don't have short game practice areas. I hate going to a putting green and seeing a sign that reads, "No Chipping". 
 
 
 
 
 
2.What are the top two things that frustrate you about golf instruction? 
 
 
 
A. How golf instructors seem to focus their golf instruction "on the latest article in a golf magazine" for everyone. Everyone's swing is different and should be taught as such. 
 
 
 
B. Not having a specific practice plan for the student at the end of a lesson. What the student should practice and how long the student should practice to see improvement, in relation to the students time for practice and his or her golf goals.

I realize, I'm too late for the drawing, but I have to tell you, the two things that get me VERY frustrated about golf are: 
 
1. Inconsistent hitting. I just can't stand the fact that I can hit it will once and horrible the next shot.  
 
2. This is a frustration but also the beauty of this sport... as soon as I figure one thing out and fix it, I end finding another thing that seems just as important as the previous, but I had never noticed it before. 
 
Then the two things that frustrate me about golf instruction: 
 
1. If you're going to tell me ALL the things I shouldn't do, we're going to be here all day long. Tell me what I SHOULD DO... that's a much shorter list. 
 
2. You're a golf pro... I'm NOT. Please explain things in language I can understand. I don't work at the course, I don't make a living from golf. Yes, I love the sport and yest I spend way too much of my time reading and learning about it, but I'm still not a golf pro and I don't know all the terminology you all use. 
 
Thanks! :) 
 
Patch

Hi Charlie, 
 
 
 
Can you put a segment up for hitting the driver "pure" 
 
 
 
Thanks

About Golf .1st thing is SLOW PLAY - why does someone who cant hit a ball 150 yards straight need to know 'how far to the PIN!!' and take an age finding out! 
2nd thing is lack of respect for the game. We are seeing more top pros behaving badly on TV and that is filtering down to the everyday player. Maybe I am sounding old but golf has a great reputation of fair play and every player facing the ups and downs of playing the game with good grace. 
About Golf Instruction 1st Thing. Just because you are a good player DOES NOT make you a good teacher. Good teachers can identify your potential golf swing, demonstrate each segment and 'teach' you how do achieve it! 
2nd thing. No Structured Lesson Plan. A good teacher should have a defined program for his student to follow. 
I live in London in the UK and we have lots of Driving ranges (all mats no grass). The vast majority of Courses have a putting green and little else in the way of practice facilities. Whilst every Golf Pro advertises lessons very few have a short game area or a range to teach on.

Frustrated most by being unable to  
 
get rid of too much tension and 
 
make a free fowing swing when under 
 
pressure. 
 
Many golf instructors are unable to 
 
diagnose the 2 or 3 major flaws in 
 
a person's swing and prescribe a  
 
plan with drills to correct these 
 
flaws.