Beginner golfer concerned with direction of lessons

[cbrown1170]

Hi everyone,

 

Foremost, just want to thank anyone who reads this post and offers some insight. This forum has been incredibly valuable to help me with any questions I've asked, and I'm very thankful it exists. I feel bad that I'm much more of a taker than a giver right now in terms of my ability to help, but such is the nature of being a beginner. 

 

I'm about three months into golf now. I got a lesson within my first month of playing. We worked on grip and takeaway. He told me to buy a grip trainer and use it at the range and on the course, just to get used to how the hands feel in the proper (or what I thought) was the proper position. Anyway, after 2 months of doing that, I tried gripping the club without the trainer and it felt like a new sport. I reached back out to him to try and get some help or advice with this, and never heard back. Moved on to a new coach who I am with now. Very well regarded and owns his own practice. 

 

Here is the trackman recap of our first lesson: https://tmgolffiles.blob.core.windows.net/videos/e7089d4b-14df-4648-8b26-73798ce5af7c/ScreenCapture_6-28-2025_4.03.35_PM.mp4

 

I was encouraged by this, because my club speed did go up as a direct result from the instruction (per the numbers at the bottom). However in my mind, I still thought there were probably much more obvious things we could fix that would promote better consistency. 

 

Here is where I really feel like I'm lost: (link to last session): https://tmgolffiles.blob.core.windows.net/videos/99e9820a-e6b5-4c2f-850f-7de2c7a29574/ScreenCapture_7-18-2025_11.59.00_AM.mp4

 

I stood on hot plates and we analyzed where my weight was sitting throughout the swing. He pointed out a lot of my weight is forward in the toes and how I should be sitting on my back foot more at the start of the backswing. While I'm sure this is correct, I feel like I already have a huge issue with rotating and weight transfering, and I almost feel like this thought is going to make me feel "stuck" more? I've shared this video with a friend who is a scratch golfer and he said there are tons of other adjustments I could be making in my takeaway, etc, that would really help me see more consistency. 

 

To be perfectly honest, I am lucky to hit an iron in the air now. Most are dribblers that go 50-60 yards, or I just completely top it 3 feet. I know there is a saying that you have to get worse before you get better, but I kind of feel like I'm going backwards here. Here are just some thoughts I'm having: 

 

1) Should I just be upfront about how I'm feeling, explain how I am mightily struggling to even get these balls in the air, and suggest looking at other areas to fix?

 

2) What are you seeing in my swing that is undeniably mechanically incorrect that I should be fixing? I know my rotation is an issue. I thought my backswing kind of looked ok, but my buddy said that my hands are being raised up in an unnatural motion, and not moving with my body. I kind of see that in the videos.

 

I am just looking for some advice on how to move forward. I am frustrated because I felt like I did the right thing by going out and getting lessons, but I am just not imrpvoing at all. I've been to the range three times this week and tried the drill that is being simulated in the lesson recap, and I just cannot hit the ball to save my life.

 

Help! 

Thanks so much. 

[Pepperturbo]

Have a sitdown with your instructor and tell him/her how you're feeling, and listen to his response.  Also, seeking advice other than from your teacher, is bound to confuse you even more. You need to be patient with the process, and don't second-guess the teacher.

Edited July 22 by Pepperturbo

[joedizzy1978]

There are coaches who approach swings from the standpoint of identifying problems and finding solutions.  IMOP, they think if they solve problems faster than they arise, theyre doing their jobs.  On the other hand, there are those attempting to build a better player.  This requires an understanding of process, and is essential to have the foresight of where things will go, and what will be necessary to get there.  Most coaches think they fall in the second category and if you want to see if thats the truth, ask them to outline the process and what is required of you.  If you fulfill what is asked of you, it’s not unfair for you then to hold them accountable as well.  Those category one individuals will have a difficult time determining what specifically is required from you, outlining a process, let alone holding themselves to it.  Good luck.   

[Hawkeye77]

This is maybe a bit telling:  "However in my mind, I still thought there were probably much more obvious things we could fix that would promote better consistency."  You're an absolute beginner as you've said.  What are all these obvious things and where did the ideas for fixing those come from?

 

Anyway, that statement was after the first lesson with the new coach.

 

Second lesson you are having a friend who is a scratch golfer weigh in.

 

Now posting the content on here.

 

My opinion - seems really unfair to the person you haven't raised any of this with - the new coach. 

Edited July 22 by Hawkeye77

[virtuoso]

10 minutes ago, joedizzy1978 said:

There are coaches who approach swings from the standpoint of identifying problems and finding solutions.  IMOP, they think if they solve problems faster than they arise, theyre doing their jobs.  On the other hand, there are those attempting to build a better player.  This requires an understanding of process, and is essential to have the foresight of where things will go, and what will be necessary to get there.  Most coaches think they fall in the second category and if you want to see if thats the truth, ask them to outline the process and what is required of you.  If you fulfill what is asked of you, it’s not unfair for you then to hold them accountable as well.  Those category one individuals will have a difficult time determining what specifically is required from you, outlining a process, let alone holding themselves to it.  Good luck.   

Sounds great on paper.

[sundaypins]

2 hours ago, cbrown1170 said:

To be perfectly honest, I am lucky to hit an iron in the air now.

 

To be perfectly honest in return both lesson reviews were horrible in my opinion,  not only in what was being conveyed during the lesson but more importantly you're not even close to being able to engage any of that material fundamentally or physically this soon.  I have to stop.  

[virtuoso]

@cbrown1170

 

Whether your coach has chosen the right priorities in the mechanics to work on and whether you might have better ideas of what those priorities should be is immaterial at this point. You have both decided to take a few high tech measurement devices and do a deep dive into the minutia of biomechanics. At the end of it, you will have a lot of technical insights about the golf swing, but still not actually be able to hit a ball with grace, power and precision.

 

So, instead, it should go like this:

 

You look at the swing as two basic components: Your arm swing, and your body pivot.

 

You gain an understanding of how they generally blend together so that they are synchronized in a way that the body can move and turn toward the target as the arms swing the club toward the ground.

 

You practice rehearsals at an imaginary ball 2 feet off the ground with a big full move, at high speed, while trying to keep from falling over. This is your introduction to GRF's and general sequencing.

 

You start to pay closer attention to wrist alignments and hinging so that you can transfer energy and speed out to the club head (you learn to crack the whip).

 

You try to take this raw assembly and make the bottom of the club scrape the mat in the general location that the ball will be.

 

You keep practicing at full speed until you are more precise in where you land the low point of the clubhead radius on the mat.

 

You introduce a ball.

 

You scrape the mat under the ball at full speed.....you are now golfing.

 

You are now getting the ball airborne and you start to learn how to time the closing of the clubface to start to control direction.

 

Then you turn the machines back on.

 

Edited July 22 by virtuoso

[GoGoErky]

51 minutes ago, joedizzy1978 said:

There are coaches who approach swings from the standpoint of identifying problems and finding solutions.  IMOP, they think if they solve problems faster than they arise, theyre doing their jobs.  On the other hand, there are those attempting to build a better player.  This requires an understanding of process, and is essential to have the foresight of where things will go, and what will be necessary to get there.  Most coaches think they fall in the second category and if you want to see if thats the truth, ask them to outline the process and what is required of you.  If you fulfill what is asked of you, it’s not unfair for you then to hold them accountable as well.  Those category one individuals will have a difficult time determining what specifically is required from you, outlining a process, let alone holding themselves to it.  Good luck.   

I know and see more coaches in the second group than the first. Might be a different story from 10-15 years ago or longer but less today

[joedizzy1978]

44 minutes ago, virtuoso said:

Sounds great on paper.

 

12 minutes ago, virtuoso said:

@cbrown1170

 

Whether your coach has chosen the right priorities in the mechanics to work on and whether you might have better ideas of what those priorities should be is immaterial at this point. You have both decided to take a few high tech measurement devices and do a deep dive into the minutia of biomechanics. At the end of it, you will have a lot of technical insights about the golf swing, but not still not actually be able to hit a ball with grace, power and precision.

 

So, instead, it should go like this:

 

You look at the swing as two basic components: Your arm swing, and your body pivot.

 

You gain an understanding of how they generally blend together so that they are synchronized in a way that the body can move and turn toward the target as the arms swing the club toward the ground.

 

You practice rehearsals at an imaginary ball 2 feet off the ground with a big full move, at high speed, while trying to keep from falling over. This is your introduction to GRF's and general sequencing.

 

You start to pay closer to wrist alignments and hinging so that you can transfer energy and speed out to the club head (you learn to crack the whip).

 

You try to take this raw assembly and make the bottom of the club scrape the mat in the general location that the ball will be.

 

You keep practicing at full speed until you are more precise in where you land the low point of the clubhead radius on the mat.

 

You introduce a ball.

 

You scrape the mat under the ball at full speed.....you are now golfing.

 

You are now getting the ball airborne and you start to learn how to time the closing of the clubface to start to control direction.

 

Then you turn the machines back on.

 

You didnt have a problem coming up with a general outline.  My response wasnt an attempt to identify his current coach, merely an approach he could use moving forward. 

Edited July 22 by joedizzy1978

[virtuoso]

Just now, joedizzy1978 said:

 

You didnt have a problem coming up with a general outline.  

What do you think? C+?

[joedizzy1978]

12 minutes ago, virtuoso said:

What do you think? C+?

Lol.  One of the better attempts Ive heard/read.  

[farmer]

Your description sounds like you got awfully technical awfully fast.  My old coach preferred to start with grip and address, then half swings and so on until a swing motion became more natural.  This as about 50 years ago, so things have changed.

Edited July 23 by farmer

[Hawkeye77]

2 minutes ago, farmer said:

Your

 

Come on man, you mean "you're"! 😉😀

[virtuoso]

6 minutes ago, Hawkeye77 said:

 

Come on man, you mean "you're"! 😉😀

You’re sure?

[Hawkeye77]

3 minutes ago, virtuoso said:

You’re sure?

 

So I don't loose you . . . 😀

 

He's edited since. The original post was just "Your", as I quoted - for some reason the rest of what he intended was nowhere to be seen - just joshing around with @farmer.  

 

And maybe you already got it and their we have it! 😉

[MonteScheinblum]

Watching the lessons and some of the responses here is a bit like watching 3 and 4 year olds running with scissors. 
 

 

Edited July 23 by MonteScheinblum

[Hawkeye77]

Edit.  

 

I shouldn't joke about what eye will be dominant once Frasier loses it, but . . . if we'd had "I'm looking" first, would we have ever had the radio show show? Hmmm. 

Edited July 23 by Hawkeye77

[Hawkeye77]

It would be interesting to know what's wrong with the advice as given in the videos - just watched the second one and I don't understand any of it (I'm not saying it's right or wrong - I have no idea).

 

 

[Nels55]

I would stick with what your your coach is telling you.  Practice what he says and be patient.

[MK7Golf21]

First lesson seemed ok, you were hanging back on rear foot and getting forward on front foot for impact is golf lesson 101. 
 

Second lesson I didn’t really follow what he was saying, the coaches overview of the lesson could have been better on his end. Was like a minute of saying nothing really. 

[cbrown1170]

Thanks for all the replies to this post, troll or not.

 

Just want to clear some things up... I'm not at all saying what he is telling me to do is inherently *wrong*.. I have no grounds to determine that or not. To me, they just feel like more advanced, niche concepts that would probably be dissected and corrected once a better foundation is built. If I'm having trouble making solid contact and hitting the ball in the center of the club face, which he is aware of, I would think there would be different things to focus on.. That aren't the length of my backswing, or the weight distribution in my back foot as I start the downswing.

 

He is an incredibly nice guy with a state of the art training center. I am really not trying to say anything negative about him. And I know the problem lies with me, and being an absolute s*** golfer. 

 

Having played other sports and been with lots of coaches, I guess I also have the opinion that there are plenty of methods and approaches to get the most out of someone. And I'm just wondering if trying a different coach or talking with him about the approach of these lessons would be valuable. As an example, we never discussed anything about my setup, which I'm sure could use improvement. This is an example of something that I would think would be addressed before going into the things we have.

 

I really hope I didn't come off like a **** in my initial message, I'm just looking for some advice on what you may see in my swing, and if you think the feedback I'm getting is effective or not. These lessons are high up on the $ scale compared to other options, so I think it's only fair for me to wonder if it might be worth seeing if I gel with someone else better. I know he coaches golfers who are now playing D1 and stuff like that, so he might just be geared more towards having students who are further along in their game.

 

Thanks again for all the feedback. 

[cbrown1170]

19 minutes ago, Hawkeye77 said:

It would be interesting to know what's wrong with the advice as given in the videos - just watched the second one and I don't understand any of it (I'm not saying it's right or wrong - I have no idea).

 

 

 

Right, I think it's more of right place, right time instead of it being completely "wrong"... But interestingly enough, some people in this thread have said they aren't even following what he was trying to get out of me in the recap videos.. So I dunno. Lol

[MonteScheinblum]

5 minutes ago, cbrown1170 said:

Thanks for all the replies to this post, troll or not.

 

Just want to clear some things up... I'm not at all saying what he is telling me to do is inherently *wrong*.. I have no grounds to determine that or not. To me, they just feel like more advanced, niche concepts that would probably be dissected and corrected once a better foundation is built. If I'm having trouble making solid contact and hitting the ball in the center of the club face, which he is aware of, I would think there would be different things to focus on.. That aren't the length of my backswing, or the weight distribution in my back foot as I start the downswing.

 

He is an incredibly nice guy with a state of the art training center. I am really not trying to say anything negative about him. And I know the problem lies with me, and being an absolute s*** golfer. 

 

Having played other sports and been with lots of coaches, I guess I also have the opinion that there are plenty of methods and approaches to get the most out of someone. And I'm just wondering if trying a different coach or talking with him about the approach of these lessons would be valuable. As an example, we never discussed anything about my setup, which I'm sure could use improvement. This is an example of something that I would think would be addressed before going into the things we have.

 

I really hope I didn't come off like a **** in my initial message, I'm just looking for some advice on what you may see in my swing, and if you think the feedback I'm getting is effective or not. These lessons are high up on the $ scale compared to other options, so I think it's only fair for me to wonder if it might be worth seeing if I gel with someone else better. I know he coaches golfers who are now playing D1 and stuff like that, so he might just be geared more towards having students who are further along in their game.

 

Thanks again for all the feedback. 

I agree with your assessment  

[virtuoso]

1 hour ago, Hawkeye77 said:

 

So I don't loose you . . . 😀

 

He's edited since. The original post was just "Your", as I quoted - for some reason the rest of what he intended was nowhere to be seen - just joshing around with @farmer.  

 

And maybe you already got it and their we have it! 😉

Their indeed!

[coops]

You do make improvements from the first to the second lesson... so that's good, but i'm definitely in with Virtuoso camp above - i mean using force plates and blingy tech on a beginner is... 

 

 

When you practice, you're not going to have those things, so what feels are you looking for and checking?

 

Even getting a club or orange hwip trainer and turn & swinging back and forwards stood up, swinging the club horizontally to get a feel for the shoulders and hips turning ( a la the old Monte cargo days of https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FH5r5_tROU

   )  - if you then start bending over while swinging back and though, the body should more easily compensate to stay in balance while the hips and shoulders keep turning on a 'natural' plane... 

Just looks from your lesson your hips are level at end of your backswing which results in problems to swing down to the ball. 

 

Best if Monte and other instructors could confirm or not - i could be way off...  but looking at pressure plate readouts at your stage of things seems to be missing the point. And it may be something at adress/setup that encourages this hip position.. but that's where the good instructor can guide you to change and feel what needs to be corrected.

 

Or to put it another way - changing the setup or direction of your hip turn  or other would be what you need to work on, WHICH THEN results in those pressure readings improving. Just knowing the weight is too forward on your toes is.... ? There's plenty of awful ways to get the weight into the heel.

 

Edited July 23 by coops

[PedronNiall]

1 hour ago, cbrown1170 said:

Thanks for all the replies to this post, troll or not.

 

Just want to clear some things up... I'm not at all saying what he is telling me to do is inherently *wrong*.. I have no grounds to determine that or not. To me, they just feel like more advanced, niche concepts that would probably be dissected and corrected once a better foundation is built. If I'm having trouble making solid contact and hitting the ball in the center of the club face, which he is aware of, I would think there would be different things to focus on.. That aren't the length of my backswing, or the weight distribution in my back foot as I start the downswing.

 

He is an incredibly nice guy with a state of the art training center. I am really not trying to say anything negative about him. And I know the problem lies with me, and being an absolute s*** golfer. 

 

Having played other sports and been with lots of coaches, I guess I also have the opinion that there are plenty of methods and approaches to get the most out of someone. And I'm just wondering if trying a different coach or talking with him about the approach of these lessons would be valuable. As an example, we never discussed anything about my setup, which I'm sure could use improvement. This is an example of something that I would think would be addressed before going into the things we have.

 

I really hope I didn't come off like a **** in my initial message, I'm just looking for some advice on what you may see in my swing, and if you think the feedback I'm getting is effective or not. These lessons are high up on the $ scale compared to other options, so I think it's only fair for me to wonder if it might be worth seeing if I gel with someone else better. I know he coaches golfers who are now playing D1 and stuff like that, so he might just be geared more towards having students who are further along in their game.

 

Thanks again for all the feedback. 

 

Agree with what you were given probably being advanced for someone who's anything less than a savant or a seasoned player. Not saying it couldn't work if you can find a way to digest it, but it's asking a lot to try and learn what good movement should feel like when you don't feel comfortable taking your grip and addressing the ball with consistency. Doing those well makes all the stuff that should come next much easier to pull off. Going from an iffy start position to a forced feel of where you should be isn't most people's cup of tea for learning, though it can be beneficial to feel the difference in good and bad movement and even to practice both. 

 

If it's my money I'm being calm but direct with the instructor that I'm not feeling comfortable or consistent over the ball. I'd also ask for clarity on how I'm likely to progress and what I can expect. Maybe he can show you other players at a few months then a year in working with him at his recommended pace. Maybe he's found good results by taking others through it the way he is with you and there's more clarity to come as you go, but you'll obviously feel a lot more in sync and open to his way of teaching if you don't feel both overwhelmed and blind to what's coming. Your lessons, you're paying for them, gotta be your own best advocate as in most things in life. 

[UKGolfer86]

One thing to consider.  This coach has his own place, he has all this tech installed, probably advertises the fact.  He likely assumes that you want this level of detail and tech in your lessons, based on the fact you chose to come to him.  I would call or go see him outside of a lesson, and have a chat.  Explain that at this stage of your journey, you want to simplify everything, ignore the tech, bar launch monitor, for now and focus on the low hanging fruit.

 

The coach I am now seeing has different pricing structures based on what is used in the lesson. If you just want his eye and some verbal feedback, more aimed at beginners, he charges a lower rate than if he gets the trackman/swing camera etc involved.  This makes him more accessible to those not ready for lots of numbers and just wanting some fundamentals to work on.

 

Nothing will change if you don't communicate openly with your coach.   But if you explain your side, tell him what you want from him, he has 2 options.  He can take on board what you say and tailor his approach, then bring that tech back in in the future when you are at a point where it helps.  Or he can say no, and at that point you go and look for someone with an approach more suited to your level and current needs.

 

Good luck!

[TheDeanAbides]

Do what @virtuoso said. You're currently trying to learn calculus when you don't know your multiplication tables. 

[ShortGolfer]

I may be able to use that sort of instructor now, except that I'm learning very quickly right now on my own! I learned a driver swing in just one week by watching YouTube videos, squeezing twenty short practice sessions into my schedule, and playing three rounds of golf--9/9/18.  I had a nice stretch of six holes scoring six on all of them with six three putts.  I so happy about getting on in three with good drivesI didn't care about the three putts.

At this point I just want to put in enough reps before winter so I can swing driver without thinking about what I'm doing.  Right now I have to go through a checklist of stuff. 

 

But, the big difference between me and you is that I've been learning for four years and learned to consistently strike the ball off the fairway and automatically set up for an array of wedge shots.

I get out of the bunker with one swing 90% of the time!  The last couple outings  my swings have put the ball in easy 2 putt range. 

It is a lot easier to learn when you have spent the time to build a solid foundation you trust.  I was lucky to find a series of YouTube videos that I could clearly understand that answered all my questions.

As well as have the time to put in the work needed to change my golf swing in the middle of a short New England golfing season!

 

Talk to your instructor about what you want.  But, in my opinion, it may take months for a beginner to see improvement.  I used to plan on taking three months to change anything with my swing.

I spent all winter practicing my grip.

 

 

 

Edited July 23 by ShortGolfer

[bcjim]

3 hours ago, UKGolfer86 said:

One thing to consider.  This coach has his own place, he has all this tech installed, probably advertises the fact.  He likely assumes that you want this level of detail and tech in your lessons, based on the fact you chose to come to him.  I would call or go see him outside of a lesson, and have a chat.  Explain that at this stage of your journey, you want to simplify everything, ignore the tech, bar launch monitor, for now and focus on the low hanging fruit.

 

The coach I am now seeing has different pricing structures based on what is used in the lesson. If you just want his eye and some verbal feedback, more aimed at beginners, he charges a lower rate than if he gets the trackman/swing camera etc involved.  This makes him more accessible to those not ready for lots of numbers and just wanting some fundamentals to work on.

 

Nothing will change if you don't communicate openly with your coach.   But if you explain your side, tell him what you want from him, he has 2 options.  He can take on board what you say and tailor his approach, then bring that tech back in in the future when you are at a point where it helps.  Or he can say no, and at that point you go and look for someone with an approach more suited to your level and current needs.

 

Good luck!

Was going to type nearly this same thing. 

 

Plenty of beginner golfers, unfortunately, probably don't come back for further lessons if they pay $100 or more for lesson 1 and that involves 45min of where the feet, ball, and club actuall go vs where the average beginner thinks they should go.