Interview questions for a golf instructor

[gr8 flopshot]

I am looking for a new swing instructor. What questions should I ask him when I first speak with him on the phone. From what I understand he has a really good understanding of the golf swing and has a pretty light personality. He is the head pro at a private club of which I am not a member (don't know if that matters).

[joesgonegolfing]

My biggest concern with an instructor is can he now or was he ever a real "player". After a number of years teaching golf and taking lessons as a student, I have come to the conclusion if your teacher can't strike it, then find someone else.

 

I know this is a controversial point of view on instruction, but the range is full of guys who can talk a good swing but can't make it or demo it.

 

As a student you are going to get a lot of knowledge from playing lessons and watching certain shots demonstrated to you live. If your teaching pro can't do it, he can only talk it.....thats not good enough.

 

I respect the older pro who had a game and has the eye for a swing. However, just passing a PAT does not make you a "player". (Yes I passed my PAT the first time and its just not the same deal as a high level of competition)

 

Joe

[gr8 flopshot]

I thought about that too. I have never seen the guy play, but wa told that he was a player i.e. 4 year scholarship to college and all that. Would it be inappropriate for me to ask him to hit some shots before our first lesson?

[SadTrombone]

Ask for their opinion on how to hit your drives with topspin. If the first words out of their mouth aren't "You don't hit a shot with topspin...", you need to excuse yourself and find someone else.

 

-mini

[joesgonegolfing]

I thought about that too. I have never seen the guy play, but wa told that he was a player i.e. 4 year scholarship to college and all that. Would it be inappropriate for me to ask him to hit some shots before our first lesson?

 

 

Not really before, but certainly during you can ask for him to show you a shot with the correct form. You will get a lot out of that visual aid.

 

Joe

[hoganfan924]

Ask for their opinion on how to hit your drives with topspin. If the first words out of their mouth aren't "You don't hit a shot with topspin...", you need to excuse yourself and find someone else.

 

-mini

 

Mini,

 

The only way to truly hit a shot with topspin is to top it (hit it above the equator) which, with a driver should cause the ball to travel about 2 feet in the air (give or take a bit). Now you can certainly hit a shot with less backspin than normal (a "tumbling draw", but that isn't topspin. So I'll have to disagree with your advice.

 

I would ask these kind of questions:

 

1. What do the left and right wrist joints do in the golfswing? If he cannot answer that the left wrist cocks & uncocks (ulnar & radial deviation) and the right wrist (mostly) bends/hinges/dorsi-flexes(in the BS) then run away

2. What is his philosophy of the golfswing? If he doesn't even have one, run away very quickly. If he talks a lot about the importance of the static fundamentals (grip, posture, stance, alignment, ball position) then you might have a good one

3. Who are/were his biggest influences in developing his teaching method? Did he ever study under a top instructor? (not a requirement in my book but usually a good sign if they have)

4. What is his definition of the release? and, How does the clubface get squared up through impact? If he mentions anything about rolling the forearms over to square up the face, run away very quickly

5. Who are his best long time students? Hopefully he's taught at least a few very, very good players (from the start, not inherited an already very good player)

6. Does he use video analysis in every lesson? I think this is super important, the camcorder is the golf instructors microscope.

 

I don't believe that a guy has to be (or have formerly been) a great player to be an excellent teacher. Was John Wooden a great basketball player? Harvey Penick a great golfer? Lots of guys can play at a very high level and can't teach anything but what they do themselves (which might be completely wrong for you), and some can't even do that very well.

 

If you go for your first lesson and the guy is inattentive or, the opposite, commenting about every single swing, I think that's would be my last lesson with him.

[hayam]

He must be able to teach, demonstrate ( ask him hit curves , and show shot game, can he hit far ? ), and does he have a stead hold of players who are good? If you like what you see, learn from him.

 

But do some research before deciding on a Long term relationship. And if you only think of doing a couple of lessons, don't even bother.

[SadTrombone]

Ask for their opinion on how to hit your drives with topspin. If the first words out of their mouth aren't "You don't hit a shot with topspin...", you need to excuse yourself and find someone else.

 

-mini

 

Mini,

 

The only way to truly hit a shot with topspin is to top it (hit it above the equator) which, with a driver should cause the ball to travel about 2 feet in the air (give or take a bit). Now you can certainly hit a shot with less backspin than normal (a "tumbling draw", but that isn't topspin. So I'll have to disagree with your advice.

Actually you just agreed with my advice.

 

If they don't start by telling you not to hit a shot with "topspin", you need to find someone else. Any "professional" that wants to teach you to hit with "topspin" isn't worth the time of day.

 

-mini

[hoganfan924]

Ask for their opinion on how to hit your drives with topspin. If the first words out of their mouth aren't "You don't hit a shot with topspin...", you need to excuse yourself and find someone else.

 

-mini

 

Mini,

 

The only way to truly hit a shot with topspin is to top it (hit it above the equator) which, with a driver should cause the ball to travel about 2 feet in the air (give or take a bit). Now you can certainly hit a shot with less backspin than normal (a "tumbling draw", but that isn't topspin. So I'll have to disagree with your advice.

Actually you just agreed with my advice.

 

If they don't start by telling you not to hit a shot with "topspin", you need to find someone else. Any "professional" that wants to teach you to hit with "topspin" isn't worth the time of day.

 

-mini

 

Yes, now that I reread it, I mistook the "aren't" for "are."

[SadTrombone]

Yes, now that I reread it, I mistook the "aren't" for "are."

We'll forgive ya this time. ;)

 

-mini

[againstthegrain]

For me my instructor must have:

 

 

grass to hit off, be well versed in video analysis(and have equipment available), and send me home with 3-5 drills to practice prior to our next lesson. Of course he's got to have an extensive knowledge of the golf swing(no method instructors) and be able to communicate that knowledge.

[leekgolf]

My biggest concern with an instructor is can he now or was he ever a real "player". After a number of years teaching golf and taking lessons as a student, I have come to the conclusion if your teacher can't strike it, then find someone else.

 

I know this is a controversial point of view on instruction, but the range is full of guys who can talk a good swing but can't make it or demo it.

 

As a student you are going to get a lot of knowledge from playing lessons and watching certain shots demonstrated to you live. If your teaching pro can't do it, he can only talk it.....thats not good enough.

 

I respect the older pro who had a game and has the eye for a swing. However, just passing a PAT does not make you a "player". (Yes I passed my PAT the first time and its just not the same deal as a high level of competition)

 

Joe

 

I disagree. I think they need the ability to demonstrate properly, but whether or not they are/were a "player" is meaningless to me. I believe the instructor that has the most ways to get his students to execute is the most effective instructor. I would ask if they have a "system" of teaching, meaning one way to teach everyone. If so, I would move on.