Pages

How to Pick a Qualified Instructor



Six general topics that when looking for a new coach are; credentials, experience, reputation, willingness, general ideas or concepts of teaching and video technology.

Within the topic of credentials, seek out a PGA professional or at a minimum someone that has worked under multiple other PGA professionals.

PGA professionals undergo the most extensive training and education in the field of golf instruction. They are also required to play to a certain level and pass multiple levels of tests.

Look for someone that's certified in club fitting; any major brand would do fine.

Look for someone that's certified with the Titleist Performance Institute (or at least ask them about there general corporal background) as they will understand body and swing relationships best.

Within the topic of experience, find a coach that is given at least 1,000 lessons.

Be aware that the average professional teaches roughly 100-300 lessons a year, according to PGA Magazine.

Numerous coaches have taught for years and years but only given a few hundred lessons a year at best. Also, find a coach that has experience teaching your level of golfer. Do they specialize in what you're looking for in the game or do they teach other groups of golfers as there specialty? Just ask them what there specialty is in.

Reputation trumps all.

A referral from a friend for a good coach is highly recommended. Additionally, ask the other employees in the golf shop or other coaches that teach with the coach you are considering if they've taken a lesson from him or her. They should say yes and that they highly recommend him or her.

Willingness revolves around two key concepts; time and attitude.

Seek someone out that has the passion and energy. It will make every lesson that much better. They should additionally be willing to give you 10-15 minutes of their time to discuss and answer questions that you have.

Ask about their general ideas of the golf swing and teaching approach. Ask what methods they teach and look to see that they have some answers along the lines that are based on the student and not their own personal opinions.

Look for fact-based answers. Examples would be ball flight laws, video reinforcement or that they use launch monitors (ideal if you are looking to get fit for clubs). Again, you're looking for facts not opinions.

And finally…

Work with an instructor that uses video.

100% of people find that this visual reference will help them learn faster. The National Golf Foundation did a study finding that golfers that used video for lessons learned teaching concepts and were able to apply them 3-4 times faster than without video.  

By seeing your own swing on video and gaining feedback from the coach's expertise in analysis, video-based golf instruction is a mandatory if you want to learn as fast and as competently as possible.

Here is a summary…

Ask for 10-15 minutes of his or her time.

Score him/her on a scale of 1-10 for each area AFTER the interview is over.

60 would be a perfect score, 0 is obviously someone you should erase from your memory because they probably just made you worse :)

Passing is 45 and above. Interview at least three coaches. Have fun, learn and enjoy the process of improvement. 


Any comments, questions or suggestions for topics are welcome; enter them in the comment box below. Your topic might be the next post! New posts everyday so come back tomorrow and get some help from a PGA Professional for free!