Getting Professional Golf Lessons vs. Self-Taught

Becoming a self-taught individual in any discipline takes time, commitment, and a high threshold of tolerance to failure. All of these resonate with what you need to succeed in golfing as well. You must have heard of particular cases of well-known golfers that rose to prominence while being self-taught. So, should you get professional help? Or should you embark on a solo prowess to golfing greatness? Let’s find that out!

Should You Get Help from the Pros?

Generally speaking, getting assistance from professional golf players increases the chances of correcting mistakes that sap away from your results. Usually, poor technique creates bad habits, and bad habits can lead to bad results or even injuries.

Most of the time, golfing teachers are there to help you avoid those errors. Yet, being a successful professional golfer does not necessarily equal being a great teacher. There are numerous examples of people who excel at their crafts but have serious difficulties transmitting their knowledge. Not everyone has the gift of being a good teacher.

If you stumble upon a bad teacher, that can lead you nowhere as well. However, professionals usually know many of the ins and outs of the game, so even if they are poor teachers, they can possibly spare you from many headaches with a couple of tips.

Anyways, it can also happen that you started out as a self-taught golfer, but later realized that you want to receive instruction. If this is the case, be prepared for an ego check. Most likely, the teacher will spot blemishes that will totally modify your style or even comfort levels, making you regress in your progress. You will have to go back and revise your basics. Nonetheless, you also need to bear in mind that this is a small part of the path. Later on, once you surpass these hurdles, your learning curve will get much steeper in your favor.

Pros of Getting Pro Help

Crisp Fundamentals

Even if you don’t want to face the facts, it can be challenging to attain a thorough elementary understanding of the basics if you go solo. Having a teacher by your side can help you get that technique you must have to become proficient. 

Many times the material you watch on YouTube has restrained information, as the content creators usually shorten the length of videos for the sake of overly simplifying the instructions for viewers. Therefore, in this regard, being taught has the upper hand.

You Can Receive Info from a Reputable Source

If they play at a professional level, chances are that they know their art to a minimal degree. When you are self-taught, receiving answers to the burning questions you may have becomes elusive, as you have no one to turn to. When being taught by a pro, you can ask them all the questions you want, whenever you want, and you shall reap proper answers too.

External Source of Encouragement

Haven’t you ever been in a situation where you simply want to give up the fight? It happens to us all. With a mentor by your side, that no longer becomes a problem. Encouragement is right up the alley when being instructed by a professional golfer. They know what it’s like to be on your side, and they are there to help you overcome obstacles.

Networking

You may be tempted to think that “networking” and “golf” don’t belong in the same sentence. You may be wrong too. Being close to pro golfers can help you at the very least break the barriers of loneliness you face when taking up a new hobby on your own. It becomes easier to be around fellow golfers.

Also, under the circumstance that you get sufficiently good, they may also help you prepare for tournaments, and connect you with sponsors. This is a great plus that goes overlooked when golf practitioners don’t ponder assistance from others.

Need for Commitment

When you enroll for lessons, pay the teacher, and are actively seeking help, you are taking tangible steps to become better. Self-taught players usually tend to skip one or two days of practice in the case that they don’t have self-discipline. Dieting, physical exercise, and simply showing up to the classes are some of the requirements instructors generally demand.

Why Should You Become Self-Taught?

A good reason for becoming self-taught is that paying an instructor does not automatically guarantee results. There are several variables to hold to account. As we previously said, being a pro golfer isn’t a synonym for being a pro teacher. Improper instruction can lead to bad results as well.

Dumping cash and expecting an immediate handicap reduction, or impeccable technique from the get-go is a flawed form of thinking. Paying for adequate instruction is just a means to get you closer to your goal.

Some golfers also choose to go 50/50. This means that they partially teach themselves some techniques, and seek assistance for the ones they have more trouble with. For instance, putting heavily relies on feeling, so maybe you have an easier time showing yourself the way in this aspect. On the other hand, driving is rather intricate, so in this scenario you may need a third-party boost for your learning regimen.

Pros of Being Self-Taught

Being self-taught is not all downsides. It has some perks that come with it that you should also consider. Here are some of them:

It’s Cheaper

If you’re on a tight budget, you have to evaluate becoming self-taught. Golf can be a very expensive sport. Lessons can cost an average rate of USD 55 per hour, and you may need more than one lesson. Include additional range fees, equipment, and so on, which makes the ante grow even larger. You can start on your own to see if it suits you. If else, proceed to take formal instruction.

You Can Develop Your Own Style

Being taught by others can become forced if they instill techniques or movements that don’t blend with you. Developing a personal, trademark style becomes easy peasy when you are self-taught.

You Set the learning Pace and Schedule

If you are on a tight schedule, self-taught is the way to go. You can set your own pace, and you can decide when to practice. Control over your time is absolute when you are self-taught.

Which One is Better for You?

In reality, there is no cookie-cutter approach to learning golf. In general, it is recommended to begin with a teacher that can guide you through the first steps. If you, later on, decide that learning on your own is your best bet, follow suit. Solo or not, you must buy golf products that withstand the test of time. Buy pro-level golf products at https://back2basics.golf/collections/all.