golfrewind.com

This thread is for descriptions of best-ever golf lessons.

Below is my most recent lesson. The instructor, Stan Bean, is a PGA professional in Northern California.

I met Stan Bean at the 2008 Golf Expo in San Mateo where he was operating the golfTec booth. He's a large man with white hair. The booth was small and he looked uncomfortable sitting in a folding chair, crouched over a notebook computer. I was the first booth visitor and he greeted me with a smile and offered a free analysis. He helped me strap on shoulder and hip angle sensors as I got ready to hit a rubber ball into a small net. There was some technical problem and Stan moved nimbly, checking the video cameras, sensor connections and notebook software. He apologized for the delay and suggested I come back a little later.

When I returned he and a frail-looking woman of senior years were sitting side-by-side in front of the computer screen, looking at the videos of her swings. The woman's husband look anxiously over their shoulders. With a calm voice Stan pointed at the video images and made observations, like a doctor explaining X-rays to a worried patient. His diagnosis was severe swaying with left arm flexion and recommended some swing therapy sessions. The woman and her husband took the news bravely and moved on.

I once again strapped on the sensors. This time the cameras and sensors functioned perfectly as I fired my best 6-iron shots into the net. Stan gave me an OK signal and waved me to the seat beside him. My hopes to hear high praise for my tour-quality swing faded as Dr. Bean examined the images and offered his observations in a calm, concerned voice.

"At address your back angle is 48 degrees", he said, "Far more than the touring pro maximum of 42 degrees."

My swing is imperfect!

He clicked on a drop-down menu and a video of Ernie Els appeared in the left half of the screen. "And look here. Your wrists broke early in the take-away. See how firm Ernie's wrist are and how he takes the club away with a one-piece movement from his left shoulder?"

I murmered, "Yes, I see that", and waited for more.

"But my biggest concern is your right leg. You straighten the whole leg on the backswing and your weight sways past your right foot. Do you see how Ernie's left knee remains flexed and his weight stays over a spot inside his right foot?"

"Yes, his knee is flexed.", I said and thought, I swayed! Oh, no! I swayed!

"But let's take another look at address." Stan clicked something and the image returned to my address position. "Your setup with your shoulder, left wrist and shaft angle is just right."

At last, something good!

He clicked again. "And here at impact your arms look pretty good, but your weight is still back on your right side."

"Yes, I see that", I say. Back on my right side! I have a lousy weight shift! My perfect swing sucks!

Stan then told me to get back on the pad with the 6-iron. Gently but firmly he pushed my leg into proper position at the top of my swing. He backed away and I took a few swings. Stan watched and carefully adjusted my right leg a few more times. The firm right leg felt good I told him, and it made it easier to move to the left side and clearly with more power. Standing taller felt good, too.

He said, "That's better. Come on down to my shop in San Carlos and I'll give you the free half-hour lesson. We can work on your legs some more."

I said, "Thanks, Stan. You've been a huge help to me. I think I've got a 100 hours of work to do, but it will be worth it. You've got the best booth in this show." Stan smiled as I took his card and asked directions to his shop.

It had been a good lesson. Stan Bean is a great teacher and the electronics were effective and made it fun. I'll gladly follow the doctors orders, put in the 100 buckets of work and go back for another swing therapy session from Dr. Stan Bean.

Nice story :)

I thought I didn't need lessons either, but when I cannot improve my game in the 7 years of hacking through golf courses and driving ranges, and picking up different advice from different people, I finally spend the money to get proper lessons.

The difference has been 25 strokes and more consistent swing. And when my swing is off, I know what I do wrong and know how to fix it.

Now if only i can commit for another lesson, the time and the money, that'd probably make me a single digit handicap.