But there are different skills needed for each, and they are all crucial to accomplishing your goals.
At GOLF’s 2023 Top 100 Teachers Summit at the Westin Kierland in Scottsdale, Ariz., last December, instructor Jeff Smith broke down the differences between the two.
For starters, Smith says, it starts with a realistic assessment of your game.
How good is your short game?
“Smith says breaking 90 essentially comes down to a better short game and the right coaching, which would help golfers play more consistent, smarter golf.
“Whereas breaking 90 is simply just coaching, and with a playing lesson you can usually fix that pretty quickly.
When you get to 80 it might be a little more of a time commitment or spending time with an instructor on mechanics and further refining that short game.
“One important thing to remember, Smith says, is that this all starts with an accurate assessment of your own game.
Smith says those players are often the hardest to teach, because they go into lessons thinking their scores are lower than what they really are.
“It’s a fantasy score.
Not to be overly negative, but you need to be realistic about where you are.
“From there, it’s all about finding the right teacher, committing and getting to work.
