CE Golf

References

People sometimes write me asking if they can contact my students as a reference. I don't allow this for three reasons, 1) I won't impose on my clients, 2) just because one person does well with a particular swing style or instructor doesn't mean you will, 3) they're so ripe for abuse and fraud from unscrupulous instructors that you shouldn't trust any reference unless it's from someone you know.

Since I won't give customer contact information to anyone, I will give some information here that will hopefully help and I've included a few student comments at the bottom of the page. Remember that the results below don't mean a thing in terms of the results you would achieve because there are so many variables: amount of practice, athletic ability, dedication, discipline, ability to concentrate and focus, mental ability, etc.

This reference page has come about because David, a person interested in my manipulation-free (Hogan swing) instruction, asked if he could speak with a few of my students. After getting permission, I gave him phone numbers for Dan, who sent me the unedited comments below, and Alex, whom David never did call.

Dan is athletic, serious about his golf, and has time for a lot of play and practice. Following is Dan's note to me giving a synopsis of what he told David:

I spoke with David. I told him that I was a mid 80's shooter 3 years ago and now my index is 0.9.

I told him not to expect a quick fix...if that was what he was looking for to look elsewhere and not to waste his time. He was concerned about the classroom instruction and no range time, but I told him that he needed to understand where you wanted him to go with his swing and WHY.

I told him how good your video lessons are. And that it was very important to review them regularly. I told him how important it was to have self-discipline as he was going to hit some terrible shots as he made changes and changes could take 30-60 days before he felt comfortable with them.

I told him that it was important for him to trust and believe what you told him. I have made some ventures into different swing thoughts (as you know) but discount them soon after and come back to what you teach. Not such a bad thing because it reinforced what you were teaching....Hogan fundamentals. Not to swing like Hogan, but utilize his fundamentals.

As far as quality of instruction, I gave you my highest recommendation. Then I went back to my improvement over the last 3 years.

Dan

Months later Dan shot a six under par 66 and a five under par 67 and his handicap index dropped to +1.3! The "+" sign means better than scratch, or better than a zero handicap index, for those who don't know. Remember, he very rarely broke 80 five years prior and he wasn't able to improve beyond that no matter what he tried, which is why he contacted me. Something else you should know-Dan's score didn't improve much for the first two years we worked together, but he stayed with it because he knew he was working on the right things and he could see his swing getting better with video, even though scoring results weren't there!

Getting back to David's story, after speaking with Dan, David sent me a message telling me that he and his brother had decided against coming to me for instruction. Following is a portion of David's message:

I've spoken with my brother, and he doesn't feel comfortable with what amounts, really, to a long-term commitment to a very focused and necessarily patient effort that could go on for years. I think I'm probably more inclined along those lines, but I admit that I, too, am not sure I believe that a fine, repeatable golf swing is something that has to be labored at for years.

David and his brother obviously were not candidates for my instruction, so it is good that they found that out before wasting time and money. Of course, they should have known this from the information I provide on my website. If you feel the same as David, then my non-manipulative (Hogan swing) instruction should not be a consideration for you. However, you may still be a candidate for my Professional Golf Swing Instruction option.

David finally did decide to come work with me. Here are a few words from an email he sent the day after returning home:

I think you should put a blurb in about the "David" in your "Who should attend" chapter that finally does come to your class and finds it the first meaningful golf "lesson" he's ever had. Maybe it will help convince others who have some doubt, as I did, whether they should make the leap of faith. I know I'm glad I did.

Always keep in mind that people progress at different rates and sometime actually go backward for a while. Dan is very familiar with going backward at times!

A Few Student Comments

I just want to let you know how much I have gotten out of our two visits. As you can imagine, I have read and spent a lot of time (and money), through my 49 years of playing this game, trying to get to the bottom of a consistent swing and why Hogan achieved it. I've had a few days of practice and have already seen results. Now, I realize that you expect the changes to take a while to take hold. There's truth in that and I wouldn't be able to make the correct swing in a pressure situation yet. But when I have felt that I have been reasonably close to duplicating the motions that you showed and have been drilling, the results are there in ball flight and solid contact.

I know that you aren't pushing your teaching and have possibly had students who weren't fully intent on implementing the exact swing actions and thus a frustration. But based on the amount of false info on the Hogan "secret(s)" out there, my opinion is that it would be a real loss to the golfing world if you didn't finish your book. I look at Hogan's swing now and see it in a totally different light. I used to think, "how did he get from that position to the next?" I'm now starting to get it!

By the way, you should have testimonials on your website. You have permission to use anything I have said here.

I had the best time! And like I said, I am extremely happy with the instruction I received. You only saw about half the dollars I spent on the entire trip, yet I feel that I got all my money's worth! Thank you for delivering >200%. I left with no regrests or doubts whatsoever that I have made a very positive step towards fixing my golf.

It's very kind of you to convey thanks. It is I who owes thanks to you. I learned more about the golf swing from you in four days than I had learned in the previous forty-eight years.

I really enjoyed the several days I spent learning from you. I only wish I had gone to you years ago. After fifty years of playing this wonderful, but frustrating, game, I finally have found an approach to swinging the club that makes sense to me. You can be sure that I will stick with it.

I have recently finished my third full cycle of swing training. This may surprise you but I have indeed stayed the course. You were right about many many things that you taught me regarding the process...and I greatly underestimated the learning curve.

I have gotten my swing over the hump going toward where I know it can be. I have had two day tournaments where I shot 79/97...but stuck with it. I have recently shot 67/72 back to back at Redstone in Houston, TX...and am sticking with it. I now enjoy the process and look forward to the future.

I really enjoyed my time learning from you. I feel that I have learned more in those 3 days then I did playing for 15 years. I will work hard and be patient.

I'm real excited about what I learned from you during my visit to San Antonio. Overall, I'm really starting to trust what I learned and hope to stay disciplined to keep improving. The game is enjoyable again thanks to your instruction.

Thanks for the follow up. I enjoyed every minute of instruction with you and I have great respect for your knowledge and teaching methods. It is obvious how much work and research you have invested in your endeavor. I realize I have to put to work what you have conveyed, and I fully intend to do so.

I really enjoyed working with you and the instruction was even better than I anticipated.

It was a total pleasure attending your school. The setting you have setup at your home is very quiet, comfortable and relaxing, enabling total focus for the class.

I do not mind the struggle at time because I am certain I am on the correct path. I am more excited about golf today than I have been for years. Thanks for guiding me forward and for keeping in touch.

I enjoyed our days together and appreciate your: extraordinary knowledge of the Hogan swing; your enthusiasm and ability to communicate what you know clearly to others; your ability to see and address each student's unique challenges; your 100% commitment to support me in pursuit of my goals.

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Casey Eberting Golf Instruction