Online Golf Lessons vs In-Person Coaching: Why the Best Players Are Doing Both

By Kevin Delaney — Advanced PGA Professional | Scott Cowx & TrackMan Level 2 Certified

If you asked me ten years ago whether online golf lessons could genuinely work, I'd have been sceptical. After twenty years of coaching golfers at every level — from first-timers picking up a club to competitive amateurs chasing their handicap — I've learned one thing for certain: the way we learn golf is evolving fast, and the golfers who embrace that change are the ones who improve the quickest.

Today I want to break down exactly what online lessons are, how the platform I use — Skillest — actually works, what it costs, and most importantly, why I believe the smartest approach to improving your golf isn't choosing between online and in-person coaching. It's combining them.

What Is Skillest?

Skillest is one of the leading online sports coaching platforms in the world, and it's built specifically around the idea that great coaching shouldn't be limited by geography. At its core, Skillest is a platform that connects golfers with professional coaches — including coaches who have worked with major champions — through video analysis, personalised feedback, and ongoing communication. All of it from your phone.

Think of it this way: rather than waiting weeks between lessons and then trying to remember everything your coach said, Skillest gives you a direct line to your coach whenever you need it. You film your swing, upload it, and receive a detailed, professional analysis back — usually within 24 hours. No driving across town. No rearranging your diary. Just focused, tailored feedback on your game.

It's a platform that has genuinely changed how coaching works, and it's the reason I now coach golfers who live anywhere in the country — not just those who can get to London.

What Is the Skillest App?

The Skillest app is the engine behind the whole experience. Available on both iOS and Android, it's where everything happens — uploading your swing videos, receiving your coach's analysis, watching your bespoke coaching videos, and messaging your coach with questions between sessions.

Here's what makes the app so useful for golfers specifically. When you upload a video, you're not just sending a clip into the void. Your coach uses Skillest's built-in analytical tools to break down your swing frame by frame. You get back a detailed video response showing exactly where the issues are, what needs to change, and — critically — drills that are tailored to you and your swing, not generic tips you could find anywhere on YouTube.

The app also keeps everything in one place. Every lesson, every drill, every piece of feedback — it's all stored and accessible whenever you need to revisit it. That's something in-person lessons simply can't replicate. How many times have you left a lesson feeling great, only to forget half of what was said by the time you next pick up a club? The app solves that problem completely.

From my own experience using it, the turnaround is quick, the interface is straightforward, and the quality of feedback you can deliver as a coach is genuinely impressive. It's a serious tool — not a gimmick.

How Much Does Skillest Cost?

This is one of the first questions people ask, and the honest answer is that it's far more affordable than most golfers expect — especially when you consider what you're actually getting.

On my Skillest profile, my online lessons start from just £60. For that, you receive a full detailed swing analysis using Skillest's video tools, a bespoke coaching video where I demonstrate exactly what needs to change in your swing and movement, tailored practice drills to help you implement those changes, and guaranteed feedback delivered within 24 hours.

I also offer a 3-lesson package at £149.99, which works out to roughly £50 per lesson — and there's no time limit on when you use them. You work through them at your own pace, which I think is actually one of the biggest advantages of online coaching. Life gets in the way. With a package like this, you're never under pressure to use your lessons before they expire.

Compare that to the cost of travelling to a lesson, parking, and the time it takes out of your day, and the value becomes very clear very quickly.

How Does Skillest Work?

Let me walk you through exactly what happens when you take a lesson with me on Skillest, so there are no surprises.

Step one — you download the app. It's free to download from the App Store or Google Play, and takes about two minutes to set up.

Step two — you find your coach. You can search by sport, location, rating, or speciality. On my profile, you'll find details about my background, coaching approach, and the lesson packages I offer. Take your time — choosing the right coach matters.

Step three — you purchase a lesson. Simple, secure, and done through the app. Once that's complete, we're ready to get to work.

Step four — you film and upload your swing. This is the key part. I ask for two angles: a down-the-line view and a face-on view. Position your phone about ten to twelve feet away, at waist height, and make sure it's in line with your hands. If you're at home, a hitting net and mat work perfectly. If you're at the range, even better.

Step five — I analyse your swing and build your lesson. This is where the real work happens on my end. Using Skillest's analytical tools, I break down your swing in detail, identify the areas that will make the biggest difference to your game, and put together a full coaching video showing you exactly what to work on and how. I also put together specific drills tailored to your swing and your goals.

Step six — you receive your lesson and get to work. The whole package lands in your app, ready for you to watch, rewatch, and refer back to whenever you need it. And if you have questions along the way, you can message me directly through the app.

It's a genuinely seamless process, and once you've done it once, it becomes second nature.

Online vs In-Person: What's Actually the Difference?

I've coached in person for the majority of my career — at driving ranges, at golf clubs, and now at Project Golf London, a state-of-the-art TrackMan studio in the heart of the city. So I know exactly what in-person coaching brings to the table, and I also know where its limitations are.

In-person coaching is unmatched when it comes to real-time feedback. I can see your swing live, adjust something in the moment, and have you hit again straight away. TrackMan gives us instant data on ball speed, launch angle, spin, and carry distance. There's a depth of interaction that's genuinely difficult to replicate remotely. For golfers who are working on complex movement patterns or need hands-on guidance, being in the same room as your coach makes a real difference.

Online coaching, on the other hand, gives you something in-person lessons struggle to offer: time. When you take a lesson in person, there's pressure — conscious or not — to move through things quickly. A thirty or sixty minute slot goes by fast. Online, I can take my time analysing your swing without the clock ticking. I can rewatch your footage, think carefully about what needs to change, and build a response that's genuinely considered. The feedback you get back is often more detailed and more thoughtful as a result.

There's also the freedom factor. Online coaching means you can work with me regardless of where you live, on your schedule, at your pace. It removes every barrier except the willingness to improve.

But here's what I've seen time and again in my experience: the golfers who improve the most aren't the ones who pick one or the other. They're the ones who do both.

The Hybrid Coaching Model: The Future of Golf Improvement

This is the approach I recommend to the majority of my students, and it's the model I've built my coaching around. The hybrid model works by combining the strengths of both online and in-person coaching into a structured, ongoing programme that keeps you improving consistently — not just for a day or a week, but for months.

Here's how it typically works in practice.

You might start with an in-person session at Project Golf London. We use TrackMan to get a full picture of your current swing — the numbers, the ball flight, the key areas to work on. This gives us a detailed baseline and a clear direction for your coaching.

From there, the majority of your ongoing coaching happens online through Skillest. You film your swings at home or at the range, send them through, and I analyse them in detail. You get coaching videos, tailored drills, and feedback between sessions. This keeps the momentum going without requiring you to come into London every single week.

Then, periodically — maybe once a month or every six weeks, depending on your goals — you come back in person for a check-in session. We use TrackMan again to measure your progress, fine-tune anything that needs adjusting, and set the next phase of your plan.

The result? You get the depth and immediacy of in-person coaching when you need it most, and the consistency, flexibility, and affordability of online coaching to keep your game moving forward in between. It's structured, it's measurable, and it works.

After twenty years of coaching, I genuinely believe this is the most effective way for most golfers to improve — and the technology available today through platforms like Skillest makes it easier than it's ever been.

Ready to See Where Your Swing Actually Stands?

If you've been thinking about improving your game but aren't sure where to start, the best thing you can do is get a professional assessment of your swing. No guessing. No generic tips. Just an honest, detailed look at what's working and what needs to change.

🏌️ Book a Free Swing Evaluation on Skillest

Head to my Skillest profile and book your free swing evaluation — I'll analyse your current swing and give you a clear picture of exactly where to focus your efforts.

👉 skillest.com/@kevindelaney

📍 Or Book an In-Person Lesson at Project Golf London

If you're based in or around London and want the full TrackMan experience with hands-on coaching, book a session at Project Golf London. In-person lessons start from £80 for 55 minutes, and multi-lesson packages are available from £450.

👉 www.kevindelaneygolf.com

Whether you go online, in person, or — as I'd recommend — a bit of both, the most important step is simply the first one. Your game is waiting. Let's get to work.

Kevin Delaney is an Advanced PGA Professional and Scott Cowx & TrackMan Level 2 certified coach based at Project Golf London, Moorgate. With over 20 years of experience coaching golfers at every level, he specialises in personalised, results-driven coaching that combines cutting-edge technology with a genuine understanding of what it takes to improve.