Ten percent of the survey respondents considered reputation important. The Haneys, Pelz, Harmons, Marchands and Cooks, nationally recognized teachers, have great reputations as golf instructors, but getting to them may be a financial issue for some, and a matter of the player's reputation or fitting into their schedule for others. Reputation for a lesser-known instructor can be determined by talking with others who have taken lessons and getting their analysis on if the instruction helped their games. Today's instructors have more tools at their disposal in teaching the golf swing, namely computer and video analysis. A teacher first must see how the student learns best.
Every person learns differently.
It's our job to find out where the student will benefit more, through video or explanation. We as instructors can stand behind you and tell you what you're doing wrong, but until you see your swing, it's hard for you to visualize what it looks like. I video most of my students. I believe it makes them learn five times faster when they can see their mistakes. There were differing opinions on when a person should move from a fundamentals teacher to more technical instruction.