Approach to Golf Lessons

PARlance

Hi all,

Have been meaning to get a few lessons of late and before I do, I just want to see if there's any words of wisdom with regards getting multiple lessons.

I've done a couple of one off lessons with different pro's previously.

Getting to a "better place" with my swing now, and whereas the first two lessons were somewhat wasted, (I say that because I didn't really understand or feel my swing at the time, I took on board the instructions but I don't even think I was aware when I started to regress into old mistakes) I feel like I'm in a better position to take more out of lessons now.

Anyway, interested to hear about others approach to lessons.

I'm thinking about getting 3-4 lessons over the next 3-4 months with the same pro....the idea being that I think this approach best serves to learn, practice, re-enforce teachings.

The idea would be to go back every 6 months or so to keep things in check.

This may seem like a costly approach, but I am happy to sacrifice a round or two a year to hopefully get more of the 30-40 rounds I'd be playing.

Anyone follow a similar routine, or anyone think that's just a bit nuts?

hades

I'm in a similar position.

When i took up the game 2 years ago i took a batch of 6 lessons over the course of 6 months. With just my rounds inbetween as practice. Struggled for the first year, with the odd good score. Now this summer i'm far more consistant, and actually practicing more. But i still have those blow ups that ruin a round for me. My hc is 19 (18.5) but in the recent presidents prize i had 39pts, with 14pts on the front nine and 25 on the back. So i know i have the ability, just need to me more consistant.

So my plan for the winter is to keep practicing like a devil, and to supliment that with a lesson every 2 weeks. I've organised a pro, and a place to practice. I just have to pull the trigger on paying for the set of ten lessons. I had a good chat with the pro beforehand and told him on what i need to work on. He was even talking about having a playing lesson, which sounds great.

The thing is to get into a routine. Its definitely worth the investment IMO, because we all know the joy of sneaking a cheeky par with a nice up and down, or giving yourself even a chance at birdie.

PARlance

hades wrote: »

I'm in a similar position.

When i took up the game 2 years ago i took a batch of 6 lessons over the course of 6 months. With just my rounds inbetween as practice. Struggled for the first year, with the odd good score. Now this summer i'm far more consistant, and actually practicing more. But i still have those blow ups that ruin a round for me. My hc is 19 (18.5) but in the recent presidents prize i had 39pts, with 14pts on the front nine and 25 on the back. So i know i have the ability, just need to me more consistant.

So my plan for the winter is to keep practicing like a devil, and to supliment that with a lesson every 2 weeks. I've organised a pro, and a place to practice. I just have to pull the trigger on paying for the set of ten lessons. I had a good chat with the pro beforehand and told him on what i need to work on. He was even talking about having a playing lesson, which sounds great.

The thing is to get into a routine. Its definitely worth the investment IMO, because we all know the joy of sneaking a cheeky par with a nice up and down, or giving yourself even a chance at birdie.

I gave myself 6 birdie putts last weekend (was hitting long irons great) but didn't even manage a par from any of them, 6 bogeys.... And my putting is normally pretty good...

I'm scoring consistently of late, 29-34 range off 19.
But my game is inconsistent.
I only seem to ever bring 2 (3 max) of the following 5 on any given day.
Course Mgt, Driving, Irons, Short Game, Putting.


On second thoughts, maybe I just need a shrink!

the lawman

ajcurry123 wrote: »

Hi all,

Have been meaning to get a few lessons of late and before I do, I just want to see if there's any words of wisdom with regards getting multiple lessons.

I've done a couple of one off lessons with different pro's previously.

Getting to a "better place" with my swing now, and whereas the first two lessons were somewhat wasted, (I say that because I didn't really understand or feel my swing at the time, I took on board the instructions but I don't even think I was aware when I started to regress into old mistakes) I feel like I'm in a better position to take more out of lessons now.

Anyway, interested to hear about others approach to lessons.

I'm thinking about getting 3-4 lessons over the next 3-4 months with the same pro....the idea being that I think this approach best serves to learn, practice, re-enforce teachings.

The idea would be to go back every 6 months or so to keep things in check.

This may seem like a costly approach, but I am happy to sacrifice a round or two a year to hopefully get more of the 30-40 rounds I'd be playing.

Anyone follow a similar routine, or anyone think that's just a bit nuts?

Hey ajcurry I started out being good on short game and not great with long irons. I needed to improve that area so I found a pro that I got on with.

The first lesson we worked on one thing and one thing only. I went off and practiced that. When I was happy with it I went back and we worked on one more thing. Rinse and repeat even if each item takes 4 weeks.

This worked for me because I wasn't confusing myself or getting ahead of what I could do. There is no time limit on it so you can go at your own pace.

Hope it works out whatever you try to do.

hades

ajcurry123 wrote: »

.
I only seem to ever bring 2 (3 max) of the following 5 on any given day.
Course Mgt, Driving, Irons, Short Game, Putting.


On second thoughts, maybe I just need a shrink!

Thats me down to a tee (see what i did there )

I'd say that 99% of the guys in our handicap range are the same.

Focused practice and lessons should fix this, hopefully anyway.

Whats your handicap target? Since we're both 19, we could keep an eye on each others progress.

spacecoyote

ajcurry123 wrote: »

Hi all,

Have been meaning to get a few lessons of late and before I do, I just want to see if there's any words of wisdom with regards getting multiple lessons.

I've done a couple of one off lessons with different pro's previously.

Getting to a "better place" with my swing now, and whereas the first two lessons were somewhat wasted, (I say that because I didn't really understand or feel my swing at the time, I took on board the instructions but I don't even think I was aware when I started to regress into old mistakes) I feel like I'm in a better position to take more out of lessons now.

Anyway, interested to hear about others approach to lessons.

I'm thinking about getting 3-4 lessons over the next 3-4 months with the same pro....the idea being that I think this approach best serves to learn, practice, re-enforce teachings.

The idea would be to go back every 6 months or so to keep things in check.

This may seem like a costly approach, but I am happy to sacrifice a round or two a year to hopefully get more of the 30-40 rounds I'd be playing.

Anyone follow a similar routine, or anyone think that's just a bit nuts?

I think thats a pretty solid approach to things if you're looking to improve. When I first started playing society golf I went into it without taking any lessons. So by the time I started to play club golf and went for a few lessons I'd already some serious bad habits to break down. With some focus and lessons I got down from 22 to 19 in my first year, and 19-15 in my 2nd year. At 13 so far this year, so I feel the investment in lessons has been worthwhile for me.

Winter is definitely the right time to get working on your game. Chances are you'll be playing a lot more non-qualifying golf so won't have to worry about a string of 0.1s while going through changes.

Its definitely a good idea to pop back in for a couple of check-ups during the year too. Its amazing how easily old habits can be slipped back into.

Find a pro you are happy to work with and get stuck in. I'm planning out my approach for the Winter now myself. Starting with a group session with Karl Morris in the SpaWell on the 17th September (should be mostly focussed on the golfing mindset as far as I know). Hopefully that should get me pointed in the right direction to take my Winter practice plans.

No reason why you can't come down from 19 quite easily with the approach you seem to be planning to adopt.

Best of luck with it!

PARlance

hades wrote: »

Thats me down to a tee (see what i did there )

I'd say that 99% of the guys in our handicap range are the same.

Focused practice and lessons should fix this, hopefully anyway.

Whats your handicap target? Since we're both 19, we could keep an eye on each others progress.

No No, I'm different from the rest, I'm a scratch golfer on my day in some of the areas, just can't pull it all together. So, really I'm a scratch golfer being hampered by a tiny problem of not being able to combine everything together at once :);) I jest, I jest... just in case

Aim is to be off 9.4 this time next year....(achievable?not at all, but you may as well aim high or low as the case may be)
I'd be very happy getting it down to 13. What about yourself?