How long after lessons start to improve

City boy turned country

Hi,

Apologies if this has been done before. I did a search but couldn't find anything.

Here's my story: Took up golf again last year. Decided this after paying my membership that I wanted to play properly. I got a brand new set of clubs (Taylor made RBZ irons, 3 wood and 3 hybrid) as I was using a starter set I bought 12 years ago. The clubs were bought on the advice of the pro.

I also started getting lessons as I knew that I was swinging completely wrong. He started off with my stance in the very first lesson and warned me that it was going to be a long road. I have had 4 lessons since then where we worked on the back swing which we focused on keeping the 'v' in the arms as I used to start with my wrists. We worked on other things such as widening my swing and getting a big swing while also keeping my left arm straight, keeping my centre of gravity.


We have now moved onto my follow through and the pro told me that this was going to be the toughest. He has me rotating my right arm as I strike the ball and ensuring im transferring my weight through the swing as well.

I am getting a lesson every 2 weeks or so and in between, Im trying to get to the range twice a week and out on the course at least once a week but there is a 8 week old baby at home so not as much free time as last year. I haven't been playing well since starting the lessons (averaging about 23 points) but definitely noticing improved ball striking.

I have bought a stage 2 driver and odyssey versa putter just yesterday so I have the clubs but now it is up to me.

My question is Has anyone been in a similar position to this and if so, how long did it take to get the swing that the pro was trying to get you to use and how long before you noticed the difference in the scoring? I don't mind investing in a group of lessons (5 for €130) but I can't keep spending money on the golf without getting enjoyment out of it.

Any help or comments would be much appreciated and apologies for the length of story.

hades

It all depends on your jumping off point.

I started getting lessons 2 1/2 years ago, i bought a block of 6 from a pro and we worked on stance, grip and takeaway. I found them good at the time, but i only really saw improvement after around 6 months of hard work.

I felt i reached a plateau last winter as i was just playing to handicap 19 (19.3) and not really improving. So on doing some research i found a new pro and i've been a lot more focused. My new pro make the old one looks like a chump. He striped everything back to basics again, and after after around 4 months i was playing really well.

The thing is to stick with what you're being taught. Its very easy to slip back to old routines, which made me ask one day on the course "will i play with my old swing or new swing?" But if you do stick with it, you will reap the rewards.

I always find i regress after a lesson, after my swing is developed a little more. This lasts around 2 weeks, but then i find an solid improvement. I see it as an ongoing process and one that will take its time, but you will come out the other side a lot better if you stick to the task at hand.

I've been cut 4 times so far this year, but a load of 0.1's are pushing me back every now and then. But i'm moving in the right direction overall.

nanook

Hades,

What part of the country you in, might be some help to name the pro as well. Sounds like they are giving you the correct guidance.

hades

I'm in Cork, i'm working with Brian Kelleher in Fota. Great facilities, great lad.

DeanAustin

hades wrote: »

It all depends on your jumping off point.

I started getting lessons 2 1/2 years ago, i bought a block of 6 from a pro and we worked on stance, grip and takeaway. I found them good at the time, but i only really saw improvement after around 6 months of hard work.

I felt i reached a plateau last winter as i was just playing to handicap 19 (19.3) and not really improving. So on doing some research i found a new pro and i've been a lot more focused. My new pro make the old one looks like a chump. He striped everything back to basics again, and after after around 4 months i was playing really well.

The thing is to stick with what you're being taught. Its very easy to slip back to old routines, which made me ask one day on the course "will i play with my old swing or new swing?" But if you do stick with it, you will reap the rewards.

I always find i regress after a lesson, after my swing is developed a little more. This lasts around 2 weeks, but then i find an solid improvement. I see it as an ongoing process and one that will take its time, but you will come out the other side a lot better if you stick to the task at hand.

I've been cut 4 times so far this year, but a load of 0.1's are pushing me back every now and then. But i'm moving in the right direction overall.

Very interesting.

I've never had a lesson and am fighting a bad hook at the moment (which I've had forever). I'm always looking for the magic bullet solution that will take one swing to implement and will see me strike it like Ben Hogan forever. I've gotten to the stage where I'm accepting that such a fix may not exist.

I know I'm going to have to get some lessons in order to improve so I'm gonna leave it until September/October because I know it's gonna involve a lot of pain before I see results. Until then, I'll struggle on because I can get it around closish to my handicap.

Anyone know any good pros in the Kildare/West Dublin area that they would recommend? Preferably in Carton House/GUI as I live close by. Have the missus teed up to get me some lessons for my birthday (insert smutty joke here).

bigtimecharlie

I got 2 lesson last winter and have only played 5 times since (baby in the house too) with lots of range time in between. I have 2 major things to work on while the pro has mentioned others that will be introduced later.

I have found that I scratch the same amount of holes as before but when I score, I score better (from High teens to mid tewnty's).

Reducing the scratches is my short term goal to improve, most are issue's of the tee.

It's a long road but my confidence has improved (almost quit before the lessons) which is easily worth a few shots as well.