So I've had lessons and my mates haven't...

I've taken 10 lessons since I started playing golf April last year. Every now and again I will play 18 with 3 other lads, they haven't had a single lesson and boy can you tell !

Its quite funny watching them set up to each shot exactly the same way, club way over the top on the back swing and loads of other suicide faults. Of course I'm not brilliant at the game but I do have a sound setup and understand the fundamentals to a good swing. Of course I never say anything to them but have to giggle when I see them making the same mistakes over and over.

Its the same watching other people playing the same way. Usually a group of older players who have had the same swing faults for 30+ years.

I had about 4 lessons before I even attempted 18. Some people I guess are happy to hack their way around with no idea how to swing the club properly.

Each to their own I guess......

Haha I'm almost in the same boat. My dad and uncle(whom i commonly play with) both just started hacking at it when they were younger and still aren't that great. I have some friends who shoot low 80's consistently and they taught me alot in about a month or 2 of non-stop golfing. Watching them set up makes me laugh even though they still hit the ball longer than me.

Some people can manage it though. I've seen a guy with the worst swing ever shoot in the 80's. It was unbelievable. He sliced the ball so bad with every club but he played it everytime and it was incredible.

Defiently to each his own.

It seems that there are usually 2 kinds of people when it comes to sports/hobbies.

My dad has golfed on leagues and in outings for well over 30 years. He's almost 60 now. Despite having a large yard, he has hardly ever practiced in it and he hardly ever goes to the range. I don't think he has ever taken a lesson either. He practices putting in the house on a very nice putting mat that his children bought him for Xmas a couple years ago, but never more then 30 mins in a week. His lack of practice has nothing to do with money or available time or love of the game. He hates to lose, but he just doesn't want to put the effort in that it would take to make him a much better golfer then he is today.

Now compare my father to yourself or to me.

Until this year I never played more then once or twice a season. I played on a league one time but hated it because I didn't have enough spare time to focus on getting better. This year I'm getting to the range several times per week, I'm using my dad’s golf net in his backyard and practicing for hours at a time. I'm video recording my practice sessions so I can identify what I'm doing wrong so I can try to correct it. I'm trying to play twilight golf after work a couple times per week. I'm hitting 20 to 50 putts per day on my carpet. When I feel like I've taken my swing as far as it can go, I'll get some lessons. I'm studying every book, video, article that I can get my hands on. I simply cannot stand to compete unless I know I'm doing everything in my power to win. I have to be able to walk away from a round and know that there was nothing else I could have done to get ready for that round. I'm terrible right now, but I expect to break 100 before the middle of the summer and I hope to get at least one round in on an easy course where I break 90.

It comes down to what you want from the game and what you expect from yourself. Some people are content to know that they could be better if they put the time in like my father is; others, like myself and I suspect sid77, have to know how good they can become. Even though I expect to beat my father on a regular basis before the end of the season, it doesn’t mean that there is anything wrong with the way my father or anyone like him chooses to pursue this sport.

Yup, lessons make a world of difference. I don't claim to be the best golfer, but I think I have a passable swing, because of practice and lessons from a knowledgeable pro.

It's funny to go to the driving range and see a whole row of hackers, none of whom can really swing a club. Lots of ugly, ugly swings. I just keep thinking "get thee to a golf pro". Otherwise it's just hopeless.

Oh, and "put away the driver, and get out your wedge and putter".

I believe the one reason why they come back to the sport to play 18 holes, is because of those one or two good shots that give them hope lol

My cousin and I both started playing at the same time about 2 years ago. Neither of us has taken a lesson, but I have worked very hard at improving my game while he has not.

At first, I read all the magazines and tried all the tips. I floundered like that for about a year, but finally saw that was a road to nowhere. So, I began studying swing sequences of pros and read 2 books that deal with the full swing: Hogan's Five Lessons and Golf My Way by Nicklaus. By doing this,it didn't take long to see the similarities in seemingly dissimilar swings by people who are really good at golf. I realized that you shouldn't try to copy anyone's swing, but that it is much more productive to know what positions you should get into and then get into them in a manner that is natural to you and your body type. I practice my swing by watching my reflection on a window on my house. My putting and short game has been neglected, but I'm getting around to that now. Last spring I was around a 32 handicap, so I've halved it in 1 year on my own. Could I have improved faster by visiting a Pro? Sure, but I've enjoyed learning on my own and I feel like I know more about my swing and what may be causing a problem in it at any given time than I would if I had done that.

My cousin does practice, but he pretty much just practices the same setup and swing faults repeatedly. Some days he can break 100 if his timing is really on, but most days he is well over 100.