Advice on golf lessons...

Okay, my disclaimer: I am not a good golfer now and never have been really, but my parents got me started at a young age and in the last fifty or so years I've had lessons from a number of different pros during my periodic starts and stops with the game.

I personally suspect there is only one "general all-purpose basic golf swing." Individual swings that we've developed for ourselves over the years that deviate from that swing are really compounded mistakes that negate one another to varying degrees of success. If you are looking for lessons to help correct some specific issue (i.e. hooking, slicing, etc.) I would expect you could find a pro who could help you make an adjustment within your existing swing.

However, if you simply go to them and say "My game sucks and I want to get better." they may reasonably be expected to try to get your swing to more closely resemble that general all-purpose basic swing because that's a good place for most of us to be for real improvement.

http://thesandtrap.com/b/playing_tips/the_instructor_quiz_nine_questions_youve_gotta_ask

 

Also, check out the evolvr service... they are very good at identifying what in your swing needs the most work and going from there.

A couple of things. If you've had shoulder trouble before, you might look for a golf pro that has worked with people with physical limitations. Sometimes, you can keep a physical injury from returning if you make an adjustment to your swing. Sometimes athletic trainers or physical therapists can refer people to certain pros who can tweak your pain to keep injury away.

 

Second, ask friends who are good golfers if they know a golf pro that fits what you want in a teacher. Also, look at the web sites of different golf pros in your area. Look for someone who talks about "helping you find your own swing."

 

Some pros can help you, others can't. A few can't really help anybody. And also, it's a matter of good personality fit between golfer and pro. I've been lucky through the years in coming across some really helpful pros. A couple were good, but we just didn't mesh. Time to move on.

I am looking for exactly the same type of instructure you are. Someone who will work with what I have already and make it better. I think I found one although I have not decided yet to take lessons from him. The reason is that I can only take lessons from him indoors at the golf store, not at a range. In another thread some have suggested it would be good to get lessons, or it didn't matter, if it was indoor as long as there was a good launch monitor, video equipment, etc., all of which this golf store has.

 

What I found was a guy who is easy to talk to about what I am looking for, he understood. He watched me swing while I was trying different irons and gave me some helpful advice. I had my clubs in the car and he had me get a 7i and I was able to try it against the other irons, there was no hard sell.

 

Also, cost; lessons at the golf store cost $50 per half hour while at a golf couse the pro shop is charging $150.

 

A lot to consider before jumping in.

I'll be taking a set of four lessons starting in the next couple weeks. I don't have a choice about the pro since the lessons were a gift from my wife. I'm hoping the pro & I hit it off and that he can help me with the biggest issue of my game which is everything from 150 yds and in, especially around the green.