What to expect from lesson?

[scooterguitar]

I have decided to take a lesson.
I used to shoot in the 90's years ago, took about 6 years off now I am playing again, but shooting around 115.
MY woods are actually pretty good, but my irons are horrid. I seem to hit a 6i the same as my pw. SOmething is really goofy.
MY concern, am I too set in my habits to change easily? I know many aspects of what I am doing wrong, but can't seem to fix them myself.

I just want to get a consistent swing 3/4 of the time and I would be happy for now!

[Shindig]

I have decided to take a lesson.

Have you decided on an instructor yet? If not, see one (or more) of the threads about choosing an instructor.

As for what to expect? That depends on what you're looking for. Are you looking for a quick fix or are you going to commit to a series of improvement? Does your instructor know what you're looking for? As for whether you're too set in your habits... no. Now, you won't fix it right away. There's a whole psychology of a swing change, and you need to commit to practicing your new swing on a regular basis until it's ingrained. And, if you play with a group regularly, and they know about your swing change, you have to have the mental fortitude to ignore their ribbing about it if you play with them before it's fully ingrained. I've seen it a few times: guys are playing, one is through a swing change, one bad shot and his friends convince him to abandon what he's done and go back to his old swing. What a waste.

[scooterguitar]

Thanks for the advice.
Yes, a good instructor I know fairly well who helped me many years ago once in awhile, but I had never took a formal lesson from him.
I think where I am at ad actully paying for it will make a huge difference. I am older and have a good mindset at what I think I can achieve.
But yes, sorta a quick fix of sorts, so 1-3 lessons maybe at this point.
I think if he shows and helps me with the basics and helps as you say ingrain it, then I will accomplish my shortterm goal very easily and can be down into the 90's within a few weeks.

If all goes as planned, then I will certainly seek further lessons later-on to get down to some serious golf.

Just blows, I hit nice 250 drives (yes, 80% straight on the fairway), then just blow 3/5 shots from 170-100 in. Now 100 in I am decent at, just those darn 110-170 iron shots are making what would be easy par/bogey for me into doubles and worse.

[Three Putt]

I have decided to take a lesson.

As silly as it might seem, play 18 with only a 8 iron, PW, SW (for the bunkers only), and putter.

Build around an 8 iron (or your best iron). Advice from Harvey Penick...one of the best teachers in history. Iv'e done it...it will focus you on the shot and distance, game becomes easier. IMHO.

[CG031]

yeah im going to a lesson tomorrow, my first. ill let you know how it goes

[Dent]

yeah im going to a lesson tomorrow, my first. ill let you know how it goes

Let me know how it goes as well. I'm thinking of some lessons. I think I'll greatly benefit from it.

[Doctorfro]

I am a huge proponent of getting instruction if you truly want to get better. All the books, tips, swing gadgets, etc. won't get you as much result as having a lesson from a qualified instructor. I have recently had some instruction from a top flight teacher and it's really starting to pay dividends. I feel like I'm starting to hit the ball like a real golfer for the first time in my life! The biggest thing I suggest is get with someone who uses video. Seeing yourself and having someone point out the flaws in your swing that way is incredibly effective. Then after making some changes going back and looking at the new video of your swing is amazing. To me, there's no better cost effective way of improving your game than getting effective instruction.

[Dent]

I am a huge proponent of getting instruction if you truly want to get better. All the books, tips, swing gadgets, etc. won't get you as much result as having a lesson from a qualified instructor. I have recently had some instruction from a top flight teacher and it's really starting to pay dividends. I feel like I'm starting to hit the ball like a real golfer for the first time in my life! The biggest thing I suggest is get with someone who uses video. Seeing yourself and having someone point out the flaws in your swing that way is incredibly effective. Then after making some changes going back and looking at the new video of your swing is amazing. To me, there's no better cost effective way of improving your game than getting effective instruction.

I always think about lessons. When then instructor shows you something to do, and you work on it for abit, when the lesson is over how do you keep working on that thing without getting bored or have doubts that its working?

How do you keep yourself from getting to the point where you start to go back to your old swing?

[Shindig]

I always think about lessons. When then instructor shows you something to do, and you work on it for abit, when the lesson is over how do you keep working on that thing without getting bored or have doubts that its working?

So, for me, the range where I'll go if I'm going to be hitting range balls for practice is where the pro from whom I take lessons teaches (actually, I think he's a director of golf at that course. I'd have to check). When he gets a chance, he goes to check on his students, and if they have quick questions, they can ask. He's corrected some mistakes I've made well outside the context of lessons, because he knows what I'm working on and can see if my grip has moved or whatever else has happened.

Is the pro you're thinking of taking lessons from at a range you might visit regularly? That could help you.

[chris408]

Also looking for swing consistency, I'm in the middle of my lessons which is based on video instruction. I highly recommend it. I was able to see my stance, ball position, swing, and follow-thru at various angles. Based on what the pro saw he made some adjustments and I repeated as was able to see the changes immediately on video. The entire session was put on DVD so I can go back and review.

The "homework" was taking what I learned from the lesson back to the range the next day, which was more difficult than I expected. Without immediate feedback from video and the pro, I found myself questioning my swing, especially when the ball wasn't going where I thought it should go. Instead of lessons every two week, I'm making them every week to hopefully help keep my swing changes on track. I think once I'm more confident with my swing, I'll spread the lessons out.

Good luck on your lessons, and if video analysis is available, I highly recommend it.

[scooterguitar]

Great info everyone.
It is at a nice range, small town shop/range.
I do plan on taking my own video later in the day after the lesson while everything is fresh.

For me my guess is: my shoulder turn will be hardest to fix, as I've had it for years.

[CG031]

I saw someone on this site make a statement saying that you should take ONLY one lesson per month. I really couldn't disagree more. As the person above stated, Chris408, to make sure you stay on track and are not falling back into bad habits, you should really take a lesson every 10 days IMO. That's probably what I'll do. I'll probably take 3 half hour lessons every 10 days. I'm not going to take much. I'm alright a pretty good player for only having played two years, and I know I have most of the fundamentals down, it's just some little things I'll be working on with the pro.

[scooterguitar]

Just got back awhile ago from the lesson. Was supposed ot be a 45 minute session, but ended up being over 2 hours! He was willing to keep working and working with me until I totally got it, but I finally called it quits as I wanted to obtain and keep the instruction I got and not go further.
Basically, I guess I have a great shoulder turn happening, but horrible follow through.
He drilled me from grip to the end.
About 6-8 things I needed to correct! About half of those are now (I hope) ingrained and will keep with me, the rest I will continue to work with.
We only used the 8 iron.
Going in to the lesson, I have been hitting all irons the same 100 yds, shanking, slicing like crazy. By the end of the lesson I was easily hitting my 8 straight (even with a little draw if I wanted, something I have never been able to do!) and consistently 120-130 yards. Let's just say if I was on the course at those lengths I would have hit the green 9/10 times I bet and within decent one-putt out range half that!
So, basically bad habits and things I forgot from my years off, and things that were probably never quite right when I was decent. This truly was a quick fix lesson for...I hope. I intend to hit the range next few days and the course if the weather permits (Supposed to be rain next 10 days!). He owns the range so he said he'd give me quick brushups if I ask. So, my thought is give it a week or two, if all is well then go for another lesson to get more in-depth here within the next few weeks.
If I strike the ball 70% as well as I was after the lesson, I am confident I will not only be breaking 100, but more back into my low 90's range within no time!

Wow, one lesson='s best golf $ ever spent personally!

[Franco!]

Why do you think the USGA has Free Lesson Week?
They're incredible.
No way you can shoot low without help.