Golf Lessons - expectations & experiences

[bigmick]

I searched the forums, and found some posts referencing the topic, but none that really answered the questions I have (and if I overlooked it, I apologize).

I have signed up for my first golf lesson (very excited, and if it goes well I am considering a 3-lesson series), and was just curious of everyone else's experiences with lessons, and how much they have helped your game/swing? Also, does anyone take lessons on a regular basis, or just when you need a little refresher or help on something?
I am very new to golf, but I have made my plans long term and set the bar fairly low to begin with (so as not to get too discouraged and loose interest -but i don't think that is gonna happen ).

Also, thanks to everyone for their tips, opinions, etc, on this forum. I enjoy reading all the topics, and find many to be extremely helpful!!

[Mr Eagle]

Lessons are a must ,even the best of the pros have regular lessons.
I would just say dont rush and try and take loads of infomation in all at once,get the basics right,a swing you can trust and your understanding of what your Pro is teaching will be a lot easier

[titaniummd]

I had lessons from 2 different "Professionals" where they showed me the basic set up, gave me a bucket of balls, and left me alone. Useless.

I have had a couple of other lessons where one taught me 'drills' to get the proper swing. I can read drills from a book. Useless.

Another physically showed the proper swing path and weight shift by breaking down the swing into fundamentals. That was the best method, for me.

[goblue107501]

Several years ago I thought I was a pretty good golfer. I could shoot in the low to mid 80's everytime. I thought I had a good swing but I wasn't getting better so I took a lesson because I thought that I could be better.

The first lesson he took a video of my swing and put me on the big screen side by side with Tiger and other pros. I could really see how bad I was. I told him what I normally shot and he flat out told me it was luck that I could swing like this and score as well as I did (I've always had a god short game so that helped). He told me that my set up to the ball was good, grip was good, and the stance was good so we really just need to work on the swing. We spend the last part of the first lesson just getting me on the backswing plane. I don't think I hit a ball. I would just take the club back on a certain path and then do it again.

I went to another lesson and we worked on the hip turn and the move at the top. Still didn't hit many balls and it was all at the inside mat and net. The next time it was the downswing. Finally, we went outside and just worked on combining everything into a full swing. At that point I had it figured out. He had engraved in me everything he wanted me to do so after a while it became very repeatable.

So the first year I went to four lessons. The following summer I took about five more. I was really starting to get it so I wanted to have him behind me critiquing every swing so I knew I was swinging correctly. We would do other things like flop shots and working the ball right and left.

I would like to go back but I have since gotten married and had kids so the extra money and time isn't there. But I remember enough that I can correct myself if things aren't going right. I don't play nearly as much as I used to, but my swing is good enough that I can go out and shoot high 70's and low 80's without any problem. If I play a bunch of times in a few weeks I will get into a groove and be in the mid 70's.

So for me, lessons have helped me greatly. They got me a 'correct' swing and the consistency to do it anytime I go out and play. My best advise is to plan on having at least four or five lessons if you really want to make an impact. There is too many things to learn, and one or two won't get it done. Plus, you will get worse before you get better. The guy might change your stance or grip and it will feel weird, but just trust what he is telling you and work at repeating it. After a while everything will feel natural and you will be hitting the ball better. One last thing, practice, practice, practice.

[Magnus]

You may want to ask around for a pro with a good reputation in your area. I work with a guy who isn't into re-doing anyones swing to look like a famous pro's swing - he works with what ya got, so to speak. Thats important to me, I can't turn like Tiger, or flip my hands like Sergio, so don't try to teach me that, hahahaha.... Also, don't be afraid to ask questions and actually ask for reasons for what he/she has you do. My pro videos my lessons and I have them as a record - pretty good to review after. One final note, take a lesson and work on one thing at a time for a few rounds and trips to the range, I seem to work best when I get a lesson a month, so about 3 for the summer. And ok, one more thing, if you take a lesson and don't end up liking what he/she says or whatever - don't be afraid to tell them it wasn't helpful and seek someone else out, but be sure to give it some time. If you are anything like me, you game will be horrible the first few times out after a lesson :)

[Franco!]

Well, I got regular lessons (every other week), but now I only take actual lessons when I need help.
I usually go out and play with my coach as friends so he really isn't teaching me much.
He'll have his little comments here and there and I'm getting to the point where I can help him a bit, ****er needs to get off of that back foot earlier.
Mostly, when I do go for help, we play games and shit.
It's really just an intelligent friend that I pay to chill with.

[Mr.Wedge]

Several years ago I thought I was a pretty good golfer. I could shoot in the low to mid 80's everytime. I thought I had a good swing but I wasn't getting better so I took a lesson because I thought that I could be better.

Bigmick, if you can find a teacher like Goblue describes here, book him. I wish more teachers taught this way rather than just going to the range.

[nevets88]

One thing I learned, which is kind of obvious, and learned a long time ago, is $$$$ does not necessarily equal better.

I've taken lessons with some pros who were on the TV and/or highly ranked (out of curiosity) and the quality of the instruction did not justify the cost. Some of the best lessons I had, where I made an "AHA!" or major discovery were from club pros. I did have one or two AHA! lessons from a nationally ranked pro.

Another thing I did that most people don't do is that I never stuck to one pro. Most people don't recommend this, but I think I got alot out of hearing so many viewpoints, so there might be some merit to it.

I know some people aren't big on video, but I think it is an invaluable too and a good pro can super-enhance your lesson using video correctly.

[bigmick]

Thanks alot for all your replies and input. This is defenitely a long term goal (to get better - can see taking regular lessons, at least until i feel comfortable and can make a consistent good swing & ball contact), so I am hoping that the pro will have a teaching style that will actually show me a correct swing, and help fix the flaws I have, and advise of any drills that can help instill the basics (grip, stance, alignment, backswing, downswing, follow-thru), rather than the "here is what you are doing wrong, here is what you do to fix it, now try it" - bucket of balls and over. I'm not sure if they use video or not, I may ask in the morning when I go out to the range.

Again, thanks for all the responses!!!