So I started taking lessons...I think I'm happy?

[EquipmentJunkie]

So I began my lessons about one month ago and since have proceeded to play the worst golf I have ever played, to the point of not keeping score at times and not finishing out the last two holes to retain some emotional dignity. I put my swing on camera and I can see all of the horrible flaws I never imagined I had, I am now in the middle of a swing change and it's just horrible to be honest. I'm sure it will be worth it in the long run but I am one miserable golfer in the long run. Thanks for letting me rant....

-AJ

[deronsizemore]

Yeah, it will take a while for sure so don't get discouraged.

I mean, look how long it took Tiger to complete his swing change. Granted he wasn't playing terrible through the change, but he wasn't "Tiger" either, you know?

I started a swing change over a year ago and it's getting closer. I've always had a very long swing like John Daly and I made the commitment to shorten it more like a Davis Love swing. It was pretty ugly for a while but this year I had my lowest career round in a casual round, my lowest round in a tournament and my best stretch of golf ever.

Hang in there.

[jambalaya]

Been there totally. Things that work when you are very young and athletic leave you at some point or keep you improving at some point. I got awful before I got better too. There was very little I was doing according to convention when I got my first lesson. In the past I saved everything with quick agile hands. I didn't think at all about getting it "too far inside". What the hey was that? Swing plane? Is that a swing that flys? Wrist cock? What for? One-piece take away? Does that mean I only get one slice of pie?

[Alex1]

That is normal with all sports, tennis, golf, etc. That transitional period is tough as you leave your old habits and learn new ones.

[Henry]

I know just how you feel. I'm going through the same thing right now. I've completely changed my swing to combat my worst enemy, the dreaded slice. It is helping but becuase its new its uncomfortable and i really have to stop myself going back to old habits. Although at first i was carding in the 100s recently the hard work and weekly lessons are really paying off. I shot my best ever score in a 9 hole competion: 40 front nine which is 6 over at ou course. My main advice would be to just stick with it no matter how frustrating it is and practise practise practise.

[Fat Slice]

I am in the same boat! Since my lessons, my irons have picked up, but my driver has gone into the toilet. I have faith, though. I think it's important not to get discouraged.

[EquipmentJunkie]

Well I'm not as miserable anymore. My putting (worst part of my game) has improved drastically, I'm not worried about 3 and four putting when I hit the green with 20ft left to the hole. There's also something to be said about hitting my 4 and 5 irons and comfortable as my 9 iron and PW. I haven't been playing many rounds lately, mostly practicing, so I hope to see the handicap go down soon.

[PEZGolf]

That is normal with all sports, tennis, golf, etc. That transitional period is tough as you leave your old habits and learn new ones.

You are right and it is well documented. It is better for someone who is interested in golf to take lessons in the beginning, and develop good habits as a result. Unlearning old habits and then learning the correct techniques is a difficult process, and many students get discouraged. As a golf instructor, I can tell you that it is also difficult for us to watch a student go through the agony. We have to tell the student, "Patience, patience, patience", and when the student hits a good shot or makes a good swing, give excited encouragement.

When I first played the game, I was self-taught, and became fairly good (9handicap). However, I wanted to get better because I love the game. I took lessons from the top teaching pro in our area. He watched me swing, and asked me what my handicap was. When I replied that it was a 9, his response was a good one---"Boy, you must have a good short game." I used to bring the club inside on the swing away, and then loop at the top to make the downswing. He taught me how to swing the club away on the correct path, and then come down in the same swing path on the downswing. As a result, I became more consistent, and picked up distance as well.

[PiKapp23]

My Dad is a PGA teaching pro and he says that the hardest thing he deals with is people that get lessons, then get frustrated by the fact they are not instantly better and revert to their old swing and habits. Depending on how big the changes you're making are, one day it's just gonna 'click' and you'll start the see the improvments. As long as you stick with the program you'll improve dramatically once it clicks for you.

[PEZGolf]

My Dad is a PGA teaching pro and he says that the hardest thing he deals with is people that get lessons, then get frustrated by the fact they are not instantly better and revert to their old swing and habits. Depending on how big the changes you're making are, one day it's just gonna 'click' and you'll start the see the improvments. As long as you stick with the program you'll improve dramatically once it clicks for you.

Good post. Your Dad is correct. People forget that the pro or instructor wants his or her students to improve, and it is frustrating for the teacher AND the student when good results are not forthcoming soon enough.

[wachesawgolfer]

I kind of agree with Jim Hardy on this one, "if your next ball is not better", than the teaching may not be as helpful as one may want to believe. I hear all the time people saying they just took a lesson and now they are awful. Improve on what you have, which is better than you think, rather than have some instructor getting you into a lot of arbitrary static positions which may not work for your natural motion.

[PEZGolf]

I kind of agree with Jim Hardy on this one, "if your next ball is not better", than the teaching may not be as helpful as one may want to believe. I hear all the time people saying they just took a lesson and now they are awful. Improve on what you have, which is better than you think, rather than have some instructor getting you into a lot of arbitrary static positions which may not work for your natural motion.

There are two ways to classify students:

1. Those who are fundamentally sound and need small changes to improve. 2. Those with poor fundamentals who basically need to relearn the golf swing and forget everything they tried before. Trying to make small changes in their swings is putting bandaids on a broken bone. It just does not work. Their next ball will probably be worse than their last, but that is expected. Golf is a simple and natural game if learned correctly. Golf is a difficult and frustrating game if learned incorrectly.

[jambalaya]

I was thinking about this when I looked at a guy's swing on Swing Academy. He took the club way inside on the takeaway, then lifted to a more vertical plane at the top, dropped the hands down and flattened the shaft out on the downswing and then finished on a plane that was more vertical than his shoulder plane at address. His setup was good, he got into a good impact position, he had good extension on the follow through and it looked like he hit the ball pretty solid at least on that shot. You can't fix that swing with any simple advice. It was beyond my expertise to help.

[1dayIllBaPro]

I always have this thought in my mind

"It doesn’t matter if you spend a billion dollars taking a million golf lessons, it still depends on you."

I still recommend people to take a golf lesson. You can learn pretty fast and getting the right information from those teaching Pros. And sometimes you think you're doing wrong, it's actually right. When you think you're doing it right, it's actually wrong. It's really good to have a Pro looking at your swing. They can catch your mistake pretty quickly.

I had a Pro taught me when I was young, so I have a good fundamental. But now I learn, improve, and fix everything myself. But that because of good fundamental.

Those teaching Pros are there to help you, to give you right information, and to fix your mistakes. But remember, it still depends on you........

[flopdarock]

i know exactly what the OP is feeling... ugggh... ive been taking lessons on and off all my life and trying to add a few yards here... specialty shots there... trying to add to my weak arsenal of shots from all over the place... really is tuff on the ego

[SubPar]

Just remember your goal is to get better later which means suffering some setbacks in the short term.

Tiger Woods, Justin Leonard and other pros who went through swing changes had to play lower quality golf and suffer for a year or more. If the best golfers on the planet take a year to suffer through swing changes for the better, you know the average golfer will suffer even more.

I am at that point now where I can play pretty decent golf, but will not get any better unless I am willing to trash my solid 7 handicap swing in an effort replace it with a better one.

SubPar

[bruce]

There are two ways to classify students:

I think this is very well said,trying to band-aid a swing that is totally flawed does not work or can't.I asked my friend who plays with us once a month about one guy in our regular foursome,is there anything you can do too help him with his game,he said about him that he would have to be willing to start from scratch again and forget everything he knows to try and improve him,he said a band-aid would not work in his case.My friend is a ex Aussie golf instructor.

[Titleist Man]

I started a swing change about 3-4 yrs ago and since I have gained 50-60 yds off the tee, dropped my handicap by 20 plus strokes and now no longer come in last when I play against other people. Stick with it and it will pay off-bigtime