Golf Lessons? Any1 have any thoughts on them?

[Donnie_Brasco]

I am a self taught bogey golfer, nothing to write home about, but decent enough to play a round of golf with the better players around..

I am ready for some help from a professional, so I had a few questions for anyone who has experience with lessons..

1st. Has anyone taken lessons from an Instructor in Los Angeles?
2nd. Did you take private or group lessons?
3rd. Is there certain things I should inquire about before choosing an instructor?
4th. Did the lessons stick with you, or did you fall back into your old habits quickly after?
5th and Final. WAS IT WORTH THE MONEY?

Any and all info would be greatly appreciated.

Bogey isn't good enough anymore, it's time to take it up a notch.

[Dub]

Advice from an essentially self-taught bogey golfer who had a few lessons here and there along the journey......steer clear of group lessons. I think they may be great for beginners.....but not for where you are.

Be clear with your goals with your teacher when you first meet them and see if they are comfortable with that. Be honest with them and tell them if you just want a tune-up series of lessons to make gradual changes or if you are desiring a wholesale change.

Good luck...hope it works out well.

[alcorn]

I was once one of those guys who was "self taught". First off, don't take lessons from just any pro. The PGA website has a pro locator, might be worth a shot.

On my first lesson I would have them video and analyze my swing. You may think there's nothing wrong with your swing as I did before taking this type of lesson, once I saw what going on it was easier for me to adjust and fix it.

Most pros will give you a few drills to do while your game is improving. Do them. It helps make the change.

I think once you've got your swing exactly how you want it you're strokes will come off easily.

Other ideas may be a lesson on shortgame or even a playing lesson, but definately get your swing looked at.

[tm22721]

After a few basic range lessons, go to playing lessons only. The range does NOT translate very well to the course for a variety of reasons. I learned this the hard way over hundreds of hours of lessons.

[jambalaya]

I am a self taught bogey golfer, nothing to write home about, but decent enough to play a round of golf with the better players around..

First of all, I hope you don't carry all 17 clubs in your bag at once. Secondly, Dub's advice about being very clear about your goals and explaining them to the pro is very good. I would ask him if he teaches a two or one plane swing or just adapts to the player. Decide whether you plan to spend a lot of time at the range or not. Significant change won't happen without a lot of practice. Expect to get worse before you get better. Many first time lesson takers get frustrated because trying to implement changes can mess up your game for a while. I don't think I got as much out of my lessons that I had hoped. I realized too late that me and the pro were not quite a fit. However, the lessons did propel me to study and practice and find out a lot of things on my own. I am going to take some more lessons when I can because I think I know much better what I want and understand basic swing concepts much better.

[Ben]

I'm in L.A. (San Fernando Valley) and give lessons if you are interested? You are pretty much the type of student I look for. Decent enough, but looking for the next plateau and seem like you have a true desire to commit to practice and learn. I believe I'm worth the money. So do the students I have. I've been getting some really good feedback from not only them, but the people they normally play with. My favorite comment so far: "You're a genius."

[Donnie_Brasco]

First of all, I hope you don't carry all 17 clubs in your bag at once.

HA, well to be honest, unless Im trying to score or playing for cash, i do caryy between 17-20 clubs, I will drop a few balls and test what works best in certain situations. When I am playing for real, I carry the following. Driver 3 Wood 2, 3, 4 hybrid 5,6,7,8,9 p,s,l wedge putter i am lookign for 1-1 on lessons in the 45min-1 hour range, about 10 sessions over a 2 month period with a monthly follow up lesson. I am going to video my swing and upload to this site shortly. I am extremely athletic, played div 1aa football and div 1 baseball in college. Play tennis and rac ball frequently. I am in tip top shape. I feel like I could advance my golf game to the mid to high single digits with the right instruction. Thanks for all the replies so far..