Scratch without lessons?

[Jay-Bird]

One of my goals is to get the HC to scratch by the end of 2010, and I've worked my way down to the 3s. I've never had a lesson. Can I get there sooner with a lesson or two? How beneficial are lessons?

[Bump-n-MI]

Once our next HDCP revision comes out I suspect I'll be down to 1.5 (I've been playing some decent golf as of late). The only lessons I had were when I was about 8 years old (now 37). I understand my mechanics and easily understand when I put a poor swing on the ball….it's all about repetition and practice. So, I guess my answer would be NO. A lesson or two would mess me up completely. I plan on getting there all by myself.

[Leftygolfer]

I would say to not get a lesson as well. I think the difference in a 3 and a 0 is short game. But you play a whole lot and that helps keep you sharp. Those are some good scores this year.

[CarlSpackler]

Do you have any perceived weaknesses in your game?

[sp33d]

I think unless you found a trainer that would conform his lessons to what you already have, instead of trying to build you into a golf robot (like many do) it could maybe help... But overall I vote no, I've never had a lesson, and I continue to improve.

a sport physiologist would probably do more for you then a lesson. Because after all golf is 90% mental 8% physical 2 % luck. Especially when you get around that 5 and below handicap.

[youngskip40]

I'd agree that the biggest difference between a 3 and a scratch handicap is efficiency and consistency around the greens... but I don't think it's the only thing. For all we know, you could be hacking it up on your bad days and your short game is so good that it doesn't hurt you when you don't hit it straight. (good skill to have, by the way)

I think the biggest advantage to having a coach (for someone who is a hard worker) is motivation and the fact that they will give you something to work on. Even if it's just something simple like posture that you wouldn't have noticed if you didn't have someone watching you... 45 minutes on the range working on a specific thought is much more beneficial than 3 hours just pounding balls with no goal in mind.

All that said, I haven't taken a lesson in over 10 years, but I fully recognize the benefit of having a good coach and I plan on finding one soon. The biggest problem is how expensive it can be not only to HAVE a coach, but to FIND one that you like and that works well with you... sometimes you need to take one or two lessons with as many pros in the area that you know of until something just clicks with one of them.

The difference between a 3 handicap and scratch is not astronomical, but it will be a test, and unless you have all the time in the world to practice, then maybe the bigger benefit of having a good coach will be the efficiency of always working on something that is making you better, instead of just going to the range to hit balls.

[senorchipotle]

One of my goals is to get the HC to scratch by the end of 2010, and I've worked my way down to the 3s. I've never had a lesson. Can I get there sooner with a lesson or two? How beneficial are lessons?

wow! i'm impressed. 3 handicap with no lessons. how long have you been playing? also, i agree with the others, you don't need a lesson. you should read a book or two on short game, and practice that and putting.

[iacas]

One of my goals is to get the HC to scratch by the end of 2010, and I've worked my way down to the 3s. I've never had a lesson. Can I get there sooner with a lesson or two? How beneficial are lessons?

I got down to a 3 without a lesson. Even a 1.8 without a lesson. Now I'm a 2.0 and I'm heading down, and though I "knew" my swing quite well, I had a few misconceptions on how to groove moves I thought I was making properly.

Tiger "knows" his swing, but he still uses Hank Haney as an educated, immediate eyeball.

I would say to not get a lesson as well. I think the difference in a 3 and a 0 is short game. But you play a whole lot and that helps keep you sharp. Those are some good scores this year.

Or the difference between 3 and 0 is not needing to use your short game as much by hitting more fairways and hitting more greens. You can't make generalizations like that.

[JGulkCG]

Tiger "knows" his swing, but he still uses Hank Haney as an educated, immediate eyeball.

There is nothing like having an educated set of eyes that can just look at your swing once and know what your doing. It has helped me out more than i can imagine.

[saltman]

One of my goals is to get the HC to scratch by the end of 2010, and I've worked my way down to the 3s. I've never had a lesson. Can I get there sooner with a lesson or two? How beneficial are lessons?

There are a 1000 different kind of players that play to a scratch. One thing they all have in common is a trusty flat stick.

My playing partner and I have both been under 3, I have never been a scratch to my dismay. We are completely different players, he grinds out par after par and I make a lot of big numbers and a lot of birdies. We both make a lot of putts however, mine tend to be for bogey or birdie, his tend to be for par.

[shankapotamus]

There are a 1000 different kind of players that play to a scratch. One thing they all have in common is a trusty flat stick.

You used to be under three and now you're a 13?

[flopdarock]

i say it all depends on you and it also depends on whatever pro you decide to take lessons from... it can either hurt you... do nothing for you... or improve you...
you just have to be open minded and do alot of research about a teachers techniques

[Thaddy]

Why do you need lessons?

You've already proved you can consistently swing a golf club. Very well. I'd work on the mental aspect. Pick up a few books by Dr. Bob Rotella and see what it does for your game. Not only have I been shooting 3-4 strokes better, but I'm enjoying myself a helluva lot more out there.

[CG031]

Once our next HDCP revision comes out I suspect I'll be down to 1.5 (I've been playing some decent golf as of late). The only lessons I had were when I was about 8 years old (now 37). I understand my mechanics and easily understand when I put a poor swing on the ball….it's all about repetition and practice. So, I guess my answer would be NO. A lesson or two would mess

I agree with this, especially if you don't have the perfect golf swing, a pro is going to want to change you around a little bit and you'll probably go backwards before you ever get better - that's if, you ever improve.

[Laser]

You're probably better than most local pro's, but that doesn't necessarily matter.
At a 3 it's more about finding someone who you are comfortable in their opinion and that may be hard to find depending on where you live. You need a coach, not a club pro for lessons. I think they are vastly different animals.

[AmenCorner]

I think unless you found a trainer that would conform his lessons to what you already have, instead of trying to build you into a golf robot (like many do) it could maybe help... But overall I vote no, I've never had a lesson, and I continue to improve.

Physiologist?

[AmenCorner]

Lessons can be dangerous. Judging by your HCP you are a player, but pros can often make recommendations that are simply too drastic for the average person, mainly because they only know one way to swing a club. However, I like my pro because he knows how to work with what you have and focuses more on dynamics rather than style. Guys like him are not a dime a dozen though. Trust me, I've had a few "coaches" in my day. I would say it is risky. I don't know how much you practice or devote to the game, but I would just really ask around before you chose a teacher. If you find a guy that people swear by in the area, it could go a long way for you.

Great thread.

[wannabe]

Now ain't this purty - a 3 asking about lessons, and a 30+ about to give him advice! Only on the internetz.

I can only imagine myself at that level, and think that if I ever, ever were to approach that kind of golf, I'd really, really know myself and my game. As far as advice or coaching or teaching, I'd probably be the one doing all the coaching & teaching of just about everyone around me. For someone to help me get from my 3 to a scratch in 18 months, they'd have to be really really good, really really expensive, or probably both. Also, it wouldn't just be a lesson or two -- my new coach would have to spend quite a bit of time with me on and off the course to help me find what I needed, especially if it wasn't something I couldn't already figure out by myself by just looking over my stats.

At your level, you're very correct to be wary. Me - heh, you could help me a lot!!

Best of luck -- I wannabe you someday. :)