frustrated with lessons

[uttexas]

Prior to lessons. Scored 77-85. Crossed the line at the top, mini over the top move to start the downswing, steep down swing, but still inside to out at impact 2-4 degrees. Could play it high, low, fade, draw.

six months of lessons (one per month). Scoring 85-94. Shorter back swing, on plane, can come too far in to out sometimes 8 degrees at impact. Hitting it much shorter, sort of like a smothered ball with overspin. My body hurts and feels unnatural getting into these "ideal" positions.

I am frustrated. I do have a better understanding of what my golf swing "should look like", but my game is suffering. I've only been able to play once a month, but I've gotta see more improvement soon.

[TN94z]

Sometimes it takes a while to get them down. If it feels weird then you are probably doing something right. I have been working for 3 months to get to a certain position at impact and still haven't gotten it down. I get frustrated too but I keep thinking of how much better I will be once I get it down.

If you are only playing once a month, how much are you practicing? I can tell you that any swing change you make will take a long time if you are just playing once a month! I usually hit around 300 balls a week and play on the weekends. I am probably still not practicing as much as I should.

Just for comparison, I have gone from a 2.5 to a 5.2 and now back to a 4.9. It takes time...just show patience. You will probably get worse before you get better.

[cts2fast4u]

its probably a safe bet you hit a wall with your old swing as far as score or you wouldnt of seeked lessons. I first make sure you are with a qualified instructor as unfort their are many that are not and then i would keep working on it. The limits are endless once you achieve good positions it willl take time. We have all been there maybe you can post a before and after so we can see your progress. Alot of times it will just click and you will get the oh shit now i get it moment. Keep going for it you will find it
'

[TN94z]

its probably a safe bet you hit a wall with your old swing as far as score or you wouldnt of seeked lessons. I first make sure you are with a qualified instructor as unfort their are many that are not and then i would keep working on it. The limits are endless once you achieve good positions it willl take time. We have all been there maybe you can post a before and after so we can see your progress.

I am still looking for this moment with my impact position

[uttexas]

Thanks for the motivation. I hit around 120 balls at the range a week (one day a week) and play once a month (young children...wife and I have busy work schedules).

You hit the nail on the head, plateud with the old swing. Grooved the swing for 20 years. Really improved five years ago by just focusing on the short game. I suppose now that all my practice is focused on learning a new long swing, my short game is suffering also.

Will try to post some before and after videos.

[TN94z]

Thanks for the motivation. I hit around 120 balls at the range a week (one day a week) and play once a month (young children...wife and I have busy work schedules).

If you are trying to change something that you have been doing for 20 years, it is going to be tough and take a lot of practice. That is kind of the same situation I am in at the moment.

[flanagan]

Play will get you nothing with the swing changes. 120 balls, or maybe 2 1/2 bags per week, once a week, isn't giving your lessons a chance. Even 40 balls three times a week would be better. Takes 100s and 100s of balls to get those swing changes "permanent", good luck. I've been working since the middle of last summer on swing changes (can't play in the winter) and still working. So easy to fall back into what's "comfortable" and not even realize it, even when practicing 3 -4 times a week. Frankly, I don't know it I'll ever get accomplished what I'm working on (no more casting and more "lag"), but I'm getting closer and occasionally I'll hit some great shots that keep me encouraged. Good luck, but no substitute for quality practice and practice time.

[TN94z]

Play will get you nothing with the swing changes. 120 balls, or maybe 2 1/2 bags per week, once a week, isn't giving your lessons a chance. Even 40 balls three times a week would be better. Takes 100s and 100s of balls to get those swing changes "permanent", good luck. I've been working since the middle of last summer on swing changes (can't play in the winter) and still working. So easy to fall back into what's "comfortable" and not even realize it, even when practicing 3 -4 times a week. Frankly, I don't know it I'll ever get accomplished what I'm working on (no more casting and more "lag"), but I'm getting closer and occasionally I'll hit some great shots that keep me encouraged. Good luck, but no substitute for quality practice and practice time.

Swings is the key. You don't have to hit balls every time. Practice in front of the mirror at home...It isn't necessarily hundreds of balls, it is swings. That is what my golf teacher tells me.

[flanagan]

You are absolutely right and sometimes looking at the ball is the biggest obstacle. One of my keys has been improving my takeaway, which I work on in the house all the time. Takes 5 minutes, and helps groove the feel, and just as important as time on the range.

[is2linda]

six months of lessons (one per month).

Thats a HUGE gap in lesson times. I dont know how much you can learn in 1 lesson per month. Unless your lessons are 8 hours long, once a month to change a swing is kinda unreliable. My teachers recommended lesson once a week for a swing change. And constant mirror work and practicing twice a week.

Well either way good luck!

[TN94z]

Thats a HUGE gap in lesson times. I dont know how much you can learn in 1 lesson per month. Unless your lessons are 8 hours long, once a month to change a swing is kinda unreliable. My teachers recommended lesson once a week for a swing change. And constant mirror work and practicing twice a week.

I only go once every 3 weeks or so. Why go any more often if the teacher is telling you to work on the same problem? He can't make you swing the way he is teaching you...it takes more range work than anything. If you are going once a week and he is telling you to work on the same thing every time, it sounds like that is wasting money!

[is2linda]

I only go once every 3 weeks or so. Why go any more often if the teacher is telling you to work on the same problem? He can't make you swing the way he is teaching you...it takes more range work than anything. If you are going once a week and he is telling you to work on the same thing every time, it sounds like that is wasting money!

Try indoor video swing analysis. That would seem to be more beneficial to you.

[TN94z]

Try indoor video swing analysis. That would seem to be more beneficial to you.

My lessons are video analysis. I don't really understand what you are saying?

[PrairieParson]

I hope I don't throw a wrench in your golf life, but if you watch the pros, you will find that there are many different ways to hit a golf ball. I reject the idea that there is a perfect swing. Watch baseball pitchers. Some have a very different movement,but all get similar results. Lee Trevino had a terrible looking swing, but it was consistent and he did OK with it. My attitude in all these years is, Get something that is simple, repeatable and works for me. Forget having the "Ideal" golf swing. It doesn't exist.

[enduro]

I only go once every 3 weeks or so. Why go any more often if the teacher is telling you to work on the same problem? He can't make you swing the way he is teaching you...it takes more range work than anything. If you are going once a week and he is telling you to work on the same thing every time, it sounds like that is wasting money!

I disagree. A coach will be able to make sure you're on track still and reinforce things you may have slipped on. Learning a new technique can often take time. But while learning it, it is very important other parts of your technique don't decay or slip. A coach can make sure of this.

One of the most valuable things in golf is having someone who has a mastery of swing mechanics watch you swing. Even if you're trying to learn the same thing he was teaching last week. If anything, it builds confidence that you're doing everything else right. If you're failing at mastering a technique it probably isn't unlikely you start to compensate and allow other things to decay.

[TN94z]

I hope I don't throw a wrench in your golf life, but if you watch the pros, you will find that there are many different ways to hit a golf ball. I reject the idea that there is a perfect swing. Watch baseball pitchers. Some have a very different movement,but all get similar results. Lee Trevino had a terrible looking swing, but it was consistent and he did OK with it. My attitude in all these years is, Get something that is simple, repeatable and works for me. Forget having the "Ideal" golf swing. It doesn't exist.

Well, I think the only thing that really matters is impact. I guess it doesn't matter how you get there as long as you are in the correct position when you do. For me, it wasn't that I was looking for a perfect swing. I had hit a scoring plateau and was looking for help get over it. I wanted a swing that would make me more consistent. I wanted a swing that would take less effort to acheive the same results and some that I could repeat time and time again...especially in a pressure situation. My old swing relied too much on timing and when you are under pressure the timing can get off quickly.

I disagree. A coach will be able to make sure you're on track still and reinforce things you may have slipped on. Learning a new technique can often take time. But while learning it, it is very important other parts of your technique don't decay or slip. A coach can make sure of this.

I agree and it would be nice having a coach to be able to watch you every time you practice but when you are paying 90/hr, it sometimes is not feasible to get a lesson when the teacher tells you the exact same thing every time. With that being said, this is why I go about every 3 weeks. I don't want to go every week because I know that is not enough time "for me" to get in the practice that I need to help the change. After 3 weeks, I like to go back just to see if I am improving and make sure that I am not practicing a bad habit that may have developed from what you described. I guess I could have worded my post a little better or been more descriptive.