Alright biting the bullet and taking lessons. Couple of questions

[mrprovisional]

Finally decided to take lessons this week after I get paid. $100 for an hour includes a video of the whole lesson. Should I tell him everything I need work on before hand and what I need work on or have him analyze everything and let him do his thing when it comes to being a teacher?

[Dub]

You are pay him to tell you what you wanna work on.


I'd start off by telling him your goals. That way he knows how far to go.

That's cool that you will be getting video evidence of the drills that help you get in the right positions. Hopefully you can use this for a tune up in the future.

[JGus]

I had my first lesson last week, and I would expect that your instructor will ask you questions during your warm-up and lesson, as well as observing your swing. I don't think you need to tell him/her what you need work on, most likely they will identify that themselves, and it will probably be different than what your thinking.

Just swing as you would any other day and let the instructor analyze your swing and make the appropriate changes.

[mrprovisional]

Thanks fellas. Im more leaning towards the proper stances and swing plane but im gonna definitely have him see what I do and have him work out the problems of my game.

[deronsizemore]

Agree with others, just let the instructor lead the session. Being that you're a 36 handicap, your instructor is going to know what you need to work on more than you do.

Honestly, the lesson probably won't go anything like you've pictured in your mind before hand. He'll most likely start out with the fundamentals and go from there. Worrying about swing plane and all that is something that can only be worked on once you have the correct grip, stance, posture, weight distribution, etc.

You have to lean to walk before you can run. Just be patient and don't get discouraged when you leave and aren't a pro afterwards.

[mrprovisional]

Agree with others, just let the instructor lead the session. Being that you're a 36 handicap, your instructor is going to know what you need to work on more than you do.

LOL. I wasnt planning on doing this to become pro. I wanna learn how to properly play the sport instead of just playing the game of golf. I have every intention of learning new things and actually enjoying the sport even more. Ill let you guys know how it goes once I get the ball rolling

[deronsizemore]

LOL. I wasnt planning on doing this to become pro. I wanna learn how to properly play the sport instead of just playing the game of golf. I have every intention of learning new things and actually enjoying the sport even more. Ill let you guys know how it goes once I get the ball rolling

I realize that, I was partly joking.

I've just heard from more than a few people who come out worse after the lesson than before they went in (because they needed a grip change or something) and are upset because they assumed they would play better afterward, not worse.

[mrprovisional]

oh no, i knew you were. Im just a realistic bastard that i will never be that great at a sport that I was introduced instead of actually wanting to do it. When I was introduced to it, I never turned back. I love this sport. I just wanna enjoy it even more

[Dub]

oh no, i knew you were. Im just a realistic bastard that i will never be that great at a sport that I was introduced instead of actually wanting to do it. When I was introduced to it, I never turned back. I love this sport. I just wanna enjoy it even more

That is awesome. Your enthusiasm will take you a long way.

A person must have the "want to" in order to undertake the game with any success. The enthusiastic player will endure the bumps and setbacks and see them as challenges to learn something...and ultimately improve. I'll give you an example....my normal shot is a small draw....my misses are usually nasty hooks. I showed up this morning to play a course I play 3-4 times a year with a couple of buddies. One of them plays that course almost exclusively and anywhere we normally tee it up, he shoots a couple of strokes better than I do. I warmed up on the range and it wasn't pretty. Stiff, suckish tempo, damp grips and a ton of other excuses. Anyway, most shots were fading and my extreme misses were slices. I knew I didn't have time to analize things so I just reeled in my backswing a bit and my shot dispersion tightened...still with the fade. I gamed a fade all day...planned on it, in fact. The three of us were one shot apart after nine holes. I kept grinding away...hoping the putter would get hot as the greens dried out (I left several putts short on the front by a matter of 2"-6"). Fade kept working....I trusted it and aimed accordingly. Putter didn't drop any birdies...but a few clutch pars and dare I say, bogeys (it was one of those days for all three of us). Anyway I was 4 back from one friend (about normal) and 2 strokes ahead of the other bud that usually bests me by a few. I felt good about the outcome...knowing my best golf wasn't to be found today, however I could revert back to something from the past and hang on. Good luck, Mr.Provisional.....I'd say you are off to an excellent start. I've often heard that the longest distance in golf is the distance between a golfers ears.....sometimes you've just gotta scrap everything and dig your way out. You're determination will get your there. Oh, yeah....one last thing....just in case nobody told you.....and if you are nearing the age of 40.....keep a bottle of Advil handy in your golf bag.

[Happy Dragon]

Hey mrprovisional,

By the way, great avatar. Homage to the great, Andy Samberg, cause "I J*zzed in my Pants."

Good luck with your lessons. You're making the right move and have a good attitude towards enjoying golf.

Happy

[mrprovisional]

That is awesome. Your enthusiasm will take you a long way.

not yet but being that im only 26, i feel like im forty everyday. lol. Thank you for the kind words. definitely means alot to me. Quick story. I golf with 3 other guys. All in the medical field. Two nurses and a surgical tech. Now, this one guy whos been playing for quite sometime, gets really frustrated when he has a bad game. One day, he shot really bad in the front and back. He starts cursing and yelling at himself about how bad he is doing. The other nurse is like me but more outside the box. He said something that I will never forget. After he saw the melt down, he said, "thats why your a nurse and not a professional golfer". I nearly cried and laughed so hard that my stomach cramped up from the way he said those words. Anyways, those words actually stuck to me and my whole perspective on the game changed from someone who hated this to someone who wants to spread the joy of the game.

[mrprovisional]

Hey mrprovisional,

Thanks happy. That avatar is the same avatar from other forums I belong. Although the skit fizzled out, the faces will never go away. lol

[jamo]

Thanks happy. That avatar is the same avatar from other forums I belong. Although the skit fizzled out, the faces will never go away. lol

fizzled out?, not according to the most played list on my ipod

[Happy Dragon]

fizzled out?, not according to the most played list on my ipod

"I'm on a Boat" on my phone wakes me up every morning in time for work. The stuff is pure genius!

[Dammit]

I'll bet he starts out by correcting some fundamentals problems that you don't even know you have.
Sometimes we have to take a step or two backwards to move forward. I'm sure you'll benefit greatly from this.

[mrprovisional]

I'll bet he starts out by correcting some fundamentals problems that you don't even know you have.

Im hoping I learn alot more than I think i know.

[Lean, Mean, Hitting Machine]

Please don't tell me you are actually going to pay this person $100 an hour...That is a huge waste of your money. I wouldn't pay Hank Haney that much money for one hour, especially if you are at a 36 handicap. I get lessons from a scratch golfer who works for a pga superstore for $40 an hour, with free launch monitor, video analysis, take home dvd's, and more! There has to be someone cheaper you can get lessons from. Save your money and get 2 hours worth of lessons with someone else instead of paying this guy $100 for one hour. As mentioned above, you will most likely be working on the fundamentals anyway, which don't take a rocket scientist to teach. I hope you heed this word of advice. I wouldn't write this much if it I didn't think it was important.

[deronsizemore]

Please don't tell me you are actually going to pay this person $100 an hour...That is a huge waste of your money. I wouldn't pay Hank Haney that much money for one hour.

I would give Hank that in a heart beat.

Actually one of the guys I take lessons from now is $100 for 45 mintues although I only see him about once a year or so if my swing gets out of whack. The other guy I see is only $45 so it's a little more affordable.