First ever golf lesson

[RVAduffer]

After playing on and off since I was 15 (12 years ago), I've scheudled my first golf lesson for tomorrow. Not sure what to expect. I signed up for the lesson so the pro can help me with (what else) consistency. Anyone have any ideas on how to get the most out of my lesson or what I should expect?

[zebrasinamerica]

first lesson, a pro will probably critique your swing from the back (watching you off of your right shoulder if you're right handed) and from in front of you. he will probably work on how you load up and approach the ball. 1st lessons are mechanically based for the most part from what i have seen/experienced because that is what the majority of the average player needs work on.

ZEBRA

[niblick]

If the pro asks you to manipulate the club with your hands during the swing, find a different one.

[prutkows]

If the pro asks you to manipulate the club with your hands during the swing, find a different one.

are you serious? dont you release the club with your hands? dont you keep the clubface square along your swingpath with your hands? unless im misunderstanding your suggestion, im pretty sure you have to manipulate the club to be consistent.

[gas_can]

After playing on and off since I was 15 (12 years ago), I've scheudled my first golf lesson for tomorrow. Not sure what to expect. I signed up for the lesson so the pro can help me with (what else) consistency. Anyone have any ideas on how to get the most out of my lesson or what I should expect?

RVAduffer,

When you say you want to work on your consistency, what exactly do you mean by that? Are you trying to hit the ball closer to the pin? Eliminate the one slice with the driver that goes OB once a round? Eliminate the three putt? Is there something specific about your swing you want to change, or do you want him to work with what you already have? If you don't want a complete swing overhaul, be sure he knows that. Be very specific with your goals. That will help the pro narrow down what you need to work on. If not, he will likely just have you warm up, identify a swing flaw that he sees and have you work on that. It may not neccessarily be the problem you'd like to address. An hour may sound like a lot of time, but it's really not. At the end of the lesson, narrow down your misses and understand why they are the way they are. Take notes right after your lesson as well, so you'll have something to refer to when you're working on your own.

[niblick]

are you serious? dont you release the club with your hands? dont you keep the clubface square along your swingpath with your hands? unless im misunderstanding your suggestion, im pretty sure you have to manipulate the club to be consistent.

I should clarify. Yes, everything the club does is a result of what your hands make it do. But all that is tied to fundamentals that don't involve the use of hands and wrists during the downswing.

At his, and my, stage of development as players, the concern should be the basics. Grip, alignment, balance, a good turn, staying connected. Attempting to correct a flaw caused by a breakdown in one of those fundamentals by manipulating the club during the downswing is not a good place to start. That's all I was getting at.

[RVAduffer]

Thanks for everyone's comments. Just got back from the lesson and am back at work. Definetely worth my $45 bucks and I look forward to taking the pointers to the range and getting my work in. It's amazing how she was able to tell me what I was doing wrong everytime. Much as I suspected, I was doing something differently each time! What I didn't expect was that at my normal setup I addressed the ball with a slightly closed clubface. It'd help to explain my pulls.