Game improvement irons or lessons?

[Tony Galveston]

Hi. I am fairly new to golf. I got my "green card"  last spring, and played a total of 4 rounds on a 18 hole course, and 4 rounds on a 9 hole course. I have probably hit 2250 - 2500 balls on the range in that time period.

The shortgame is actually what I am best at, but my big struggle is actually the tee shot. I am only able to launch SW, PW and 9 iron fairly straight and with adequate height. I struggle with the 8-5 irons and especially the hybrids. I think I hit the ground first with those clubs and it is causing the ball to hook Driver sometimes slices, but is my second best skill at the moment.

Currently I`m using a Wilson Stretch beginners golf set from 2007 or so.

Do you guys think it would help with a newer game improvement iron set (like Cobra baffler XL) or another easy to launch game improvement set? I struggle with longer shots from a tee and the ground...

Or should I rather spend the money on 9 Lessons with a pro? (same cost as the iron set in Norway)

Thanks!

[KoenA]

Hi & welcome to the forum! I'm far from the most experienced guy on here, but based on my own experience I think you would see the biggest improvement from taking lessons with a good pro.

When I just started playing, I started of with a beginner set probably much like the one you have. I upgraded to new clubs (Ping G25s) after about 3 months, but despite them 'feeling' better to me, I did not hit the ball any better... As you say that your issue is hitting the ground before the ball, new and potentially higher launching clubs will not resolve this. It's most likely a flaw in your swing that you need to correct. The only exception I can think about is if you are exceptionally tall or short, in which case having clubs that fit your size might help.

The reason I highlighted good pro, is that even in a small set of pros I have seen, I observed very big differences in the quality of instruction. My wife picked up golf recently, and after 10 lessons with one pro, she wasn't able to have fun on the course. She had two lessons with a different pro and suddenly she improved a lot. I think both of them wanted to teach her the same, but one of them was just way better in conveying what exactly she needed to change. This may be highly personal, so it's difficult to say how you could select a good one, but I would suggest that if after a few lessons you don't feel you're improving, you should find another pro.

As an alternative to taking lessons with a local pro, you could consider evolvr ( http://evolvr.thegolfevolution.com/) . It's an online 'lesson' where you upload a movie of your swing and get feedback. Based on all the good things I read about it on this forum, I signed up last week and am very happy with my first video lesson. (As a sidenote my current issue is the same as yours, as my swing has it's low point before the ball).

At any rate, good luck with improving and make sure to stick around here. There are many very knowledgeable people on here that provide great input.

[boogielicious]

Hi. I am fairly new to golf. I got my "green card"  last spring, and played a total of 4 rounds on a 18 hole course, and 4 rounds on a 9 hole course. I have probably hit 2250 - 2500 balls on the range in that time period.

The shortgame is actually what I am best at, but my big struggle is actually the tee shot. I am only able to launch SW, PW and 9 iron fairly straight and with adequate height. I struggle with the 8-5 irons and especially the hybrids. I think I hit the ground first with those clubs and it is causing the ball to hook Driver sometimes slices, but is my second best skill at the moment.

Currently I`m using a Wilson Stretch beginners golf set from 2007 or so.

Do you guys think it would help with a newer game improvement iron set (like Cobra baffler XL) or another easy to launch game improvement set? I struggle with longer shots from a tee and the ground...

Or should I rather spend the money on 9 Lessons with a pro? (same cost as the iron set in Norway)

Thanks!

Welcome to the forum @Tony Galveston I completely agree with @KoenA

Also, you can post a video of your swing in the Member Swings section. You will get good advice there as well, and it is free.  It will give you a taste of what Evolvr is like as well as many of us get our instruction there.  Finding a good local instructor can be challenging.

Improving at golf is a journey.  Erik, @iacas , started this forum with that purpose in mind.  Good instruction and advice will make that journey more enjoyable.

[Ernest Jones]

Unless your current clubs are bent or broken, you'll see far more benefit from 9 lessons.

[Tony Galveston]

Thank you for great answers.

[Grinde6]

Do some research before just picking a pro to go and work with.  You don't want to spend all of that money and not get anything out of it.  I would recommend watching The Golf Fix with Michael Breed on the Golf Channel if you get it over there.  He is excellent.  He just did a piece on posture the other day which is more than likely why you are hitting the ground before the ball.  He shows you how to correct it with affordable tools.

Also, just a heads up I would be willing to bet that during your lessons if your clubs are in fact that old the pro (if he is a good pro) would tell you to get a new set of irons if you can.

[Tony Galveston]

Ahhh ok. Thanks! i will definately ask around at my local club and hearing about their experiences with tha available pros. Unfortunately I do not have access to Golf Channel here in Norway (I have mailed them and asked). I have watched what is available on youtube, and I agree, Michael Breed is awesome!

In regards to new irons, I fear that a pro might try to convince me that I need custom fitted clubs, and I am not too interested in that at the moment. Also wondering if it would be a smart decition to buy "game improvement irons" with the degree of offset they provide, and if a pro would recommend that.

Cheers!