What can I expect?

[Machine528]

I have been working at my game hard for the last two months. Been playing and at range 5 days a week.   I have never had a lesson in my life been playing since 12 and been a 2-3 handicap to where I am now 15 and dropping.   I figured if I'm going to give golf my all I might as well get a solid swing soI set up an assessment and series of lessons with one of my states top instructors.  I am excited and also nervous about working with him.    I was hoping to drop down to about a 5-6 handicap by the end of the year.  I am already down from my 15 to an 11 or so. 

[iacas]

What can you expect from what?

Your instructor? Yourself? Your game? The Presidential Election?

[RH31]

Spoiler

 

It depends on how much the instructor wants to change. Sometimes, there is regression before progression when you start tweaking your swing. Tell the guy where you want to end up and ask what his overall plan is.

What I wouldn't do is expect to be down to a certain hdcp be a set time period. It will take as long as it takes.

[RandallT]

I'm in a similar boat. I think my natural plateau was about a 15 handicap- no lessons, playing a few times per month, going to the range every week once or twice. (in retrospect, that range work was USELESS)

The main thing is that I NEVER knew how to practice until the last year. Unless you take practice with discipline (using slow motion and video techniques, for example), and unless you get some guidance on the key area of weakness, the range work isn't as valuable as we think it is.

Now, I'm dedicating the time to really learn how to swing, and I've been practicing daily for the most part, at least several times to the range per week. I have an instructor who is guiding me through the process. It's been over a month since I've played, so who knows how the scores will be- but I'm optimistic, particularly so over the past few weeks as my body feels natural again over the ball with the new changes. When I get back to playing regularly by the end of the season, I'd be happy with getting back under a 15 (this year so far, I'd guess I'm around an 18 based on the regression)

I'm impressed you've gone from a 15 to an 11 already. My experience is that you're doing pretty well with that. Not all of us are able to change the picture in our swings as quickly as that, and then take that to the course. If you are someone that is rapidly improving your mechanics, then sure, keep on rolling. I'd expect at some point, however, that your body just can't learn new motions that fast, such that you can solidify the progress and rely on it on the course. To me, these things take time, and improving 10 strokes during a season would be pretty damn remarkable. Good luck!

 

[Machine528]

 

20 hours ago, iacas said:

What can you expect from what?

Your instructor? Yourself? Your game? The Presidential Election?

Hah... I should have clarified, the process of working with an instructor?  I have never worked with one and was curious how it works and what results are possible?

Randall, I have no doubt I don't know how to practice properly. I hit balls at various targets and sometimes work on a swing thought.  I have never seen my swing on video... I'm very eager to get started. 

[Patch]

Positive effort is a priority for success. That effort needs to come from both you, and your instructor. This golf, swing instruction stuff is a two way street to with shared responsibility. You should not be afraid to ask questions about your instruction, and your instructor needs to answer those questions. 

The biggest problem I have run across with instructors is they can't teach at level of understanding of their student(s). 

I once, as a gift,  took some short game instruction from one of Butch Harmon's guys. Me, and the first instructor I was given, did not hit it off so well. I asked for, and recieved a different instructor. We got a long well enough, that I learned a few things. 

My point is, you are the employer, and the instructor is your employee. Get your monies worth from the istruction you are paying for.