Lowest Score Wins or actual golf lesson

[klineka]

A little bit of background, I have been playing golf for about 10 years, but in the last year or two I have been playing more serious and started tracking a handicap, typically has hovered right around 12-13. Typical scores are in the low 80s, so while I'm certainly not great by any means, I am decent enough to get my way around the golf course with mainly pars and bogeys, occasional birdies and doubles scattered in there.

I have never taken a formal lesson in golf or read any instructional books, but I feel now is the time for me to do that in order for me to keep improving. I know that the owner of this site was co-author of Lowest Score Wins, so keeping that in mind, which would be better for myself and my game, buying a copy of Lowest Score Wins, reading it, then seeing if that can drop my score some, or getting a lesson or two, having someone diagnose my swing flaws, work on those and then get a copy of the book in the future once my swing is more solid?

[iacas]

c) Drive to Erie, work with me for a few hours, and I'll give you (and sign) a copy of LSW.

(Alternative answer… LSW is relatively inexpensive. Buy it AND find a good instructor with whom to take some lessons. Also, message @georgep as he's in Columbus and regularly drives this way or to Akron to meet up with me for golf or lessons. Or sometimes I go down to Columbus to play.)

[DaveP043]

3 minutes ago, klineka said:

 so keeping that in mind, which would be better for myself and my game, buying a copy of Lowest Score Wins, reading it, then seeing if that can drop my score some, or getting a lesson or two, having someone diagnose my swing flaws, work on those and then get a copy of the book in the future once my swing is more solid?

Both.   

I see that @iacas has responded, but I'll finish my response before I read his.  LSW will provide lots of great info about analyzing your game, planning your practice, and planning your on-course game, and will help you play better virtually immediately.  I'm sure I've left some stuff out, but the book doesn't give much instruction about actually swinging the club.  If you want to get better, you'll want to improve your full swing, as well as all that other stuff, and you'll need instruction to do that.  LSW can be simultaneous and independent from swing instruction, I see no reason to make this an either/or deal.

[klineka]

18 minutes ago, iacas said:

c) Drive to Erie, work with me for a few hours, and I'll give you (and sign) a copy of LSW.

(Alternative answer… LSW is relatively inexpensive. Buy it AND find a good instructor with whom to take some lessons. Also, message @georgep as he's in Columbus and regularly drives this way or to Akron to meet up with me for golf or lessons. Or sometimes I go down to Columbus to play.)

PM sent. I would definitely drive up to Erie for my first lesson/s to be from you.

12 minutes ago, DaveP043 said:

Both.   

I see that @iacas has responded, but I'll finish my response before I read his.  LSW will provide lots of great info about analyzing your game, planning your practice, and planning your on-course game, and will help you play better virtually immediately.  I'm sure I've left some stuff out, but the book doesn't give much instruction about actually swinging the club.  If you want to get better, you'll want to improve your full swing, as well as all that other stuff, and you'll need instruction to do that.  LSW can be simultaneous and independent from swing instruction, I see no reason to make this an either/or deal.

Thanks for the input, seems like both is the way to go. Planning your practice is definitely something that would help me out a bunch, I struggle with identifying weak areas of my game and structuring practice around those areas. Sometimes I can do it, but not on a consistent enough basis to really improve.

[lastings]

both. 

 

these accomplish different things.   LSW teaches you what to pay attention to and what to work on to improve your game.   An instructor will show you how to work on those things.   Eric can show you both, I assume.  

sorry, Dave.  didn't read your response before I posted basically the same thing..   

[DaveP043]

3 minutes ago, lastings said:

sorry, Dave.  didn't read your response before I posted basically the same thing..   

Great minds think alike. 

[lastings]

Just now, DaveP043 said:

Great minds think alike. 

[Wally Fairway]

Is send a PM to JoeB from Tennessee and appropriate response???

[klineka]

10 minutes ago, Wally Fairway said:

Is send a PM to JoeB from Tennessee and appropriate response???

LOL no offense to him, I'm sure he's a nice guy, but I don't think I'll be reaching out to him for lessons anytime soon. 

Plus @iacas said he'd sign a copy of the book when I visit him in Erie, I dont think JoeB has written a book... yet 

Edited June 29, 2017 by klineka

[Jack Watson]

6 hours ago, klineka said:

LOL no offense to him, I'm sure he's a nice guy, but I don't think I'll be reaching out to him for lessons anytime soon. 

Plus @iacas said he'd sign a copy of the book when I visit him in Erie, I dont think JoeB has written a book... yet 

 

[nabzi]

I agree with everything that has already been said in the thread. A coach will help your technique, where as LSW will help you decide what kind of shots to play, when/where and generally help you plan your way around the course.