First Lessons Questions

[gazrow]

Hi guys,

I've just joined a club after deciding to play golf properly and aim to improve, and have booked a lesson with the pro.

The thing is, I'm not really sure what I want out of the lesson. Currently I am very inconsistent and very poor off the tee. My short game and putting are quite strong.

What should I be telling the pro that I want out of the lesson? Bit of a difficult question to answer I know.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

 

[bigfoot1985]

im sure the pro will get you to take a few shots first and have a look at your swing etc...

He will then tell you what changes to make that will help im prove your game..

I had a lesson earlier this year because i was hitting my drives to the left everytime so thats what i told him and he corrected the problem and told me where i was going wrong.

In your case just explain how your game is (typical round) and that you would like to improve your game and be more consistant

 

[bluetoon]

Unless you ask for something specific to be worked on he will most likley start with the basics.

Ie grip, alingment and posture then move onto swing plane etc.

I would go in with an open mind and let the lesson take a natural flow and let the pro do his job.

You will probably feel a little overwhelmed initially and he will give you 3 or 4 things work on. You should practice these things so that they become natural then go back for another lesson for some more things to work on.

 

[Matty]

It sounds like your inconsistency is your main issue at the moment so starting with the basics probably isn't a bad idea.

It may be that you are setting up slightly differently each time and this is resulting in small swing compensations that then result in the observed inconsistency.

Tell the pro where you are currently at, let them take a look at your swing and see what they come up with to make you more consistent.

Also, don't expect miracles. You may need a few lessons and some hard work on the range and practice on the course so make any changes feel comfortable and to start reaping the benefits.

 

[Imurg]

Also, don't expect miracles. You may need a few lessons and some hard work on the range and practice on the course so make any changes feel comfortable and to start reaping the benefits.

This is the important bit.
If you can't/won't put the practice in to ingrain any changes and make them routine then you're wasting your money.
Good Luck.

 

[Hooper]

All very good advice. I hope your pro comes recommended from a reliable source. The one thing i asked of my pro is that we work towards a one swing to fit all clubs. For years I switched between an iron and woods swing with limited success. Now i have the one swing for all clubs and handicap has come down nicely. This was achieved by my pro making me understand what i needed to do/feel to achieve my goals. The biggest improvement is my ball striking. The sound off the club face and the flight doesn't lie.

Good luck and let us know how it goes

 

[gazrow]

Thanks for the advice guys, I'll be taking it all on board.

The pro is the pro at my club and I've asked a lot of the members about him and the feedback was good, so I've got high hopes of him.

I'll keep an open mind, I'll be patient and I'll work on the things he asks me to and take it from there.

 

[RobbOnTheRock]

Funnily enough I just booked a lesson for this Thursday, a bit of a waste I suspect, as I'm heading offshore on Saturday for two weeks........so pretty sure I'll have forgotten most of what he tells me and I wint have been able to practice what he showed me. I just feel ive got to da something as the golf bug has really bitten me

Cheers
Amdy

 

[trevor]

I had a sesson of about 8 lessons and after each one wrote down the main points of the lesson that I had to remember as I have a bad memory. Now when my swing goes off or something starts to happen that shouldn't I refer back to the card it's on and every time up to now I have found the answer.

 

[RGDave]

A "lesson" for me means hitting full swings and working on my swing.
I've had the odd pitching and putting lesson, even one in a bunker once....
Hard to play golf with no long game to speak of i.m.o.
I expect, unless you ask for something else, you'll get a lesson on your swing.

OR, you might find (as with me) he sends you away with a new grip and tells you to come back when it feels OK....which in my case might be never.

 

[Hooper]

My pro writes it all down for me at the end of each lesson and goes through it all with me. I have accepted the fact now that to get something right we may have to cover it in a few lessons. That is why now i have half the lesson on swing and half on a different aspect, pitching, putting.. etc. It means i take something new from the lesson when i have to repeat certain aspects of the full swing. Works for me.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

My pro tends to take videos before and after and mails them to me so I can see what I was doing and how the changes have made a difference. If you are only having one lesson it'll be difficult for the pro to fix everything that may be wrong for a beginner but whatever he changes you need to put some work in at the range to make the changes permanent. When you get on the course if it starts going awry don't go back to the old swing. Stick with it and work your way through

 

[Captain_Black]

I am a new & very enthusiastic golfer that has just finished a course of 6x lessons with my clubs pro, these are my thoughts on how it went.

He concentrated on getting my swing right, at first I couldn't get it at all & my game went to pieces, the ball would fly off in any direction when I could actually hit it at all, but I put in loads of practice & only now is it beginning to come together, I still hit a few duff shots, but when I get it right my accuracy is better & the increase in power / range is immense.

So based on my recent experience I would definately recomend you concentrate on getting your grip / swing sorted & be prepared to have problems at first, but stick with it, put in loads of practice (on the range not the course) & if your like me it will all suddenly click into place & you will really start to enjoy hitting some wicked shots.