improving through lessons

[drawboy]

I am off 11 at the moment, no pro but no hacker either. I do not want to be a pro, never could be I'm approaching 50 but I know with a bit of fine tuning I could play to mid singles.I have had lessons that have highlighted swing errors (who doesn't have them?) I do not have the time or inclination to practice these out but with some help with putting and chipping I can shave off those vital silly shots. I have 5 lessons paid for, should I tell my pro that that is what I want to concentrate on or just get my head down and stick with the swing changes he wants?

 

[Val]

Depends, will a sharp short game work for you or do you need to improve long game, if your long game is ropey then swing changes may be your answer but that will need LOTS of practice

 

[In_The_Rough]

I am off 11 at the moment, no pro but no hacker either. I do not want to be a pro, never could be I'm approaching 50 but I know with a bit of fine tuning I could play to mid singles.I have had lessons that have highlighted swing errors (who doesn't have them?) I do not have the time or inclination to practice these out but with some help with putting and chipping I can shave off those vital silly shots. I have 5 lessons paid for, should I tell my pro that that is what I want to concentrate on or just get my head down and stick with the swing changes he wants?

If you aint got the time or inclination to practice swing changes dont bother having lessons focusing on the swing. Have lessons on your putting + chipping etc something that is easier and a lot quicker to get sorted.

 

[bobmac]

Definitely tell the pro you dont want to practice.
It will change the way he teaches you and will help him help you get the best out of your swing.
If you have 5 lessons left I would have them in this order

• putting
• chipping
• pitching
• bunkers
• course lesson

That way, you will get all the info you need to improve your short game and learn how to manage you game on the course.
All that without any major swing surgery.

 

[drawboy]

I am never far from the green on my second shot. I do not miss too many probably 5/6 per round, the problem is I do not make the birdies when I have the chance of them, when I do miss the green I'm more likely to make a bogey than a par though.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I got a set of 6 lessons with the guy I've been seeing since December. We spent the first couple on the one plane system he has got me trying to use and so it made sense. Since then we've covered bunkers and chipping and the last two are open to discussion. I wouldn't mind another short game/putting lesson and then a swing MOT but the good thing is he'll usually have a quick look at the swing and if there isn't anything hugely out of kilter let me get on with it if I want to look at another area.

I guess if you don't/can't practice then the short game is the place to focus. To be honest I'd probably get him to have one full swing lesson but explain its an MOT and not the start of a rebuild and then perhaps for a week or so make the efort to work ont he resultant drills. That way you can at least have some confidence that the long game has been checked over and you know if you hit a bad one it isn't a major issue

 

[Evesdad]

Agree with the above.

 

[User 105]

Maybe have one lesson to check the basics but be clear you're not interested in a swing re-build.

Then use the rest on short game, possibly a course lesson for the course management and mental side of things.

If you don't have the time\inclination to practice then any major swing change is going to be detrimental to you're game for a long time.

 

[garyinderry]

would you really go for a lesson on course management? surely this comes this experience of playing the game and also knowing your limitations. i dont really think you can teach or tell someone this. obviously you can tell someone about bailing out and also not to short side yourself but after that what more is there apart from assessing each and every shot you come across and trying to be smart about it!

 

[User 105]

Depends on the player I think. I've played with some pretty tidy players that when they get in trouble try to play a miracle shot to get out rather than take their medicine. I've also played with players that only see the flag. They go for everything.

That might just be the way the choose to play, or it might be because they have shocking course management. They just don't think of the consequences of their shot choice.

I've also played with some more senior golfers who don't have great swings, distance etc who manage there rounds and compile a score that if you saw them hit the ball you'd be amazed. They manage the course well and don't waste shots.

 

[RGDave]

I am never far from the green on my second shot. I do not miss too many probably 5/6 per round, the problem is I do not make the birdies when I have the chance of them, when I do miss the green I'm more likely to make a bogey than a par though.

I'm not sure I understand the maths (if you only miss 5 or 6 greens, you should play to less than 9 without disaster holes!), but from the sounds of it, short game and putting have got to be the way forward.

Then again, with an ingrained and fairly reliable full swing, sometimes a small tweak can make a huge difference.

 

[RGDave]

I've also played with some more senior golfers who don't have great swings, distance etc who manage there rounds and compile a score that if you saw them hit the ball you'd be amazed. They manage the course well and don't waste shots.

Oi! don't call me senior....

 

[garyinderry]

Depends on the player I think. I've played with some pretty tidy players that when they get in trouble try to play a miracle shot to get out rather than take their medicine. I've also played with players that only see the flag. They go for everything.

That might just be the way the choose to play, or it might be because they have shocking course management. They just don't think of the consequences of their shot choice.

I've also played with some more senior golfers who don't have great swings, distance etc who manage there rounds and compile a score that if you saw them hit the ball you'd be amazed. They manage the course well and don't waste shots.

i know what your saying but i think it cant really be relayed to someone in an hour or a half hour lesson. sometimes i think to myself after stupidly going after a tight pin that i would have been better playing to middle of green and two putting a par instead of getting in trouble and dropping a shot. you can tell people these things but alot of the time it takes the person to work these things out on their own. they might come back to you and say, " you were right when you said such and such, but i didnt listen then". i get this all the time with my ever improving mates.

 

[pbrown7582]

I am off 11 at the moment, no pro but no hacker either. I do not want to be a pro, never could be I'm approaching 50 but I know with a bit of fine tuning I could play to mid singles.I have had lessons that have highlighted swing errors (who doesn't have them?) I do not have the time or inclination to practice these out but with some help with putting and chipping I can shave off those vital silly shots. I have 5 lessons paid for, should I tell my pro that that is what I want to concentrate on or just get my head down and stick with the swing changes he wants?

i'd go with the short game work in you situation as i think to make swing changes will take lots of time and effort i was in a similar situation few years ago now made the swing changes and had lessons but was about 3 months of effort and range 4/5 times a week.

 

[USER1999]

Unless you have a good looking swing already I would avoid full swing lessons. Any tweaks you might make may be the tweak that wrecks your swing, or the start of a domino effect where you need the next one to make the first one work, then the next, etc. The pro is unlikely to say, move your left hand a fraction stronger and you will be swinging like mcilroy.

Short game and putting.

 

[ArnoldArmChewer]

I am off 11 at the moment, no pro but no hacker either. I do not want to be a pro, never could be I'm approaching 50 but I know with a bit of fine tuning I could play to mid singles.I have had lessons that have highlighted swing errors (who doesn't have them?) I do not have the time or inclination to practice these out but with some help with putting and chipping I can shave off those vital silly shots. I have 5 lessons paid for, should I tell my pro that that is what I want to concentrate on or just get my head down and stick with the swing changes he wants?

I am similar age similar handicap similar scenario, had about 15 lessons last year and changed my swing quite a bit, I am hopeful that this will transmit into better more consistent golf/scoring this season, some early signs just not in medals yet.

STICK WITH IT (after all your only a whipasnapper still)

 

[Foxholer]

Definitely tell the pro you dont want to practice.
It should change the way he teaches you and will help him help you get the best out of your swing.

I'm afraid there's a significant number of metronomic 'the swing is the thing' Pro's out there.

@OP. Make sure he understands your circumstances and he commits to changing the way he teaches you to because of it. I think you are probably taking a sensible approach.

Good Luck.

 

[Region3]

I am never far from the green on my second shot. I do not miss too many probably 5/6 per round, the problem is I do not make the birdies when I have the chance of them, when I do miss the green I'm more likely to make a bogey than a par though.

If you're hitting 12/13 greens per round I'd have ALL of the lessons on short game.