Lessons Time

[Duckster]

Well, after playing for many a year, I seem to have hit a brick wall handicap wise. I've been floating around the 12/13 mark for a few years now but know that I've got a single figure game hiding away somewhere.

So... it's birthday time in Sept and the Mrs has stepped up and bought me a set of 6x45min lessons with our Pro to be taken now! She knows me too well! First lesson booked for a week on Sat.

Never had a golf lesson in my life, have only been a youtube learner or grabbing a few tips of mates.

I'm ready for the the "it'll get worse before it gets better" scenario and am only aiming at using the lessons from now to hopefully get me lower next season, but I'm not too sure about how much practise to be putting in. 50 balls a couple of times a week? 100 balls etc.. or just as many as I can humanly get away with? What do people expect to come away with from a lesson?

I'm hoping for at least a set practise routine for on the range so I'm not just randomly hitting balls and a better understanding of what the pro will be trying to achieve.

Nervous already.

 

[AmandaJR]

Don't be nervous

The pro should ask what you want from the lesson (s). Is it a tweak and band-aid to solve an issue and get you through the season or is it a swing re-build or major changes if they're required? I generally have lessons in the season as a bit of housekeeping and to stop bad habits creeping in from playing to much golf. I use the winter to make more significant changes and improvements and over the past 3 years this has worked very well - all with the same pro.

Practice between lessons is crucial for you to ingrain any changes as they're tough to commit to on the course. How often do you play? Assuming once or twice a week then try and fit in 3 range sessions as well. It's not the quantity but quality of balls hit and hopefully your pro will advise of a practice routine which he asseses will get you results and ingrain the changes before the next lesson.

Good luck and enjoy. I've never yet come away from a lesson without feeling enthused, excited and more prepared/knowledgeable about my game.

 

[Duckster]

Don't be nervous

The pro should ask what you want from the lesson (s). Is it a tweak and band-aid to solve an issue and get you through the season or is it a swing re-build or major changes if they're required? I generally have lessons in the season as a bit of housekeeping and to stop bad habits creeping in from playing to much golf. I use the winter to make more significant changes and improvements and over the past 3 years this has worked very well - all with the same pro.

Practice between lessons is crucial for you to ingrain any changes as they're tough to commit to on the course. How often do you play? Assuming once or twice a week then try and fit in 3 range sessions as well. It's not the quantity but quality of balls hit and hopefully your pro will advise of a practice routine which he asseses will get you results and ingrain the changes before the next lesson.

Good luck and enjoy. I've never yet come away from a lesson without feeling enthused, excited and more prepared/knowledgeable about my game.

Cheers Amanda, I'm really after more consistancy. If that requires a full swing rebuild then so be it. Had a chat with the pro and told him I'd rather he told me more what to do, start from grip, stance, swing mechanics, whatever he deems necessary. But also to try to get at least 2 of the lessons aimed at the short game although if I need to work on something else then so be it.

I want to try to be a bit flexible with what's going to happen.

 

[AmandaJR]

Cheers Amanda, I'm really after more consistancy. If that requires a full swing rebuild then so be it. Had a chat with the pro and told him I'd rather he told me more what to do, start from grip, stance, swing mechanics, whatever he deems necessary. But also to try to get at least 2 of the lessons aimed at the short game although if I need to work on something else then so be it.

I want to try to be a bit flexible with what's going to happen.

Sounds like you're going into it with the right attitude and a good pro will have a plan for you after seeing your swing, and start to make changes in a logical order and in a way which enables you to still play good golf!

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Before a series of lessons, it's important that you and the pro have a chat about your game and exactly what your expectations are. If you're around the 12-13 mark then I doubt he'll reinvent the wheel with your swing. Go in and be honest, tell him how much practice time you have and can spare. I'm sure it'll be fine.

From a personal perspective, after a lesson I like to have a couple of range sessions later in the week to work on the drills and changes before going out on the course. Other people are different and its what works for you. I hope it goes well and keep us posted on your progress

 

[pbrown7582]

With regard numbers of balls I prefer to hit 50 quality ones taking at least an hour rather than rattling through 100 as quick as possible.

 

[London mike 61]

To reach your present handicap is a good enough achievement so you are obviously hitting the quite well but if it is your short game that needs sharpening then I would highly recommend the Dave Pelz short game bible .

It has everything you might need to improve your scoring game as others on here will testify.

I hope your lessons go well and keep us updated with your progress.

EYG

 

[HomerJSimpson]

With regard numbers of balls I prefer to hit 50 quality ones taking at least an hour rather than rattling through 100 as quick as possible.

Agreed. Quality not quantity and I tend to do a lot of rehearsing and practice swings in between hitting shots. I love it when you see someone get the biggest bucket and machine gun them out one after another in the time it takes me to hit a quarter of that number. You want to ask what you've worked on or learned from that

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Agreed. Quality not quantity and I tend to do a lot of rehearsing and practice swings in between hitting shots. I love it when you see someone get the biggest bucket and machine gun them out one after another in the time it takes me to hit a quarter of that number. You want to ask what you've worked on or learned from that

They have prob just had a bit of fun and worked on their enjoyment

I rapidly fire through balls of I ever go to the range - just keeping the swing warm.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

They have prob just had a bit of fun and worked on their enjoyment

I rapidly fire through balls of I ever go to the range - just keeping the swing warm.

Can't see the point. Most couldn't put two straight shots together but whatever keeps you happy.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Can't see the point. Most couldn't put two straight shots together but whatever keeps you happy.

Because a lot use ranges for fun or for a release of stress etc etc

And I have seen people spend 5 mins per ball and still not hit two straight shots. But I wouldn't judge people on what they do at a driving range

 

[chrisd]

With regard numbers of balls I prefer to hit 50 quality ones taking at least an hour rather than rattling through 100 as quick as possible.

50 in an hour............ I could hit 200 in that time!

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Like I said. Whatever makes people happy

 

[Duckster]

I've always rattled through balls at the range, but more because I feel that I wasn't really working on anything or practicing correctly. I was just hitting balls.

 

[DaveM]

Often use to call at the range after work, if I were strung up over something. Just smashed the life out of a bucket full. Not giving a toss where they went. Then go home relaxed and stress free.

Either that or go home have a row with her and kick the dog.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Often use to call at the range after work, if I were strung up over something. Just smashed the life out of a bucket full. Not giving a toss where they went. Then go home relaxed and stress free.

Either that or go home have a row with her and kick the dog.

I can understand that. Done the same myself before now. We don't have a dog and I kicked the wife but she kicked back. However for the majority of the time I want to be there and working constructively on my game

 

[Duckster]

So, had 1st lesson yesterday (several weather related cancellations), only used 1 club all the way through (6i) and I really enjoyed it. Si (our pro) watched a few of my swings which I hit quite well and told me, correctly, what my bad shots would be. Worked on a few things and at every stage he explained what he was doing and what the aim would be in a manner which I understood straight away which allowed us to do quite a lot in an hour.

Posture at address; shifted my weight onto the balls of my feet (instead of my usual leaning back on my heels), getting my knees over the balls of my feet, shoulders over them and hands/arms slightly closer in to my body. Pushing hips and shoulders slightly left so that I'm standing straight instead of leaning slightly right.

Then did a bit on my back swing, so instead of starting with my arms coming back, then wrists cocking, then shoulder turn (which meant my arms were always too tight into my body or meant that I was doing a large loop outside to in). It's shoulder turn (automatically brings back arms), wrists start to go, then more shoulder turn, which naturally puts me in a nice, wound-up position with my arms where they are meant to be and lot wider/nicer swing plane.

Then last bit was getting my right hip pushed through, which I've tried before but just couldn't get. Si made it easier to understand by saying it's more pushing your right leg so that through the swing it ends up straight and on tip toe. This should automatically get your hip moving through. Once I start get muscle memory for that, then can work on other little bits.

Hitting some nice balls by the end. Further than using my old style but with (what seemed) half the effort and also keeping my balance, instead of swaying like I did before. Should tighten up my dispersion and start to give me consistent ball flight and distance

All in all was worth it. Had about 3 lessons rolled in to one. 5 more lessons to go! Will be off to the range most nights straight from work. Asked him about what to practise and how much etc... so he was saying just 50 balls max a night or every other night, see how it goes and it should start to bed in. He did say he expects most people to start thinning the ball from the stuff we worked on, but the next couple of things will start to sort that out.

Short term pain for long term gain.

 

[Canary_Yellow]

Sounds like a very good lesson in that you understand exactly what changes have been made and why.

Good luck with the practice!

 

[Duckster]

Sounds like a very good lesson in that you understand exactly what changes have been made and why.

Good luck with the practice!

Cheers Canary. It did surprise me that I understood what he was going on about. Was nice that he straight away corrected stuff that I wouldn't have even looked at if I'd be doing my usual "Youtube lessons".