New kit or new swing?

[crux]

On Friday I had a 4 hour lesson on my swing. It was an expensive investment in my game, but I can't tell you how good value it was. What price do you put on gaining knowledge about how to hit a golf ball solid with compression?

I still have a long way to go, but there is no shiny new driver on earth that could put a bigger smile on my face than I have right now...

A review of the lesson is posted here

But how many of you would invest in lessons rather than new kit?

 

[AMcC]

Would have to be lessons for me every time. Once consistent enough would consider custom fit for new irons but only then.

 

[patricks148]

If i could go back in time 5 years, i would start with lessons no question

 

[TheClaw]

On Friday I had a 4 hour lesson on my swing. It was an expensive investment in my game, but I can't tell you how good value it was. What price do you put on gaining knowledge about how to hit a golf ball solid with compression?

I still have a long way to go, but there is no shiny new driver on earth that could put a bigger smile on my face than I have right now...

A review of the lesson is posted here

But how many of you would invest in lessons rather than new kit?

I would happily spend money on lessons but since starting the game a few years ago I've paid a couple of different coaches for absolutely garbage lessons. Lost faith in it tbh. Guys that were clearly good players but had no clue how to "teach".

 

[timgolfy]

Correct me if wrong, but there are a couple of stages to go through with club fitting. Stage 1 is the basics (length, lie, grip size) which should not change. Stage 2 is shaft which is all in relation to the swing speed and mechanics, tailed to produce the exact ball flight desired.

Stage 1 seems a no brainer. No point doing Stage 2 until you have a decent swing grooved and are looking to improve beyond the average.

 

[crux]

On Friday I had a 4 hour lesson on my swing. It was an expensive investment in my game, but I can't tell you how good value it was. What price do you put on gaining knowledge about how to hit a golf ball solid with compression?

I still have a long way to go, but there is no shiny new driver on earth that could put a bigger smile on my face than I have right now...

A review of the lesson is posted here

But how many of you would invest in lessons rather than new kit?

I would happily spend money on lessons but since starting the game a few years ago I've paid a couple of different coaches for absolutely garbage lessons. Lost faith in it tbh. Guys that were clearly good players but had no clue how to "teach".

This has been my experience before today too. I'm lucky enough to have found someone who can teach! It makes a masive difference..

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Lessons all the time. I need to get a short game one sorted PDQ but other than that I need to relook at some of my winter drills this week but I'm pretty happy with the work I've done so far.

Out of interest how much was a 4 hour lesson. That does seem excessively long. I'd struggle to focus after all that time and would be too tired to make decent swings. Surely there would be too much to change and too many drills to get to perform all of them well enough to make a long standing difference. I'm pleased you thought it was worthwhile and I'm not picking fault in your approach but interested in why you thought 4 hours was the way to go

 

[chris661]

This has been my experience before today too. I'm lucky enough to have found someone who can teach! It makes a masive difference..

I luckily have two pros I go to one for swing stuff and a really good guy for short game and putting. Never had the misfortune of being with a bad pro thankfully.

 

[ScienceBoy]

So far since taking up golf seriously last year I have spend 200 on lessons and over 1400 on equipment.

I have replaced all my "beginner" and hand-me-down equipment that was holding my game back (ancient drivers with whippy weak shafts and irons with heavy oversized heads).

I had to spend money on both as equipment was not going to solve problems but also I was never going to achieve anything with the equipment I had last March when I first hit the course.

Thanks to all those I have gone from shooting 100+ to threatening to break 80 within 12 months.

 

[AMcC]

Correct me if wrong, but there are a couple of stages to go through with club fitting. Stage 1 is the basics (length, lie, grip size) which should not change. Stage 2 is shaft which is all in relation to the swing speed and mechanics, tailed to produce the exact ball flight desired.

Stage 1 seems a no brainer. No point doing Stage 2 until you have a decent swing grooved and are looking to improve beyond the average.

I have had my irons for 16 years now, 1 degree upright and lengthened. Only a couple of new shafts, don't ask lol. Now have been taking lessons and feel may be closer to stage 2.

 

[crux]

Lessons all the time. I need to get a short game one sorted PDQ but other than that I need to relook at some of my winter drills this week but I'm pretty happy with the work I've done so far.

Out of interest how much was a 4 hour lesson. That does seem excessively long. I'd struggle to focus after all that time and would be too tired to make decent swings. Surely there would be too much to change and too many drills to get to perform all of them well enough to make a long standing difference. I'm pleased you thought it was worthwhile and I'm not picking fault in your approach but interested in why you thought 4 hours was the way to go

I could have brought a new R11 3 wood for the price. Also, I feared the length of lesson before I went, but in reality I only hit balls for about an hour. The other 3 hours were learning how to hit balls. Big difference. It was so unlike a traditional golf lesson, but so much more productive for me.

 

[timgolfy]

Thanks to all those I have gone from shooting 100+ to threatening to break 80 within 12 months.

You'll win no friends here with such fighting talk!

 

[G_Mulligan]

I read the blog and like the sound of this guy where does he teach and how much does he charge?

 

[bozza]

As Homer said 4 hours would deffintley be way too much for me unless i went out and played 18 holes with the person i was getting lessons off and had a sort of lesson built in to the round of golf but it's down to personal prefrence.

I started lessons as soon as i started to take golf seriously and i'm so glad i did as now i know how to fix my faults and know most of the time whats causing them.

 

[crux]

He is based in Altrincham near Manchester. As for his cost, well that's for him to say, but I think it's standard decent golf pro charges per hour.

Interestingly I researched him and his stuff on the net a lot before I went, and while you can pick up a lot of his philosophy from the stuff he has posted. To have him apply it to your game and what you do is well, game changing.

 

[ScienceBoy]

Thanks to all those I have gone from shooting 100+ to threatening to break 80 within 12 months.

You'll win no friends here with such fighting talk!

I went out and proved its not all talk by shooting 81 in a forum meet! Followed it with 39 points on my home course with 3 blobs.

It took a lot of hard work practicing but I know both a new swing and new equipment were needed for me to go anywhere in this game. As its my first serious year and no club before 2010 has cost more than £60 it was to be expected I had to overhaul my bag as well as my technique (no lessons until last year either).

Those with more established games and who had proper equipment have had harder decisions than I did.

I am just glad I had the savings to do both! I will not be replacing anything for a long time now, all I will add is a 22*ish hybrid in place of my 3 iron

 

[percy_layer]

On Friday I had a 4 hour lesson on my swing. It was an expensive investment in my game, but I can't tell you how good value it was. What price do you put on gaining knowledge about how to hit a golf ball solid with compression?

I still have a long way to go, but there is no shiny new driver on earth that could put a bigger smile on my face than I have right now...

A review of the lesson is posted here

But how many of you would invest in lessons rather than new kit?

I would happily spend money on lessons but since starting the game a few years ago I've paid a couple of different coaches for absolutely garbage lessons. Lost faith in it tbh. Guys that were clearly good players but had no clue how to "teach".

If you're ever near Goswick, let me know. I'll give you a free hour of my time...............

 

[TheClaw]

On Friday I had a 4 hour lesson on my swing. It was an expensive investment in my game, but I can't tell you how good value it was. What price do you put on gaining knowledge about how to hit a golf ball solid with compression?

I still have a long way to go, but there is no shiny new driver on earth that could put a bigger smile on my face than I have right now...

A review of the lesson is posted here

But how many of you would invest in lessons rather than new kit?

I would happily spend money on lessons but since starting the game a few years ago I've paid a couple of different coaches for absolutely garbage lessons. Lost faith in it tbh. Guys that were clearly good players but had no clue how to "teach".

If you're ever near Goswick, let me know. I'll give you a free hour of my time...............

Thanks for the offer! If I'm near I'll give you a shout

 

[StrangelyBrown]

New swing.

I'm trying to get rid of this out to in swing path and it's taking it's sweet old time to become ingrained.

 

[crux]

New swing.

I'm trying to get rid of this out to in swing path and it's taking it's sweet old time to become ingrained.

One of the nice things about my new swing is that I don’t have to worry about coming over the top any more or out to in. Everything is approaching from the inside automatically, for me that’s all down to set up positions, spine angle and the back swing.