Golf lessons

**Paul B** · 10-30-2004

Ive just booked my first lesson for next week, £20 for 50 minutes.

Has anybody here got any experience with having had lessons and could answer the following...

1. What is the normal procedure, is it grip, stance, ball position and swing or is there something else that i will start with?

2. How many lessons on average do most people need so as to start striking the ball in the sweetspot consistently?

3. Will any time be spent with my driver off the tee?

4. How effective are the average Pro at teaching the basics like grip and swing to fairly new or rusty players, is this a long process or is it fairly straightforward and easy enough to pick up?

I appreciate that some of the above may depend on what you expect to get out of it, i expect to be able to hit the ball cleaner and straighter and further too, then join a club and maybe enter into club or local tournies... like i said im very rusty, very very rusty but i want to go as far as i can with this, its not just something i want to do for fun... i want to be as good a local club player as possible and will take my lessons very seriously in order to reach that goal.

Im very keen and eager to improve and just would like a little advice please.

Thanks, Paul.

**The master** · 10-30-2004

For your first couple of lessons the pro will just be checking basic things like your grip aligenment and ball postion after a few lessons he will then go into more detail like your posture and the swing. You will probabaly start striking the ball in the sweetspot consistencely after quite a number lessons. It takes hours of practice most days and effort to consistenely strike it well. But im sure you will eventually.

**Lobwedge** · 10-30-2004

My experience was great. Before I went I use to slice and hit an 8 iron 120 yards. After my first one I could hit an 8 iron 150 yards with a draw. We checked the basics first then went own to my swing flaws. To start off I had too weak of grip. Then my swing, the main things we concentrated on that I did wrong was overswing on the backswing and sway back and forward. That was serveral years ago and now I still see him about 4 times a year(He's 45.00 for an hour). We work on basic sometimes, working the ball left to right and right to left for better misses and the short game. Lessons are the best thing that lowered my score.

**dorkman53** · 10-30-2004

In mine, he started with the putter and moved up. After putting, chipping, then irons, etc. Of course, each instructor may have a different agenda, so don't assume they'll all use the same approach. Most people who've had lessons seem to agree that the driver is one of the LAST clubs they'll cover, though the student assumes the opposite. There are just too many fundamentals to cover before jumping into the hardest to use club in the bag.

**KiltedArab** · 10-31-2004

Originally Posted by Paul B

Ive just booked my first lesson for next week, £20 for 50 minutes.

Has anybody here got any experience with having had lessons and could answer the following...

1. What is the normal procedure, is it grip, stance, ball position and swing or is there something else that i will start with?

2. How many lessons on average do most people need so as to start striking the ball in the sweetspot consistently?

3. Will any time be spent with my driver off the tee?

4. How effective are the average Pro at teaching the basics like grip and swing to fairly new or rusty players, is this a long process or is it fairly straightforward and easy enough to pick up?

I appreciate that some of the above may depend on what you expect to get out of it, i expect to be able to hit the ball cleaner and straighter and further too, then join a club and maybe enter into club or local tournies... like i said im very rusty, very very rusty but i want to go as far as i can with this, its not just something i want to do for fun... i want to be as good a local club player as possible and will take my lessons very seriously in order to reach that goal.

Im very keen and eager to improve and just would like a little advice please.

Thanks, Paul.

1. I believe it will depend on where the pro sees your major faults to be...for example, if your grip is perfect, he'll say so and perhaps work on your stance if that is terribly wrong. Just listen to the pro and do what he says...

2. Doesnt just depend on lessons, also the hours of practise you want to put in!

3. Unlikely to happen in one lesson

4. I find it's the way they describe things that makes the difference...some are better communicators than others. If yours does not explain things in a clear and understandable way...change him.

Good luck!

**Paul B** · 10-31-2004

Thankyou for the replies.

Im farily sure that my grip is far from perfect for two main reasons...

1. Whilst it feels perfectly natural to me i can see my left thumb quite alot whilst i grip the club, i use the interlock method.

2. Last week after hitting 200 balls on the driving range i came away with some very major blisters on my right hand (im right handed) and was told im gripping the club too tightly by several people, this may be why im pulling the ball as i read that too weak a grip can result in slices, so i just assumed...

Paul.

**Bravo35223** · 10-31-2004

Paul:

Here is a practical roadmap for you to consider:

There are three major areas (outside of course management) that relate to the Full Swing in golf. They are Grip, Stance and Swing. What is the most practical way to learn all three as you set out?

1) Buy the book The Five Fundamentals of Modern Golf by Ben Hogan. This book, published in the 1950's is still considered today, to the one of the alltime cornerstones of golf instruction. This book sells in the US for approximately $12 from Amazon. I am certain you can obtain it in the UK for the same price.

How I would use this book: To focus on Grip and Stance. (Not Swing)

A) Grip and Stance are STATIC components of the game - i.e., - they are "non-moving". Since they are static, it is very very reasonable to expect that you can learn these aspects - from a book. And this book is extremely well respected on these two areas.

Secondly, Grip and Stance are indeed extraordinarily critical to good golf, much moreso than beginners typically understand. Hogan's book devotes page after page to the Grip. Hogan also had multiple Stances relating to foot position relative to the ball at address that he thought were critical to his success.

So from a strictly practical ($) standpoint - you can learn two thirds of the Full Swing - from one of the greatest ball strikers of all time - for $12. And you have the book as a permanent lifetime reference.

2) The best way to learn how to Swing - is from a live human being. The Swing itself - obviously - is Dynamic. Learning this from a book is quite difficult. A good teacher can and will make contact with your body, showing you proper arm position, wrists, hips, shoulders, head, knees and feet. And while the Hogan book (and many others) do treat this subject - I think it is best done in person. So spend $12 US to learn the Grip and Stance from a book and spend the remainder of your pounds on Swing live and in person.

Last, there are two additional things I recommend you consider.

A) Take multiple lessons - not just one. Commit to 5-6 now, and tell your instructor this. They will often give you a price break for multiple lessons and it enables them to gradually "put in" new components to your swing and monitor your progress over time.

B) Commit, really commit to practicing and playing between lessons.

So put out a six month roadmap now of having lesson one, hitting balls at the local ranges you have recently discovered, playing 1-2 rounds, hit more practice balls and then have lesson two.

Repeat.

After six months, you will be improved and you will have gotten the most for your pound...

**Paul B** · 10-31-2004

Thankyou so very very much for that excellent reply, your road map makes for common sense and i can relate to it (and follow it).

I like the idea of 6 months as an example and had already allowed myself till about April, May or June at the latest to get ready to play better in time for next season where i have high intentions of joining a club and gaining a handicap.

I will certainly be playing between lessons as well as hitting balls at the range at every opportunity, this will largely take place when the kids are at school and would pose no problems for me at all.

Once again thankyou, i will keep you all posted as to how my lessons go ( the 1st of which is booked for thursday this week coming) i also have another 9 holes booked tommorow morning, this will be my 3rd nine holes.... previous 2 nine holes yielded 75 and 72 and im hoping to break 70 tommorow, i know it sounds pathetic but thats what my target is, then 65 then 62 then 60 etc etc over a 6 month course of playing, my long term aim is to reach low 40's for a 9 hole... i will be playing 18 holes but not in the next 3-4 months until im playing better and a little more consistently, my aim on my 1st 18 holes will be to break 100 then take it from there (mid 90's low 90's etc etc)

Paul.

**jim8flog** · 10-31-2004

Bit late I know but hitting 200 balls in one go is doing two things (1) doing this before having lessons is grooving your swing faults and it will take longer to get the "grooves" back out (2)Hitting 200 balls in one go could lead to tiredness which leads to a wrong swing.

When you are on the range if you hit twenty or so balls well then do something different try a few high shots or a few low shots the just finish with the full dhots again to make sure everthying is still right.

If its not working well on the range then, rather than groove a fault, just have a play around with stance and swing and grip you will also learn a lot that way as you get to see what happens to the ball with different grips etc.

**Bravo35223** · 10-31-2004

Originally Posted by Paul B

Thankyou so very very much for that excellent reply, your road map makes for common sense and i can relate to it (and follow it).

I like the idea of 6 months as an example and had already allowed myself till about April, May or June at the latest to get ready to play better in time for next season where i have high intentions of joining a club and gaining a handicap.

I will certainly be playing between lessons as well as hitting balls at the range at every opportunity, this will largely take place when the kids are at school and would pose no problems for me at all.

Once again thankyou, i will keep you all posted as to how my lessons go ( the 1st of which is booked for thursday this week coming) i also have another 9 holes booked tommorow morning, this will be my 3rd nine holes.... previous 2 nine holes yielded 75 and 72 and im hoping to break 70 tommorow, i know it sounds pathetic but thats what my target is, then 65 then 62 then 60 etc etc over a 6 month course of playing, my long term aim is to reach low 40's for a 9 hole... i will be playing 18 holes but not in the next 3-4 months until im playing better and a little more consistently, my aim on my 1st 18 holes will be to break 100 then take it from there (mid 90's low 90's etc etc)

Paul.

Happy to help.

Since you intend to join a club - strongly recommend that you enroll in the UK handicap system (CONGU) now. Post all of your scores for a variety of reasons.

Most importantly, when you join a club and begin to play with others on a regular basis - this is essential.

Check this link...it will show you the way.

http://www.handicapmaster.org/handic...stem_Page1.php

**kirksey74** · 10-31-2004

I had planned lessons with my local pro during march, and i booked about 4 for the next month. when we first started he had me in some of the most uncomfortable positions. he had me standing way off the ball, My wrist in a weak grip, and the ball in the middle of my stance. I think he was trying to get me to swing like him, but all he did was screw me over. He kept trying to sell me ping irons, and i ping irons with a passion. HE kept sayin he was a scratch golfer also, but some of the golfers that play with him s say hes more like a 6 handicap. after the lessons i was in a slump for a little over a month. after hard work at the range i finally got back to a swing i was comfortable with. now im a 4 handicap and since then i have one 3 tournaments over that summer and i am in the top 5 of my highschool. im not saying getting lessons is a bad thing. I'm just saying find a good instructor that will adapt to your swing not try to change you to be mini him.

I shot a 38 today

KIRKSEY-grip it and rip it

**tonydiep** · 10-31-2004

Originally Posted by kirksey74

I shot a 38 today

KIRKSEY-grip it and rip it

I assume that was the front nine or back nine score? Pie Hill country club is your home course? Could it be that you meant Pine Hills ? :-)

Paul,

Pay attention to the the grip, posture and setup portion of the lessons. They are critical, if any of the previous mentioned key things are are wrong, you will have to to alot of compensation during your downwing to strike the ball good.

Good luck,
Tony.

**kirksey74** · 10-31-2004

[QUOTE=tonydiep]I assume that was the front nine or back nine score? Pie Hill country club is your home course? Could it be that you meant Pine Hills ? :-)

Paul,

yes it was the front, and it is Pine Hills...sorry for the confusion