Forum > Technique, Tips & Tuition

Russell Middleton

Had my first golf lesson for about five months this morning.

I've only left it this long as it's been difficult to tie down the golf pro but I got there eventually!

My golf game hasn't been too good lately, playing OK but just not scoring!!!

So I turned up this morning for my lesson only to find out that I couldn't hit a thing.

It turns out that I've gradually started to swing the golf club further and further around my body.

So the pro puts me right and I start to swing the golf club on the correct plane, only to find out that I then cannot get a good contact with the ball!

This is not good news as I had arranged for my matchplay singles game to take place this afternoon.

When I have a golf lesson I always stay on after for about an hour just to continue with what I've been taught.  So I continued to do what the pro had shown me and it started to come together.

At the end of the session I was back to swinging the club on the correct plane and striking the ball really well.

I was playing a guy who plays off an eight handicap and lost my matchplay singles 2 up, but not too sad.  I played well enough and he played well below his handicap.

More practice required I think and maybe I shouldn't book a golf lesson on the day of a competition!

Russ

Lee Day

Russell Middleton

Lee, it will work out for me as from previous experience of having lessons it always does.

The problem I had was getting a lesson booked with my pro.

I knew something wasn't right so had to get in and get it sorted.

The lesson probably didn't affect my game, might have even help, the disaster was the fact that I couldn't hit the ball once he had made the change!

Luckily for me I had the time to practice and it came together by the end of the session.

Russ

Andy Barnes

Russell

Your post is a good kick up the backside for me!  I started playing golf last November (I did actually hack a bit before but had a 12 year break!). I had a few lessons before Christmas and since about February/March this year have been getting out on the course more regularly. I have been seeing my handicap come down recently and hope to both consolidate and continue with that trend.

I've been nervous about going and getting more lessons since I'm paranoid that I'm going to undo things and upset my game.  However, if a bloke with your handicap isn't afraid to have lessons then I reckon I should get booked in. I suppose I have a lot more to gain than lose....

Only other thing though is knowing which pro.  There are a lot about and I hear mixed reviews.  Any tips on how to find/select a good pro??

Thanks,

Andy 

Russell Middleton

I take it all back!

Played in the Jubilee Cup today and won my match 6 & 4, was dormie 7.

Hitting everything much straighter than before and my pitching, chipping and putting was on fire.

The lesson certainly got me back on track.

Russ

Russell Middleton

Andy, even the pro's have lessons!

They might not call it lessons, but that's what a coach does.

I use the pro at my golf club but if you ask the people you have played golf with about the pro they have used, then you should be able to get a good idea of which ones to avoid.

Russ

Andy Barnes

Thanks Russ.  Good idea.  I think now would be a good time to get some more help. I would like to see the handicap get down to a solid 20 this year but I also want to ensure I have technique to improve beyond that.

Andy

David Molter

I think the best way to reduce nearly anybodys handicap is to have short game lessons , it seems to me that this is where so many shots are wasted . I had lessons years ago and have practised ever since and my handicap reduced by an incredible 10 shots ! My long game got better anyway because there wasn't as much panic for me as to whether or not i missed a green.

  http://www.stay2playgolf.com/

David Preston

Hi all

After struggling through our winter league this season, only wining my first match & getting thrashed by everyone there after.  Dsapointed & peed off.  My wife decided to by some lessons for me for our anniversary!!

had three lesons with a pro I already knew from the past. felt really awkward what he was trying to change in my swing.

Then after some practice, like you Russell I spend around an hour at least after the lesson practicing, feeling the difference & so making it more natural.

Three matches on trot whipped eberyones backsides, handicaps cut by nearlt 2 shots & ready for more.

Get a good pro, trust him, they know best & practice what he preaches.

well worth the time & money 100%

Ray Lawlor

I've noticed some pro's have a specialty or rather a focus on certain types of play and shots.

For instance, the pro I've been with is an expert iron player, particularly long irons, since he learned his golf in the gale force winds of the Links courses here in Northern Ireland. I once watched him on the range hit ball after ball with his 2 iron. It was a beautiful thing.

That was a happy accident for me since I needed help with playing long par 4's that require long irons into the green. He was the perfect teacher for that.

Again, not that he'd be unable to coach a good short game, just that long irons are his area of expertise.

My point is getting the right pro to teach you is important in my opinion. 

Russell Walker