new backswing

last week i had a lesson with my pro he changed my back swing and today i was topping nerly every thing with my irons. is this normal

It is probably a combination of the windy weather and trying to use what you had learnt from your lesson.

Keep working at it and it will all come together.

Russ

Yesterday I played out of my skin - for my level anyway.

Today it was very bleak. Short game killed me....

Nearly walked off after 9 holes

Dennis, you're a 28 handicap at the moment so you have to expect some bad holes.

Everybody has bad holes on a round of golf, the art is to keep it down to one bad hole and make it a double bogey.

On your good days most of your game will be working for you, and on your bad days none of it will.

Russ

Yep, I know Russ. Not having played for long I know I aint going to be a professional..

A handicap like yours would be great though.....

Be interesting after a year I suppose....

Work at it Dennis, this time last year I had a handicap of 21.

Lessons, playing loads of golf and practice.

The more you play the more you will get out of this game.

Russ

Alex, after your lesson how long did you stay to practice what you had been told?

And also, how much have you practiced your new backswing since?

I've been on the practice ground when my Pro has been giving a lesson.  The moment the lesson ended both the Pro and his pupil left the practice ground.

When I have a lesson, normally thirty minutes I always leave a couple of hours free at the end of it.  Then once the Pro has left I carry on working at what I've been shown.

You have to remember that you are doing something that is not natural to you so it feels awkward to you.

It is amazing how many times I play with people who have just had a lesson in the last few days and then play a round of golf whilst trying their new swing, instead of practicing their new swing and when they are happy with it bring it to the course.

When you play a round of golf use the swing that you are happy with.

If you are changing something on your swing, practice it and then bring it to the course when you can do it instinctively.

Russ

Alex, by changing back to what you consider your old backswing you have wasted your time and money having the lesson in the first place and secondly you have dismissed the teachings of a professional golfer.

If you have any aspirations to improve and lower your handicap then I am afraid your method has to be a sound one.

Whether or not you will be able to get to this standard on your own or will need professional help, only time will tell, but let me say this,  anyone who wishes to make rapid progress in this game must have a few fundamentals correct and it apears to me that you have just dismissed  the advice of a professional.

Alex, I'm sure you'll see the benefit if you can practice your new backswing and then start to do it automatically.

I've had about a dozen lessons over the last year and within an hour or two working on the lesson I've started to do it automatically.

Then when I'm happy I play a practice round and don't worry too much about the score, I just make sure I'm doing the new swing.

Keep at it and I'm sure it will come good for you, it did for me.

Russ