How do you really get better at golf?

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By Edward K

  • 10 Likes
  • 21 Replies
  1. Rylan A

    Rylan A

    What do lessons usually cost? I don’t want to waste my money or over pay for a lesson that might not help.
  2. Chuck Z

    Chuck Z
    Mt Pleasant, SC

    Military

    Rylan A said:

    What do lessons usually cost? I don’t want to waste my money or over pay for a lesson that might not help.

    Lessons "only help" if you are willing to put in the time to PRACTICE what the instructor is helping you with. Lessons run around $100 an hour at most courses, depending on the level of expertise. There are no short cuts to improving your game. You have to be willing to put in the time and effort on your own. You will only get out of it, what you put into it. Some only go for the lesson and then go play and say, nothing is helping me. Your choice.
  3. Eric H

    Eric H
    Ridgway, PA

    Rylan A said:

    What do lessons usually cost? I don’t want to waste my money or over pay for a lesson that might not help.

    You can find a pga professional in your area. The PGA website has a find a coach search. you can look at teaching professionals near you and they'll have their location and rates all listed. Im sure you can find a package with multiple lesson sessions that are pretty affordable.
  4. JYoung

    JYoung
    Ohio

    Rylan, probably every course you play will have a golf pro there. Seek them out and talk to them. If you don't want to try lessons at the course, try a place like Golftec. They had a swing evaluation for $95. I went there and really enjoyed the experience. Golf Galaxy and the PGA Superstore also have guys/gals that give lessons. As everyone has said, the lessons will only help you as long as you put the time in to practice what they show you.
  5. Erich F

    Erich F
    NY

    Rylan, if you have never had a lesson, I would urge you to find a PGA teaching pro. At a minimum, sound fundamentals, grip, stance, alignment are crucial. A set of trained eyes can do wonders to help you make sure these are sound.
  6. Jerry M

    Jerry M
    Dallas, TX

    I agree with everything that has been said so far. The biggest problem I have is that I did not take lessons early on and developed bad habits. We all know those are hard to break. Lessons are great with the right instructor but you definitely have to put in the work after the lessons.
  7. JYoung

    JYoung
    Ohio

    Jerry M said:

    I agree with everything that has been said so far. The biggest problem I have is that I did not take lessons early on and developed bad habits. We all know those are hard to break. Lessons are great with the right instructor but you definitely have to put in the work after the lessons.

    This is me too. Wish I would have had lessons years ago. Baseball/softball swing still shows it's ugly head to me a few times a round. My bad habits have been very hard to get rid of.
  8. l

    l

    I'm an agreement with pretty much everything said, find a great instructor early. If you don't, you will develop habits that may feel natural but is hurting your game, only a instructor who knows what there doing is helpfull. Also you should figure out how much your willing to sacrifice to get better, and how far do you want to go. Overall, practice is the best, but if you have never had a coach, like everyone already said, get one quick. Lessons depending on pro varies, expect to pay anywhere from 50-100 an hour for a decent coach, to 100-300 bucks for a more qualified pro. Make sure they know what there doing.
  9. GMaynard

    GMaynard

    Military
    After getting a lesson , remember that " the secret is in the dirt" , practice what the instructor gives you to work on its all steps to being better
  10. Don O

    Don O
    Madison, WI

    2 biggest (sporting) mistakes in my life - not taking lessons for downhill skiing or golf when I started.

    At least I didn’t buy ski equipment.
  11. Edward K

    Edward K
    Wesley Chapel, FL

    Military

    Don O said:

    2 biggest (sporting) mistakes in my life - not taking lessons for downhill skiing or golf when I started.

    At least I didn’t buy ski equipment.

    Same here Don, I think I had a set of Rossignol's before I had my first official bike. I sure miss those days in Upstate New York in my youth.
  12. Tom J

    Tom J

    What i always tell beginners is to take lessons as soon as they start playing, otherwise you can start to create your own swing wich just hurts you in the end:)
  13. William B

    William B

    A lesson will make its purpose only when the instructor/coach and student have a way to understand what the student needs and what the coach explains, in a code/language the student understands what the coach is trying to explain (effective communication).

    I've had many coaches over the years, and later trying to fix something, was when I got the idea of what 3-4 years before was being explained.

    If the communication fails the lesson will lose its intend.

    Last year I discovered something by my own that none of the coaches explained in a way I understood

    Just my $0.02
  14. Chuck Z

    Chuck Z
    Mt Pleasant, SC

    Military
    Beware of coaches who want to spend a lot of time reworking you game. A good coach will take what you have and refine it. I hate cookie cutter coaches who want to make everyone swing the same. You have to work together as a team and if you do not like the results you are getting find another. Again, you must be willing to put in the time to refine you game as well. Remembering that the human race was not perfected in a few weeks. We are still working on it. Now that takes a lot of practice. If you do not understand something the coach is saying, have him break it down so you do. Again, you are a team in this project.
  15. JBuck

    JBuck
    Norfolk

    Patience, good guidance from whoever you have lessons with and equipment fitted for your game
  16. BSharpley

    BSharpley

    I finally took my first lesson, my coach was able to connect with me in a way that I could understand what I needed to do. Once it clicked in my head and I felt what he was saying when I actually struck the ball as intended it all started coming together. Took my new coaching lesson to the course today and finally broke 90. I know that isnt a huge deal to some but it was a huge deal to me.
    Practice, play and lessons
  17. Erich F

    Erich F
    NY

    Congrats, now go break 80!
  18. Dale V

    Dale V
    Surprise AZ

    I will agree with almost everything you said, especially for someone striving to be a single digit handicap. I do see some value in everyone, regardless of ability, to be properly fit into their set of golf clubs, not waiting until they reach a certain level of skill. Many will never reach, or even want to reach that level but can benefit from clubs that suit the current skill level.
  19. JBrand

    JBrand

    My musings:

    - A good instructor who you believe in and have a good relationship with and meet regularly
    - set realistic goals for your game and timeframe
    - Trust the process (sometimes results are not instant) and IGNORE everything else (eg YouTube, well meaning playing partners, etc…)
    - well fitted titleist clubs
    - play as much as possible (even a few holes at night rather than pounding balls)
    - play with people better than you
    -learn to manage the course and game and have a short term memory loss on bad shots

    Most of all enjoy
  20. ABjes

    ABjes

    One of the biggest things that has helped me become a single digit, college golfer, is the ability to focus in for the 2 minutes that the shot is happening. Then be able to relax that during the travel time to the next shot. Your mind can not stay focused for 4-5 hours straight. You have to give yourself time to reset. What I exactly mean by this is during the time that you are thinking through the shot and executing it, you are 100% focused/ locked in. Then after you hit the shot, your brain goes into relax/ fun mode, where you aren’t thinking of the next shot or the previous one. Will help you eliminate compound mistakes or compound bad holes back to back.
  21. WKilloran

    WKilloran

    Learn how to chip and putt.

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