Taking a golf lesson is not only a financial investment but also an investment of time and energy. Finding a knowledgeable instructor committed to helping you, and coming prepared to learn, will help maximize your learning experience and lower your scores.
Arrive a few minutes early so you can loosen up and be prepared to learn. Write out any questions you might have for your instructor and bring all your equipment; clubs, shoes, hat and glove. Be honest with your instructor. He may want to know the weakest parts of your game, what your handicapped is, how long you have been playing, if you have any physical limitations, and where your bad shots go? Being honest and giving your instructor a clear appraisal of your game will allow him to meet you at your level and begin the improvement process.
View your lesson or lessons as a long-term project. Studies have shown that people with long-term goals, improve more than those with short-term goals. Often when we take a lesson our expectations are high. This is fine, although we sometimes need to temper our high expectations with self-discipline and effort if we are looking for significant improvement. I strongly disagree with the notion that when we take a golf lesson, we will get worse before we get better. We often see immediate improvement with our students. It is rare that we see a student set up to the ball correctly. With these students, a simple setup adjustment often leads to better shot making. And often a swing change will lead to better shots immediately. The difficulty for the student is to consistently make the change, which will produce better shots more consistently. What we are trying to do is replace the bad habit with the new and better way of hitting the ball. To make this type of change consistently, requires some time and effort.
There or many aspects of the game of golf, and therefore many ways to improve. We can improve our putting, chipping, pitching, bunker play, full swing, course management, and mental game.
To do so, the student must be willing to listen to different ideas and concepts that he may not be used
to. Be open minded and willing to learn. On the other hand your instructor must be able to diagnose your problem and clearly explain a solution that makes sense. This isn’t rocket science.
Demand a clear understanding of the message you are receiving from your instructor. The last thing you want to do is leave a lesson confused. Ask questions until you know what you need to do and why. Having a clear understanding and a strong belief in what you need to do will help you stay the course when things are not going your way.
Why Practice?
The reason we practice is to improve and maintain our skill level. Believe me, we teach people everydaywho have talent —they just never developed the skills to play the game well. Jack Nicklaus said, “nobody-but nobody has ever become really proficient at golf without practice.”
Jack Grout, who taught Jack Nicklaus, said that he never saw anyone practice as much as Nicklaus did as a youngster. In the heat of summer he grinded it out/ And in the cold of winter, Jack would practice in his native state of Ohio, hitting balls from inside a heated Quonset hut. Steve Ballesteros and Chi Chi Rodriguez practiced on the beach. Ed Sneed practiced his swing in the house studying his reflection in a window. Tom Watson, who is known for his great play in inclement weather, played and practiced nearly everyday in the winter in Kansas City.