Are you currently debating whether or not to take a golf lesson? Many of us have questioned this at some point in our golfing journey. Golf lessons can be great or can be actually make you worse. Different people have had a wide range of experiences. We get into whether or not you should take a golf lesson and then dive into tips to maximize your lessons if you decide to take one or a series of lessons.
Golf is a complicated game and there’s no guarantee with golf lessons, but having a second set of eyes guiding you in your next steps, can be very helpful!
We finish with providing some other options in addition to the traditional golf lessons that may just help your game. Today on the PGA tour, training has taken the forefront and plays a special role in the game of golf.
Who should take golf lessons?
Golfer #1 – The Beginner: I would highly recommend golf lessons for any beginner. You want to be able to start the game off right with the proper fundamentals and with an idea of the correct approach to handle and start your journey.I would recommend a series of lessons that helps you increase your understanding of what you were trying to accomplish. There could be great to see the grip, the set up, and the over motion of a golf swing.
Golfer #2 – The committed golfer: Golf lessons with the right person can be a major benefit to your game. The golfer that is going to practice what the professional recommends, can see growth and improvement. There’s no guarantee with golf lessons. The person willing to practice the drills a commit to the process increases their chances of experiencing success. Even professional golfers use a second set of eyes to help monitor their swing.
Golfer #3 – The serious junior golfer: someone to oversee a junior golf can help propel that students to a higher level. Make sure you complete enough research to ensure you are setting your son or daughter up with someone that knows what they’re doing. Junior golfers are amazing at utilizing the teaching and maximizing the information. They typically have more time to practice the techniques and apply the learning.
Who shouldn’t take lessons?
The golfer that spends very limited time practicing and trying to improve their game. Golf is highly skilled game and takes effort. If you’re looking for a place to start, the short game is a great option. Effectiveness of a lesson is highly increased by all the time spent practicing after the lesson. If you can’t make it, no shame, just don’t waste your money on a lesson.
Tips
Maximizing your golf lesson: practice
Too many golfers going take a lesson and expect immediate results. While teaching should be centered on helping in the short term and long-term, you need to practice. Without a commitment to practice, do not waste it on a golf lesson. The purpose of the golf lesson Just to give your framework and assign you drills to utilize during practice. The best technique or advice will not help the person who is not willing to practice at least 2 to 3 times a week. Golf is a highly skilled game and one must practice and have the repetition it takes to improve. One also has to ensure they play plenty of rounds of golf to take the technique to the course.
Maximizing your golf lesson: utilizing video
Video has been around for many years now. You want to find a teaching professional that utilizes video. This will help you see what you are doing, and also allow you to review after your lesson. Once again, you are on a journey from treatment. One lesson where you get advice and leave will probably not get you the outcome that you desire. There is no secret to golf, but there is improvement over time. Video is a great technology that should be utilized. The learning process involves understanding, applying, and receiving feedback.
Maximizing your golf lesson: technology
The amount of technology utilized by the best instructors include launch monitors and pressure plates to measure what you are doing in your golf swing. You want to complete your research and find someone that has the best technology to utilize. Unless, you are someone that wants to declutter the game and simplify the process. There are great teachers out there and work off of reading the ball flight. At the end of the day, you have to decide if you want the technology or a simplified approach. When you are swinging well, your golf coach can understand what your numbers typically are on a Trackman or other similar device and help you work back towards those numbers when you are struggling.
Maximizing your golf lesson: do your research
Ask around and do some studying and do the best teachers in your area. There are many options out there, but the best would be word-of-mouth from person to person on who can have an impact on your game. There are a new mix of teachers in the mix nationally. George Ganaks has provided a great deal of information on the proper rotation and using ground forces to increase speed in your swing. Well Lisa Newman‘s are not new, George has studied these movements in The greatest of all time and has identified what can work. He is a great instructor and utilizes clear communication and technology to help his students.
Maximizing your golf lesson: training
Outside of your golf lesson, you also have to be willing to train and make sure your body can handle the workload you put it through with the game of golf. They are also great options to increase swing speed. I highly recommend SuperSpeed golf. I have experienced a 5-6% increase in my swing speed over the past six weeks. These training sessions and putting in the time can have a great impact on your game and everyone needs additional distance. An increase in swing speed results and further drives and shorter approach shots. Ultimately, this will allow you to hit the ball closer and make more putts.
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Maximizing your golf lesson: short game
Have you ever considered taking a short game lesson? Most people automatically default to the full swing when signing up for golf lesson. Maybe it is time to put some effort into the short game. The beautiful part about the short game, you will see quick results in score reduction. So many shots are wasted by golfers due to their inability to get up and down and save par or even three putting or hitting a bad chip shot. The technique for the short game is easy to teach and easy to learn. You will need to take some time and dedication to practice the technique and your short game.
Maximizing your golf lesson: be a good student
Golfers get off to make a lot of excuses during a lesson. You might hear, that doesn’t feel comfortable or I’m not sure that will work. If you’re going to commit to a lesson, truly commit and follow the teacher. If it doesn’t feel perfect, the reality is it probably shouldn’t, it means you were probably doing something wrong. Would you rather do something that’s comfortable or have the right technique? There is going to be a period of discomfort, that’s where the practice and the repetition becomes so vital. It will eventually feel better and you’ll have better results.
Maximizing your golf lesson: continue on the journey
Golf is one of the greatest journeys you can be on. The challenge both physically and mentally is difficult to beat. You will find yourself desiring more information and more practice time. Stay on the journey and understand that there will be ups and downs and times when you play well and times when you struggle. Stick with it!
Other options: online golf lessons
The golfing world has changed forever. With the Internet and access to YouTube and other video sources, the access to the world’s greatest teachers has increased significantly. While it is difficult to compete with a 1 on 1 golf lesson, the access to these golf coaches is phenomenal. If you live in a place where it is difficult to find a quality golf instructor, the lessons you can learn online where these teachers can improve your game. We have spent many hours studying and utilizing the lessons of some of these excellent teachers. Teachers like George Gankas, Mike Malaska and Shawn Clement all have a lot to offer. All three offer a new approach to the game and a different spin then the traditional golf magazines and the article many of read for so many years.
- If you want additional speed and rotation, check out George Gankas.
- If you want to make a more natural motion and utilize visualization, check out Shawn Clement.
- If you want to utilize momentum and not get stuck anymore, check out Mike Malaska.
On Shawn Clement’s site, for his membership deal, you can send so many swing reviews per month. Monte Scheinblum offers a $75 swing review. Bobby Lopez offers an annual fee with unlimited swing reviews. He has an entire database of drills that he then prescribed. George Gankas has a complete membership site that promotes you being able to coach yourself. These quality golf instructors are some of the best in the world and have some great content online. They are worth checking out.
Other options: The proper mindset
There has been a great amount of development over the past 20 years in the psychology of golf. Some excellent reads to develop the right mindset when golfing include:
At the end of the day you have to be OK with hitting some bad shots and accept it and then move on. Even Ben Hogan and has gone record of saying he hit five bad shots a round. Now, bad shots are all a matter of perspective, but move on and focus on the next shot. Don’t beat yourself up and instead have a good time. Every now and then look up to the sky think how thankful you are that you have the opportunity to play golf that day.
Other options: study course strategy
I would highly recommend sidekickgolf’s YouTube channel. He has a refreshing approach to helping people lower their scores. He actually sets up different rounds with golfers of various levels and takes certain approaches that could help every golfer out there. He spends a significant amount of time on club selection at making the right decision. He wants you to trust your shot and commit to it.
The cheapest and quickest way to get better: the short game
Just about every public practice green across the world is free to use. Take five golf balls, several short game clubs and spend hours practicing or even 30 minutes if that is all you have. You can even practice in your own backyard, if you have the right space by simply hitting chip shots to certain spots. This will simply only cost you time and not cost any money.
And finally…
Have the right mindset and understand that golf is a journey. The goal is to learn about the golf swing from a physical standpoint, train your body, and study the right mindset. This three part approach will help you become the best version of you and reach your full potential as a golfer.
I cannot recommend enough the speed training options that are available out there. Here are two great options worth exploring:
SuperSpeed Golf – Read our Full Review
Gain 30-40 yards in 30 Days – Swing Man Golf