Filed under: General | Tags: beginner golf, beginning golfer, golf beginner, golf for beginners, golf instruction, golf slice, golf swing, learn golf, learn play golf, learning golf
Every program on the golf channel and every article in any golf magazine ends by saying: “Go see your PGA professional for assistance with this idea.” This means go $pend money and time to $upport your local pro.
Now the local pro is a nice person who cares about golf. I consider two of them my own friends. Still I have never taken a lesson, and many of you won’t either. Why?
First on the list is co$t. A single lesson is not going to cost that much. Yes, but most of us don’t have such a narrow focus on our problem and don’t take coaching so well that one lesson is going to solve our problem.
The question becomes how many lessons will it take to really improve your game? How much money ($) are you committing to this idea with no idea what the outcome will be? With that comes the commitment to attend all those lessons and to work on the pro’s suggestions during your time between sessions. Where is that additional time going to come from? Are you really going to follow through?
How good are you at taking coaching? Did you enjoy gym class? Did you participate in organized sports? Is this going to be fun or is it going to be more like going back to school?
One thing you’re going to have to understand is the pro is being paid to stand there. They are going to try to give you your money$ worth. They will toss out one correction after another almost as fast as you can think. It is difficult to make one or two swings with one thought in mind and then have a new one thrown out. One or two swings later and a third and fourth thought are added. Now what was that first thought again. After a half hour you’ll wonder what is it I am trying to do?
Do you like many people want one or two ideas and then time to practice with those before trying to add more changes?
Next on the list is embarrassment. Even in private lessons, do you really want to face the pro and display how little progress you’re making? Did you watch the Haney Project with Charles Barkley on the golf channel? It takes a lot of courage to let others see you struggle. How about in group lessons? We are amateurs, but we still have our pride.
Time to practice is difficult for most of us to find. With a set lesson schedule already taking time, when are you going to find time to practice what the pro has shown you? Have you ever watched children trying to learn to play a musical instrument. Mom has to force practice time, who is going to do that for you?
Which swing are you going to learn? On tour most pros look very similar. The odd player like John Daly or Jim Furyk is easy to spot. The traditional golf swing is very complex and takes quite a while to learn. These people have constant coaching and tons of practice time. Is this really the swing you need to model? PGA pros learn a single swing and a single teaching method. Is this the right one for you?
There are many alternate swing philosophies and mechanics. Some are being explored by the pros and being taught by individual instructors. How are you going to find a useful method and instruction? Unless you happen to live next to a very flexible pro, you are going to have to learn from books, videos, and swing aides. Unless you enjoy spending hours in classes and on the range, you are going to have to learn by practicing at home and then developing your swing on the golf course. I have always preferred to spend my time playing while I practiced swing improvements.
Fortunately almost any proven method will help improve your swing and score as long as you practice it frequently. Choose something you can work on at home and that only takes a few minutes at a time. Repeat the method until it feels natural. Now step out on the course and just enjoy any improvement you see. When you go back home continue to read, watch video, and practice. You will improve with every trip you make to the golf course.
Remember don’t try to make the whole book or video real in one session. The golf swing is complex. If you try to master the whole thing at once, you will frustrate yourself. Have patience and enjoy this great game. For suggestions about books, videos, and swing aides see my web site. Also please visit to see my thoughts about clubs, short game shots, strategy, and course management.
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