My first lesson

I'd booked for an hour, though the assistant pro was about 15min late, which I didn't think was great but I'm a teacher myself, and I know how schedules can get knocked around...

So he started off asking me about my golfing 'CV' - a potted history so far. I exlained I started in April on 27, have dropped to 21, but my aim is always bogey golf and I usually make it. I explained I play every day, and I put a lot of emphasis on the short game, and I'm beginning to put a lot of emphasis on the mental game.

He asked me what my tendency was when shots went wrong - left or right. I replied neither - I'm pretty straight - it was more (if anything) an issue with occasionally topping things.

He then asked me to hit a few shots with a 6 or 7 I. I took the 6, and he watched for a while, and then got the video camera. After filming me from behind and from the side, he then took me to the small suite with the computer where he showed me what he though, and immediately, I could spot stuff as well...

Issues...
*WILDLY strong right hand grip
*Hands way ahead of the club face at address, and then, to add insult to injury, I start the back swing with a big forward press too
*Ball position too far forward
*VERY open shoulders at address, and feet pointing left too
*Weight coming so much on to right side in back swing that my left heel comes so far off the floor that only my big toe is touching, causing my left knee to collapse in towards my right
*My hands go so far away from the ball and my body, that there is no coil between my shoulders and my hips, and this lack of tension is causing erratic ball striking and lack of distance

He also - in fairness - started off by saying things were looking pretty good; that he dreads when people say they've been learning for 6 months self-taught because they can end up with all kinds of crazy stuff. In particular he liked my posture, thinking I had a nice straight back that I maintained pretty well, looked balanced and athletic, and had a good rhythm and tempo.

I asked whether the lack of followthrough was a problem and he said it very much was, showing me a side-by side of me and The Big Easy (only our mothers can tell us apart), and what was enormously clear was how my lack of hip turn through the shot cramped everything up so much, there was nowhere for me to followthrough TO.

I asked whether my 3/4 backswing was a problem, and again he showed me Tiger's full iron swing, and showed me I reached the same club position, just not the same (putting it mildly) shoulder turn. That was very useful and clear, and very cool.

Outside, we worked on the grip and stance thing first. The change in my right hand feels bizarre, and I'm also wringing the hell out of the club, and need to relax my grip a little more. Then we worked on closing the stance a little more, and ball position. He encouraged me to drop my right shoulder away a little (like, leaning back) to help me close my stance a little.

Finally, we went back to the bay on the range for the tee (up until now, I'd been hitting off turf), and worked on keeping my weight more centred, preventing my left heel lifting, keeping my shoulders coiled more, and then finally working on 'getting my hips through it'.

He was pleased, I think, with the amount we were able to converse about stuff, in that I'd been doing my homework.

He finally left me with the rest of the bucket, and though I didn't have time to finish them, I found that, as ugly and ungainly as the swing changes felt, I couldn't go wrong. I was getting ten yards more distance, but critically, every one was straight (for my money, that was the griup change), and I felt that I could bang it as hard as I liked (as long as I rotated from my hips first), and it was still fine.

Now - of course - that may have been the old positive mental side taking over, and it may have been I was hitting good shots because I felt good and confident following the lesson. The proof of that will be in the practice over the next 2 weeks, I suppose.

For myself, I enjoyed it immensely, got a huge amount out of it (in particular the grip thing, where I found out I was gripping the club with completely the wrong part of my right fingers!) and will be returning in a fortnight for more. Good stuff!

__________________
~_~_~_~_~
Personal bests 2007;
Best 18: 78 (+12)
Best 9: 37 (+4)
Best Stableford: 45 pts
Best total putts: 28
Best total length sunk putts (ft): 54

Club tourney history this year: Captain's Day - 1st; Club foursomes - 2nd; Dimex Stableford - 2nd; Club Championship - 13/28 gross, joint 5/28 nett; Ferebee Shield - 2nd; Sept Medal 2nd; Autumn Stableford - 1st

Sounds very promising Dog...

Looking forward to reading that the Handicapper catches up with you over the coming months...

Good luck and swing easy...

Cheers

Well Dog,

What a great little tale,

It does feel good when a pro spends some time with you working on you swing to help you improve, the video never lies.

I would always advise anyone to go for a lesson or two if they are new to golf. There is lots of talk about the 3skills and although I am converted to it, I think it is always best to get everything set up right first.

Grip, stance and posture put you in a position to hit a good shot, but remember a little individualism doesn't hurt, we are not all built text book.

Thanks

Ian.

__________________
Once you learn the swing, your next step is mastering golf psychology................

great news dog
as ian says having a video is a great aid to teaching over time is great to see the improvements you are making


keep up the good work!

Nice post Ian. Sounds like you had good value from that lesson.

Nice post.

That style of teaching and approach sounds remarkably similar to the guy I see.

When he changed my grip he actually made it a bit stronger because I had a weak grip to start with and a tendency to cup my left wrist on the way down (attempting to create some lag) and open the clubface even more. S***k/slice city. I'm now a converted flat left wrist man.

He also moved the club from being almost completely in the fingers of both hands to actually holding it. In comparison to how I did hold it, it felt like I was holding a hammer with two hands, but it was instantly more controllable and forgiving, but still controlled by the fingers.

Always a good sign when you get instant improvement from the first lesson.

Keep him! He sounds good!

Post again after your next lesson!

__________________
Luke: I don't believe it!
Yoda: That is why you fail.

Great post.

I myself recently took my first formal golf lessons while I was down in Myrtle Beach, SC at Chuck Wike Golf School. Let me tell you that their instructors are very impressive. I am not a new-commer to golf, I have been playing for a few years now, but never took lessons. Their lessons specialize in imporving your short game, which I definatly had trouble with in the past. Now a few months after taking lessons, I have seen an improvement in my scores and my over-all ability to make great shots. If you are ever in the Myrtle Beach area and have always wanted to take golf lessons, check out this school.

www.chuckwikegolfschool.com

hi bulldog
sound like you have found a good guy and someone who is willing to take time with you.
how you getting on with the new clubs.
cheers
bill

You were lucky since it's not always very easy to find a good pro teacher nowadays...