The smartest thing you can do to improve is take lessons. Here's how to get the most out of one.
First, be smart about scheduling it. The worst time to schedule a lesson is if you're going to play later that day or even the next day. Taking a lesson detaches you from one habit and attempts to attach you to another one. When you're adrift between habits, count on your score going up until you are comfortable with the new ones.
I once had a lesson where the pro pointed out that my right shoulder was too far forward at address (a common fault for the recreational golfer). I worked for a few days on what he taught me about squaring up my shoulders, but it still felt odd because it was not my habit.
Two days later I played 18 holes and every shot I hit off a tee was phenomenal. Irons, however, were a different story. I just couldn't find the ball when it was on the ground. I hit only one good iron shot all day. But that was OK. I expected there would be something that wouldn't work and I played the best I could, knowing that when I finally got the new address position figured out, I would start hitting every shot much better.
When the lesson begins, the pro will ask you what you want to work on. Have an answer, the more specific the better. That way, your pro can start looking for the answer to your problem from the very start and make the most of the half-hour you're going to be together.
I had a lesson once to solve an annoying problem. The way I was playing at the time, my 9-iron was money, my 6-iron was OK, and my driver was this thing in my hands. The question? How do I hit each club as well as my 9-iron? The pro gave me the answer and the problem cleared up in a half-hour because I told him exactly what I wanted to know.
Arrive for your lesson about 15 minutes early to pay for it and warm up. Hit some balls so you're ready when the pro steps up to the tee to help you. Resist any urge to start fixing the problem yourself during the warm up. All you're doing is getting loose. You want the pro to see how you normally swing.
When the lesson begins, the pro will ask you what you want to work on. Have an answer, the more specific the better. That way, your pro can start looking for the answer to your problem from the very start and make the most of the half-hour you're going to be together.
I had a lesson once to solve an annoying problem. The way I was playing at the time, my 9-iron was money, my 6-iron was OK, and my driver was this thing in my hands. The question? How do I hit each club as well as my 9-iron? The pro gave me the answer and the problem cleared up in a half-hour because I told him exactly what I wanted to know.
Arrive for your lesson about 15 minutes early to pay for it and warm up. Hit some balls so you're ready when the pro steps up to the tee to help you. Resist any urge to start fixing the problem yourself during the warm up. All you're doing is getting loose. You want the pro to see how you normally swing.
Tell your pro how you learn best. Do you want the pro to demonstrate or are verbal descriptions sufficient? Do you want technical explanations or do you want to hear how the right move feels? Every pro has a teaching style, but you have a learning style. Don't be shy about bringing this up. A good teacher will allow you to take the lead in these matters.
During a lesson, be committed as a learner. This means:
1. When the teacher is talking, listen. Don't trade ideas on swing theory unless the pro asks you about it. You're there to listen to someone who knows (the pro), not someone who doesn't (you).
2. When the pro says to do "this," then do "this" to the best of your ability. It might feel uncomfortable, but new movements are uncomfortable - that's part of learning.
3. Take yourself out of the lesson. If you do what you're told, but add something else of your own, you won't know what caused the results you get.
4. When you don't understand, speak up. Ask briefly for clarification or for a demonstration. But then listen to the explanation and watch the demonstration. Focus on being able to do what the pro wants you to do.
5. When you learn a new movement you'll hit some clinkers. That's all right. Keep trying to do what you're being asked to do and let the pro be the one who decides what, if any, corrections to make.
6. When the lesson is almost over, ask for a few drills that you can use to practice the points you have been working on, if the pro hasn't given you some already. Drills are vital to learning new movements. You're retraining your subconscious mind to make a new movement correctly. Drills isolate that movement so you can repeat it until it's learned
7. After the lesson is over, there should still be some balls in front of you. Hit them all. Work on what the pro taught you. Work on your drills. Work on getting the ideas you were given into your head and into your body while the instruction is still fresh. Practice again every day for a week or so in order to remember what you learned. Without constant practice, you'll ease back into the old habit you're trying to replace.
Don't be discouraged if you don't get it completely in your half-hour lesson. It might need several lessons on the same point for you to learn what to do. When we have a habit, our mind pulls us in the direction of that habit regardless of our best intentions. That's why lessons are hard sometimes, and need to be repeated.
Finally, remember that in a lesson the pro just points the way. The responsibility for improvement lies with you.
Bob Jones is dedicated to showing recreational golfers the little things, that anyone can install in their swing and game, that make a big difference in how they play. See more at http://www.bettergolfbook.com
During a lesson, be committed as a learner. This means:
1. When the teacher is talking, listen. Don't trade ideas on swing theory unless the pro asks you about it. You're there to listen to someone who knows (the pro), not someone who doesn't (you).
2. When the pro says to do "this," then do "this" to the best of your ability. It might feel uncomfortable, but new movements are uncomfortable - that's part of learning.
3. Take yourself out of the lesson. If you do what you're told, but add something else of your own, you won't know what caused the results you get.
4. When you don't understand, speak up. Ask briefly for clarification or for a demonstration. But then listen to the explanation and watch the demonstration. Focus on being able to do what the pro wants you to do.
5. When you learn a new movement you'll hit some clinkers. That's all right. Keep trying to do what you're being asked to do and let the pro be the one who decides what, if any, corrections to make.
6. When the lesson is almost over, ask for a few drills that you can use to practice the points you have been working on, if the pro hasn't given you some already. Drills are vital to learning new movements. You're retraining your subconscious mind to make a new movement correctly. Drills isolate that movement so you can repeat it until it's learned
7. After the lesson is over, there should still be some balls in front of you. Hit them all. Work on what the pro taught you. Work on your drills. Work on getting the ideas you were given into your head and into your body while the instruction is still fresh. Practice again every day for a week or so in order to remember what you learned. Without constant practice, you'll ease back into the old habit you're trying to replace.
Don't be discouraged if you don't get it completely in your half-hour lesson. It might need several lessons on the same point for you to learn what to do. When we have a habit, our mind pulls us in the direction of that habit regardless of our best intentions. That's why lessons are hard sometimes, and need to be repeated.
Finally, remember that in a lesson the pro just points the way. The responsibility for improvement lies with you.
Bob Jones is dedicated to showing recreational golfers the little things, that anyone can install in their swing and game, that make a big difference in how they play. See more at http://www.bettergolfbook.com