Make The Most Out Of Your Golf First Lesson

When you started playing golf a few years back, contrary to everyone’s advice, you did not take any professional instructions but had a go at it alone. To your pleasant surprise you did not find it too difficult. You could master the basics of the game fairly easily – the posture, the grip, the back swing, down swing, alignment. You could understand them all without too much of a problem.

You have been playing golf for a few years now and find that you have a fair enough game. Your swing is reasonable and your handicap hovers between 12 and 20. However, you slowly start noticing that however often you play and practice, you are not noticing any improvement in your game. You are finding it difficult to lower your handicap and some pros have already pointed some flaws in your game. You realize that it is time to finally take some golf lessons.

However, before you start on your lessons, you have to be clear that with every session lasting only 45 minutes to an hour, even a top professional instructor is not going to be able to cover all the aspects that you would like help with. Here are a few tips that will help you make the most out of your first golf lesson.
·    Before you start on your lessons, take some time and analyze the various aspects of your game to see which parts you are having difficult with. Are you having trouble with your hybrids or irons? What about the way you drive off the tee? Do you need help with your chipping or putting? Try to identify specific areas that you feel need improvement – take the help of a golfer friend if you like, to help you identify these areas. Next depending on which areas are bothering you the most, prioritize them so that when you meet your instructor, you will be giving him or her a very clear idea of the areas you would like to focus on.
·    When the instructor meets you the first time, you will be asked to grab a club, quickly warm up and then start taking a few swings. Very quickly, he or she will know exactly what it is you are doing wrong. You will then be instructed to rectify your movement in a particular way so that the problem is fixed and your swing much improved. You will be asked to keep practicing this in front of the instructor till it is felt that you have grasped this correct movement and can manage it on your own.
·    Now, very quickly write down the changes exactly as suggested by your instructor to improve your game. Show it to the instructor so that you can be sure you have understood it perfectly.
·    You will now need to practice this new movement till it becomes as natural as the previous one. Remember you had acquired the previous faulty method over the years and any change in this method cannot happen overnight. Also try to focus on improving one aspect at a time. Do not try to change too much in one go. Keep your practice sessions short but focused.

By making the best use of your time with your instructor, you will ensure that both your swing and your game improve quickly.