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How to Make the Most Out of Your Golf Lesson

The idea that golf is a game for retirees is untrue. The largest share of American golfers in 2017 was people between the ages of 6 and 34. They make up 69% of all golfers.

No matter your age, if you are interested in golf lessons, there are a few things you should know. Read on for what to expect from golf lessons and what you can do to get the most out of them.  

Set Golfing Goals

There are many reasons why you want to take golf lessons. You may want to compete, learn to play for social enjoyment or some other reason.

Before you seek out golf instructors, you should think about why you want golf lessons and what you hope to get out of them.

This will help you narrow down your search for a golf instructor. And it will help him or her tailor the lessons to your goals.  

Find the Right Golf Instructor

Finding a golf coach may take some time. You should interview each potential instructor either in person or on the phone to see if he or she is a good fit for you. 

This short chat will give you a good sense of the instructor's personality. It's also your chance to ask questions about scheduling, cost, group, and private lessons and so on. 

At the end of the day, you should choose an instructor that suits your needs. Check out the golf clubs in your area. Ideally, you want an instructor that is located near you

And you need to find someone whose personality fits your own. This will make the lessons fun and enjoyable. 

Come to Your First Lesson Prepared

Arrive at your first lesson early. Wear comfortable clothes and have your visor, glove, and water bottle. 

Take time to stretch and loosen up. Hit a few balls to warm up. 

You may want to come with a set of questions or topics that you want to address. 

Make sure to bring your whole set of clubs if you own a set. If not, provide advance notice to your instructor so that he or she can provide the equipment you'll need. 

Bring a golf journal to keep track of what you learned, key takeaways and your action plan for moving forward.

During the Lesson

You can expect your first lesson to be a mini-interview. Answer questions truthfully. 

Don't tell your instructor what's wrong with your swing. Instead, talk about what's been going wrong. A good golf instructor will be able to tell what's wrong with your swing by the third shot. But explaining to the pro what's been happening to your golf ball is helpful.

You don't need to impress your instructor. Instead be open about how often you play and what you find difficult. This will make your lesson much more productive.

There's no shame in not understanding some of the golf jargon. Get what you are paying for and ask questions.

Make sure you understand what you are asked to do and why. 

During your lesson, keep an open mind. Let go of assumptions about techniques and what "should" happen during this instruction time. 

Be open to your golf instructor's advice and his or her expertise. Try what your coach recommends and see what happens.

You may be surprised to see that it really does work! 

Also, when you are working on technique, exaggerate the new motion pattern. This will help your coach fine-tune any corrections. And it will help you solidify the feelings of the new movement.

At The End of The Session

Once you are at the end of your lesson, ask your golf instructor for feedback. 

Get your instructor to help you summarize what you learned during the session and what one or two items you should focus on now.

It's easy to forget something important that came up during a lesson. If you write it down, you won't forget. And it helps cement the vast amount of new information in your memory.

At the end of your golf lesson, you should expect your coach to give you some practice assignments. If he or she doesn't offer any, ask for it.

Think of this as homeplay instead of homework. And remember that quality, not quantity is the goal here. 

Practice As Soon As Possible

The sooner you can get practicing what you learned during a lesson, the better. Do it immediately after your session if you can.

Practice the drills and motion swings that your golf instructor gave you to cement how to do them right. Otherwise, you can show up at your next lesson and are no further ahead. That is a waste of your time and money.

You want to improve each time you have a golf lesson. And that can only happen if you practice in between sessions.

Making changes to your swing can be hard. Mainly, your coach wants you to get a new feeling down.

That means that you will be outside your comfort zone during practice. That's OK. In fact, that's a good thing.

You don't want to slide back into your comfortable (and unproductive) swing style. That would be counterproductive to your learning journey.

During your practice time, have a positive attitude. Realize that you won't miraculously be a PGA tour player overnight.

Set realistic goals that are within your reach. Work hard at them. When you reach those, repeat the process with more goals.  

Final Thoughts on Golf Lessons

Thanks for reading. We hope you found these tips for getting the most out of your golf lessons useful. 

Remember, golf is meant to be recreation. If you are stressed about your golf lessons, you are missing the biggest element of golf - having fun.

With some quality instruction, you can improve your skills and get even more enjoyment out of the game.

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