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LAst year my goal was to get back into the game and get refitted and play with proper clubs. This year my goal is to improve and will be starting lessons next week. What would be reasonable expectations over the next 4 months with a lesson once a week or every other week to improve my game. I started in the 110's now I am constantly in the mid 90's after a year with no lessons. 

 

Thoughts? 

Edited by CoachTut

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3 hours ago, CoachTut said:

LAst year my goal was to get back into the game and get refitted and play with proper clubs. This year my goal is to improve and will be starting lessons next week. What would be reasonable expectations over the next 4 months with a lesson once a week or every other week to improve my game. I started in the 110's no constantly in the mid 90's after a year with no lessons. 

 

Thoughts? 

Hard to say.   People progress differently,  have different athletic ability, or burn out.  If you progress well,  you could be single digit.  

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So many variables! 

Will your instructor try to redo your current swing? Is your hand eye coordination good? Do you pick up on instruction easy. Are you willing to work at it and stick with it?  Sometimes you have to take a step back before you can move forward. You will find that out during your lessons. IMO, if you put in the work you could probably cut your current handicap in half. After that point it takes a lot of practice and play time to move small amounts. 

I got to a point a few years ago and asked my clubs pro what I needed to do to get under the 5 handicap I was stuck at. He watched me hit some balls, asked me to hit some specific shots. After that I asked him what he thought I needed to do. Simple he said, "All you have to do is play more"  once a week won't cut it.  I then asked him to tell my wife that. He did... My wife also works at the Country Club. That helps! 

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10 minutes ago, Tom the Golf Nut said:

I got to a point a few years ago and asked my clubs pro what I needed to do to get under the 5 handicap I was stuck at. He watched me hit some balls, asked me to hit some specific shots. After that I asked him what he thought I needed to do. Simple he said, "All you have to do is play more"  once a week won't cut it.  I then asked him to tell my wife that. He did... My wife also works at the Country Club. That helps! 

Can he have a conversation with my wife too??? 🤣

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It sounds like you have a great plan! Without knowing your game, my two cents would be ....

  • Getting from the mid-90's to the mid-80's is generally about eliminating "big" numbers from your scorecard. If you are able to consistently advance the ball productively towards the hole a reasonable distance, you can shoot 85. Keep the ball in play, and figure out how to eliminate the triples, etc. (eventually that becomes "eliminate the doubles" as you get better)
  • Lessons will help you build a consistent, repeatable swing, but it takes consistent practice as well, to develop the muscle memory. If you can't commit to practicing a couple of times a week, and playing 1-2 times a week, the road is much more difficult.
  • Develop a reliable, simple short game, so that any time you're near the green and not in major trouble (bunker, deep rough, etc.), you ALWAYS get down in no more than three strokes. As you do that, you'll find you turn "3 into 2" a lot more often.

Good luck! Enjoy the journey!

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If you can put a decent strike on the ball and keep it in play, then practicing the short game and putting ALOT will easily get you to the mid-80's.  I say this because that's my game right now.  A really good day around the green and I'm in the 70's.

Of course, getting better off the tee and approach shots means you can go lower.

We don’t stop playing the game because we get old; we get old because we stop playing the game.”

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Hard work beats talent when talent won't work hard!  (Corny I know, but I like it.)

Varying skill levels will determine how quickly you can improve, but at the end of the day it boils down to your willingness and diligence to put in the reps, based on the prescription your instructor gives you.  If you can work out (and stick to) an aggressive practice routine, for the drills you are instructed to do and especially for your short game, the sky is the limit!

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12 hours ago, goaliedad30 said:

 

  • Lessons will help you build a consistent, repeatable swing, but it takes consistent practice as well, to develop the muscle memory. If you can't commit to practicing a couple of times a week, and playing 1-2 times a week, the road is much more difficult..

/\ This. Lessons are good (provided you have a good instructor) but the practice between the lessons are even more important. Keep in mind that not only does the practice embed the lesson but it also creates confidence on the course.  My wife took weekly private lessons when she first started out but didn't practice in between then wondered why her game didn't get any better.  She still hates to go to the driving range but sees the value in it. 

Another thought is have your instructor evaluate your game playing 9 holes with the instructor. He/She may find some other "things" that could help and may even refocus future lessons. 

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13 minutes ago, tony@CIC said:

/\ This. Lessons are good (provided you have a good instructor) but the practice between the lessons are even more important. Keep in mind that not only does the practice embed the lesson but it also creates confidence on the course.  My wife took weekly private lessons when she first started out but didn't practice in between then wondered why her game didn't get any better.  She still hates to go to the driving range but sees the value in it. 

Another thought is have your instructor evaluate your game playing 9 holes with the instructor. He/She may find some other "things" that could help and may even refocus future lessons. 

Absolutely!!  If a person really wants to improve quickly, I recommend that they forego playing golf completely for a period while taking regular lessons and practicing the drills between lessons exclusively.  It's the fastest way to better golf.  I know we all want to play, but each time we play we revert back to our old bad habits because the new good habits have not been engrained yet.  

Playing a few holes with the instructor is a very good way for the instructor to evaluate your swing and course management in actual non-range conditions.

We don’t stop playing the game because we get old; we get old because we stop playing the game.”

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There isn't much point taking lessons every week unless you are practicing 3-4 times in addition to the lesson. A lesson on Monday, range on Wednesday, and play on the weekend isn't enough reps to work on the takeaways from a lesson. From a financial and skill development perspective, one lesson biweekly is as often as I would go. If the instructor is giving you 2-3 things to work on each time, monthly could be a better option unless you have the cash to spend on 10-20 lessons during the season. 

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4 hours ago, tony@CIC said:

Lessons are good (provided you have a good instructor) but the practice between the lessons are even more important

I appreciate everyone's feedback. I hit the indoor range 2-4 days a week and try and play every other week due to work schedule. I am a coach by trade but for a completely different sport. So I have no problem grinding it out everyday to get better. Its kinda a flaw of mine to fixate on something until I improve. I don't like being bad, and im to competitive when I go play.  I look forward to the growth and hope to share the journey along the way! 

“Lead me, follow me, or get out of my way. “ - Gen Patton

Playing out of  Celina, Tx with a mediocre 92 average.....Coach!

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I think you are on the right track with the practice between lessons.  One thing I think is you have to identify the portion of your game that cost you the most on the course.  Take what your lessons have you work on but incorporate that in to your area that needs improvement.  Balance out your practice time.

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