Well i have had 2 lessons now and i must say there is pain. I know i am on the right track but but boy there is some embarassment in the process.

I shot a 98 on Saturday (i am off 12). I was playing with a couple of teenagers who were off 5 and 6. One of them shot a 3 over. And here was i chopping the ball everywhere.

The good thing to come out of this is the shots that you hit when you know what you are trying to do works. How sweet that is. I am basically trying to cure a constant slice. Even my best shots have always had a slight fade shape to them .

But when i connect with it the way i am trying to learn, it is as good as i have ever hit it. Straiight as i dye, i never do that. I can see it works i just need to do it more often.

On a bright note i putted the lights out, 30 putts, whcich is pretty good for me.

So how long has it taken people to get in sync (great band) with their new swings. I am sure plenty of people have been in my position. I am practising my bum off just hoping i won’t embarass myself to much this week.

I am seeing it as a case of short term pain for long term gain.

It is so individual it is really hard to know.

For me it took about 6 weeks of really solid practice to get a change down.

What were the changes?

BTW….I am really worried about your musical preferences!!

I got a stack of coaching over the last six months of last year. Basically, I’d taught myself too many bad habits in the 2 years I’d been playing previously and not only was I destroying my back, I wasn’t able to play consistently and had a stack of other problems. My handicap was 20.

I haven’t had a coaching session for a while now, and I’m no longer suffering back troubles and my swing is far more repeatable, easy, and technically sound.

During the change over, my handicap shot up to 24. I couldn’t do anything right. It was incredibly frustrating and I was tempted to just give up once or twice. I’m glad I didn’t, though. One day something clicked and I shot a 6 month best of 83. I just need to work on consistency now – I shoot 84 one day, and 94 the next… mostly putting related.

Right now I’m at 18, though I’ve barely played so far this year. I recently played with one of the assistant pro’s and after the round he gave me a pretty good dose of encouragement – “how is your handicap so high? It should be half what it is, or even better.” The goal is 9 by the end of the year…

It is so individual it is really hard to know.

For me it took about 6 weeks of really solid practice to get a change down.

What were the changes?

BTW….I am really worried about your musical preferences!!

down and out…did ya get that?

The changes i am trying to implement.

We are working on one thing at a time.

First was my set up. Simple really (i am a leftie) so right shoulder a bit higher, right hip a bit further forward and stick bum out and straighten back.

Then on backswing make it a bit flatter and keep hips and shoulders up a bit.

On the downswing the the big one has been rolling the wrists at the bottom of the downswing and into impact.

This is all designed to give me a bit more room as i go to hit the ball. I used to get cramped up and dipped me head, shoulder and hips which resulted in me digging the ball out a bit and therefore slicing.

When you see it on video then comparison after just 2 lessons it is huge.

The new swing gives me more room when i go to strike the ball. It works. I just can’t do it well all the time. I will get there.

Glad you got the n sync gag.

The set-up stuff shouldn’t take to long to bed down…as you can practice it away from the course easily.

The rotating the hands through impact is a massive thing to learn, and will take time…but you can rehearse it at home with short swings and stuff too. good luck with it all.

BTW…all those changes sound spot on to help a fade/slicer. Who are you getting lessons from?

Great to hear you’re making progress niceshot. Keep the faith in your coach & it’ll all work out for you.

I went through some massive swing changes when I decided to have lessons for the first time about this time last year. There were some aspects of my ball striking that I had to concede and other areas where I have made some modest gains.

Bottom line has got me thinking about my swing and the vagaries of ball flight so much more; not just the adjustments to swing but then the associated changes to my course management.. you probably know what I’m talking about.. I needed to re-teach myself the most efficient ways my swing could get me around the course.. the path of least resistance..

If you hit a low point at any stage & need someone to vent with, drop me a line & we can play a round together. Good luck with it!

The set-up stuff shouldn’t take to long to bed down…as you can practice it away from the course easily.

The rotating the hands through impact is a massive thing to learn, and will take time…but you can rehearse it at home with short swings and stuff too. good luck with it all.

BTW…all those changes sound spot on to help a fade/slicer. Who are you getting lessons from?

down and out…did ya get that?

Your right rotating the hands is the hardest bit to learn. I have got the set up down already.

I have made a golf club at work with a thin bit of pipe so i practice with that a bit.

Niceshot, I’m with you brother!

I too have just done lesson #2. The first concentrated on setup and that had immediate benefits – more room to swing freely. The recent one was swing plane (we did a little on hand rotation) and I am now hacking with the hybrids and woods, losing balls off the tee regularly, but I can see improvement in the shorter irons with good divots and better flight and stopping power.

To remain competitive through this “challenge” I’ve ramped up my putting and chipping practice.

i am going to lesson #1 tomorrow. I hope it helps me reading this thread has given me confidence that it will help(in the long run). i just don’t know if i can bare the embarrassment in the short term. hopefully i don’t turn too bad. but i am looking forward to the effects it should have in my long term golf. and at 22 i think i have some pretty long term golf ahead of me.

i am going to lesson #1 tomorrow. I hope it helps me reading this thread has given me confidence that it will help(in the long run). i just don’t know if i can bare the embarrassment in the short term. hopefully i don’t turn too bad. but i am looking forward to the effects it should have in my long term golf. and at 22 i think i have some pretty long term golf ahead of me.

Be prepared for the pain. But i can see the benefits. When what you are being taught works it exites you. It just gets frustrating when you dont do it often. I know this will benefit my golf long term. If i didnt make the change i think i would have just stayed where i am (off 12) if i want single figures this is the way to do it.