Most golfers can do anything to try and excel in the sport.
If you are one of them, you have most probably taken or considered a golf lesson or two.
Golf lessons can be effective in getting you back to your best swing.
But Can Golf Lessons Make You Worse?
Sadly, yes! Golf lessons can make you worse. This might happen because you might be getting the right instructions, but you simply cannot do what you are required to do. Additionally, too many significant changes at once can temporarily make your game worse, as it might take you a bit more time to get used to some of the changes your instructor makes.
This might be because of having too many swing thoughts and making extreme changes that need hours of practice, or simply your body cannot move in the way you are instructed to make a proper golf swing.
But if this is the case, you should not get worse for long before you start to get better and improve. The more you practice, the better it will be.
Secondly, it might be because of being given the wrong advice or fix for your swing shape, ball flight, or impact. If the instructor doesn’t click and understand your problem, regardless of the drills they use to help you get better, it might just make it worse for you. This can make you get very disillusioned and discouraged with golfing.
It will make you start seeing golf lessons as a waste of money and time when in the real case, golf lessons are the only way you will up your game.
If this is your case, you should consider finding a new instructor who properly understands your swing and gives quick results. Some instructors are better than others, and some might fit you better.
Can You Be Good At Golf Without Lessons?
The answer is most probable to be no unless you are Bubba Watson, the two-time Masters winner, who claims never to undertake a golf lesson in life.
Practicing yourself without undertaking lessons might see you spending the best of your years figuring out the game and getting better on your own.
The answer will also depend on what you describe as ‘good.’ A player who plays off 18 will be a good golfer in the view of a 36 handicapper.
However, if ‘good’ means a lower or single figure, then it is improbable that you will achieve such a level without undertaking some golf lessons and being guided by a pro golf instructor.
The only individuals capable of teaching themselves golf are PGA pros who have already gone through the right training and understand how the golf swing operates and how to fix the swing faults when they come up.
But for you and me who just watch YouTube videos or read online, trying to learn golf ourselves will most likely result in disaster.
So if you want to get better, lessons with a good golf instructor are the only and best way to go.
Seven Tips for Maximizing Your Golf Lessons
1. Practice
Most golfers undertake a golfing lesson expecting immediate results.
While teaching should be aimed at helping in the long-term and short term, you require practice.
Without being committed, you should not waste it on a golf lesson.
A golf lesson only serves to give you an outline and give you drills to use during practice.
The best advice or technique will not help players who are not committed to practice several days a week. To make the best out of the golf lessons, you must practice more regularly and play plenty of golf rounds to achieve the skills.
2. Using Video
Video plays a significant part in helping you improve your golf as they are virtual, and you can see what you need to do and review it after the lesson.
You hence want to get a golf instructor who uses video as part of the golfing lessons.
Learning and getting better at golf is a journey, and having one or two lessons where you get advice and go will not get you the outcome you want.
The learning process involves understanding, applying, and getting feedback; hence video is a perfect technology you should use.
3. Researching The Best Instructors
For best results, you want to be trained by the best trainer.
You should hence consider doing some research and ask about the best teachers around your area.
Today, there are many options out there, but the best is a one-on-one trainer who interacts with you directly.
Generally, there is a wide mix of trainers, whereby some have gained much popularity.
For example, George Gankas has given a great guideline on the right rotation and using ground forces to elevate your swing speed.
Be sure to find a great teacher who uses proper communication and technology to help you.
Related: Should You Tip Your Golf Instructor?
4. Utilizing Technology
Unless you are looking to simplify the process and declutter the game, you should find an instructor who uses the best technology.
Some of the technology used by the best instructors include pressure plates and launch monitors to monitor your activity in the golf swing.
When you are doing the golf swings correctly, your golf coach can easily understand your numbers on a Trackman or any other device and help you get back to your best when you start struggling.
5. Additional Training
After your golf lesson, it is also important to engage in extra exercises and training to ensure your body can put up with the golfing workload.
Training is also a great way of increasing your swinging speed.
Working on the physical aspect of your body might be the missing link in improving your game.
Taking up extra training sessions after golf lessons will most probably have a positive impact on your game, such as; higher swing speed, further drives, shorter approach shots, etc. eventually, this will enable you to make more putts or hit the ball closer.
Strength is one of the limiting factors in golf, and engaging in the right training will give you the breakthrough you require in making the perfect swing.
6. Be A Good Learner
Golfers often tend to make many excuses during lessons.
Some say that they aren’t sure the approach will work, while others say they aren’t comfortable with how they have been instructed to do.
For the best results, you should commit to the lesson and teacher fully.
It will certainly feel uncomfortable at some point, but with practice and repetition, it will feel better, and you will get improved performance.
7. Continue The Golfing Journey.
Golfing is a great journey that nearly has no end when it comes to perfecting your game.
It is challenging to overcome both the physical and mental parts of the game, and even as you get better, you will still desire to acquire more information and practice.
Continue with the journey, and always know that there will be ups when you play good and downs when you struggle.
Bottom Line
We hope you have a clear answer concerning whether golf lessons can make you worse.
If the instructor is giving you the right instructions, you will eventually start getting better.
Some players require an adjustment period, and it’s not a question of how much worse you become but how much you will eventually get better.
Therefore, if you have some weeks or months where you perform worse, it will certainly be worth sticking through it.
References
Range danger: Are you getting worse when you go practice?