Kyle Voska Golf

Myth or Truth: You’ll Get Worse Before You Get Better After A Lesson

MYTH OR TRUTH:  YOU’LL GET WORSE BEFORE YOU GET BETTER AFTER A LESSON?

Have you ever heard the old saying, “You’ll get worse before you get better”, towards taking golf lessons?  If so, has this made you hesitant towards taking lessons?  Well, let me dispel this myth by stating you should get better after golf lessons, not worse.  I don’t believe you should get worse before you get better.  That really doesn’t make in any sense.  Why would you pay someone to make you worse?

Taking a golf lesson can be intimidating at first.  You’re showcasing your skills, or lack there of some may say, in front of a professional.  It can be nerve-racking.  Trust me, I’ve been there.  However, the professional is there for a reason and that reason is to help you improve your game.  Professionals, like myself, have worked really hard to understand the golf swing and, more importantly, the skill of communicating properly so the golfer can feel comfortable with the change.

When I teach a new student, I first try to understand the golfer’s desires while learning about them as best as I can.  This builds trust.  Once I’ve heard what they’d like to do with their game, I then watch them hit some balls and create a plan on improving their game that day, and for the future.

If you’re taking lessons, whether it’s for 30 minutes or an hour, you should see some improvement during the lesson.  Some of your shots should produce, or come really close to producing the type of shot you desire.  Now, it may be challenging at first to do this, but you should see some benefits during the lesson.  That being said, practicing after a lesson is imperative to make the changes more long-lasting.  Sometimes, it can be a challenge taking these changes to the course; however, the more you learn about your tendencies and how to fix them, the more confidence you’ll have towards your game.

The bottom line is you really should be improving during and after a lesson, or it may be time to try someone else.  Just like a lot of other things in our lives, if it just doesn’t feel right or you don’t have a good feeling about it, it may be time for a change.  And that’s ok.  Not every instructor is right for every student.  We all have different personalities and swing beliefs that may not be right for everyone.

If you’ve never taken lessons, or are looking for a new swing coach, do a little research before jumping in.  Talk to a few instructors on the phone or in person.  If you feel comfortable and like talking to them, then you’d probably enjoy learning from them.

To summarize, find a local PGA Professional and trust that they can take your game to the next level or get it back to where you’d like it to be.  Lessons are a great way to challenge yourself and learn more about the game.  Good luck!

April 4, 2011 - Posted by Kyle Voska | Golf Myths | Golf Lessons, Golf Myths