Do golf lessons work? | Golf Monthly

I've been having a series of lessons over a prolonged period, my swing now is hugely different to what it was last year. I have worked hard at the range to ingrain the changes and feel that my swing is much better, and consistent, (except the driver) and, after a long series of handicap increases during the changes, I finally won the mid week medal a couple of weeks ago and a small cut.

The fact is that you have to commit to whatever changes required and many don't and go back to their old swings if they dont get immediate results

I'm with Chris. This time last year I was on the verge of chucking it in. I'd spent two years rapidly dropping from 13.0 - 15 and just couldn't hit a straight ball to save my life, had a really bad duck hook that killed my game. Decided to go and see a new pro (new to me), that my son had just started having lessons with after a few recommendations. Got on with him straight away, asked me what the issues were, asked me to hit a few balls, filmed it all on his ipad and was able to dissect it all very quickly. Unfortunately for me, there was a lot a wrong, grip, posture, takeaway, big sway off the ball, and a big lasso loop at the top worse than Furyk, not to mention that it just looked really awful to watch. I took the decision to try and fix it, and have been having regular lessons over the past 11 months, weekly at first, now every two - three weeks. I also committed to practicing, going to the range a couple of times a week and hitting a bucket working on whatever we did in the last lesson. I have a completely different swing now, which I am very pleased about. I haven't dropped my handicap yet, but my ball striking is hugely improved. Have had a lot of up and downs with the changes, instant fixes that work a treat, then subconciously over correcting to make it worse etc. However, when I play casual knocks now, I often come in under handicap by 4 or 5 shots, I don't spend very much time in the trees looking for balls, and don't lose them so quickly. My pro charges £150 for 6 lessons, which are supposed to be 30 minute sessions and usually run to 40/ 45. It's not perfect, and unlikely to be , but it feels much better swinging and hitting the ball, although I've decided to reduce comps for now, because I heap too much pressure on my game thinking the changes should give me a handicap reduction and then getting frustrated when it doesn't happen. If I keep doing what I'm doing, it will though. I appreciate that not everyone can do the lesson/ practice route, some maybe don't need as much practice as others, some don't want to, but I also run a martial arts club, and I can tell you from 30 years of experience, that any improvement usually only comes from being taught correctly and then practicing correctly, you really do only get what you put in.