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Well after having the same swing for 13 years, I decided to finally seek professional help. I started playing when I was 14 and have kept the same swing throughout the years but I felt that I could gain a little more consistency and yardage by getting some lessons. I am now a 10/11 handicap since I didn't play much after college but at one point I was a 2 handicap in my latter years in high school. So I finally took lessons two weeks ago and after two lessons, I can't hit the ******* ball. I know my backswing was flat but its because I have broad shoulders and it was uncomfortable to have a steeper backswing (which is where he wants me to be at). My teacher has good credentials and has great teaching techniques in theory. But is it possible for lessons to mess up my swing? Or am I being inpatient?

Alpod22 - Just my opinion, but you must know something about the golf swing. You don't become a 2 handicap by simply flailing at the ball, even as a high school student. And 10/11 index is nothing to sneeze about either!

I'd ask your instructor the same questions you've asked here. Tell him that you see no improvement, and what is his timetable for your progress. If you've signed up for a complete swing make-over, I think you have to be patient, it could take an entire season. And chances are your game will get worse before it gets better. If you only wanted a "tune-up" or some simple drills to straighten out some problems, that is another issue.

I guess my answer is "yes," instruction can mess up your golf game. You need to let the instructor know what you are there for - short term fix(es) or long-haul swing make-over.

Good luck.

Thirteen years vs. 2 weeks....old habits die hard. Can lessons mess up your swing? Absolutely. Actually you're not fixing your swing, you're trading it for a new one. How well did you play the third week after you originally took up the game? When you call it "my swing" (didn't change in 13 yrs?) it makes me think you're a little hesitant to give it up. Two questions...when's the next lesson? And what does your instructor say when you complain that you can't hit the ******* ball any more?

I don't know you but I'd bet that your shoulders are no broader than Craig Stadler's...and he has an upright swing (maybe too much sometimes, imo). Changing your swing is rarely a smooth transition...when you put a new motor in a car there's quite a bit of tweaking, tuning, and misfiring before she purrs like a kitten. At age 27, you still have a lot of golf ahead of you...if you're going to overhaul your swing, then you have picked a good time to do it, imo. I applaud your decision to do so, just give it time. Focus on mechanics for now, the "game" will come back later...stay committed.

One tip, if I may...if you will get your hands in the proper position whereby your arms hang perfectly plumb (straight down) and you maintain the same angle formed between the forearms and club shaft all the way through the shot, you will find it somewhat easier to swing more upright...does that sound like someone who swung flat for a long time? :nodsmiley

Good luck, keep us posted.

Shade

You beat me to the punch, Gene...lol. I swear I didn't plaigarize...lol. We must be on the same page regarding instruction.

Shade

I've witnessed several people who've not taken lessons for years struggle with an instructor who tries to change their swing too much. My suggestion is to have a very frank conversation with your pro about his methodology: Is he trying to CHANGE your swing, or is he trying to MODIFY your current swing?

IMO - good instructors work with what you've got, and "tweak" it for better results, rather than trying to mold your swing into something too radically different.

IMO #2 - This is a prime reason I believe in lessons and instruction from the beginning. It's soooooo hard for people to change their swings after several years of playing self-taught. Tough tough tough.

Well, I have had lessons and I hit the ball very well, I had a lesson or 2 a week in the summer from a pro at my golf club. I figure I got worse, but knew what he was teaching me was correct. He fixed the flaws in my swing. i am young (16) he said if we get this fixed now, give it a while you will be playing awesome. It hurt my game for a month or 2 after I got the lessons. but finally got comfortable with what he was teaching me and im hitting it better then ever.... now all I need is a puttin lesson... but he says putting is mostly feel, but he will teach me a "textbook" stroke, though it might not work, its all preferance.

SamT hit the nail on the head. As instructors, we know that most students are not looking for a complete overhaul. My own philosophy is to accentuate what each student is doing right and then to only change (in a long-time player) something that prevents them from attaining their goals (which I ask BEFORE teaching a new student). Regardless, you need to be clear with the instructor what you are trying to accomplish. If I had a 30-something student in good shape who hit tee shots 160 yards, I would naturally assume this student is looking for more distance but if for some reason, he/she was only looking for more accuracy, the approach would be different.

Teaching golf is like playing golf...the best lesson given on the wrong topic is equivalent to a perfect golf shot aimed in the opposite direction from the target...while both might be "perfect," since they were mis-aimed, the outcome is far from it.

why dont you give us some details and then we can make a better response. How is your ball flight, draws, fades, hooks, slices. When you miss badly what is the tendancy to be your bad shot? for me it can be a snap hook. How far back does your club go, past parrallel? what is your ball flight with the new way? did he perscribe any drills? What is your height, weight, flexibility level. I had a flat swing and used to hit 25 yard draws and hten made it steeper and now hit it a lot straighter. also got more distance, tell us about your distances too, club by club. If he is credible like you say then he might know what he is doing

Thanks for the response guys. Well when I got there he knew I've been playing for awhile because all the shots I hit for him went straight. I told him I was looking for more consistency and just a little bit more yardage. I shot a 76 (6 over par) the day before my first lesson. Hit all the fairways but 1 in that round. I could very well do this but I am quite inconsistent. One day I shoot a 75 then I shoot a 92 on that same course with the same conditions the following day. Missing fairways and greens, left and right.

Playing the same swing for that long, I've learned to listen/feel my swing. I pretty much self medicate my swing since I know what I'm doing when I hit a bad shot. I was very reluctant to take lessons because of this same reason I am bickering right now. I didnt want to start all over. I hit a natural fade, so I do slice when it is bad (actually more a block). I can play a draw when I want to but naturally it is left to right. I dont know if you guys read my old thread, but I am that kid who hits 260+ drives on the fly, hit my 4 iron at 200+, but hit my short irons high and short. My PW doesnt go farther than 100 yards. Go figure.

He is actually not overhauling my swing. But a little change in my swing plane and especially my backswing changes the whole dynamics of my swing. Now I am hitting behind the ball with a steeper backswing and pulling most of my shots. I feel what he teaches is helping because when I do hit it solid (3/10 shots right now) I am nailing it. I drove a 334 yard par 4 yesterday but of course missed almost the rest of the fairways the rest of my round. (My boys get annoyed right now since I do all my drills in my pre shot routine. )

I don't know maybe I am just being inpatient. We are in a 10 week program at once a week. Maybe I am just being stubborn ..... Thanks for your time guys.

I have to go right now but quickly I will say
when you swing steeper the club feels like it weighs less and this can make it easier to release the clubface, that might be the cause for your misses. A drive that far should show you to have more patience. If you really want to improve you need to play litttle and practice much while these lessons are going on. Also, go hit balls AFTER the round. so did he change much with your stance or grip? Just relax, give into his way and if after ten works of HONEST WORK it does not work for you then worry about it. shootin 76-92 is a really big gap, sounds like something major is going on, let him fix it!

The instructor needs to ask questions of the student to guide them to the best way to approuch a student of your experience.

Communcation is most important. You need to know what you want then the instructor should tell you what it will take to get there. Once the instructor has the knowledge he or she can custom fit the lessons.

Often big changes make you worse before you get better. When this is this case it is a leap of faith for both involved.

I remember reading a book by Hank Haney... He said that flaws in a golf swing usually come in pairs. You know, each action having an an equal and opposite reaction. During instruction, one of the flaws is isolated as the source of the problem. Once that is fixed, only one flaw remains, which migh very well make it appear as though the student had regressed when, in truth, he or she is showing improvement. I find myself having to trust this little bit of wisdom more often than I would like.