How do you really get better at golf?

RE: How do you really get better at golf?

Edward K — Fri, 11 Jul 2025 23:04:30 GMT

[quote user="KHur"]Has anyone tried those apps where you take videos of yourself and a "PGA instructor" will evaluate and give advice on how to improve your swing?

[/quote]

I really like Eric Cogorno, VERY easy to listen to listen to his interpretation of the swing. He's all over YouTube. I've seen him in person, super teacher, great guy. His team evaluates your video, can also do a phone session. It's not cheap though, but if you're really willing to get better, you have to experiment a little.

RE: How do you really get better at golf?

LBCgolfplayer — Fri, 11 Jul 2025 15:30:27 GMT

I could not agree more. My game really didn't show consistent improvement until I got an instructor I trusted, who helped me honestly assess my game, swing, short comings, etc and then we created a plan.

The instructor, sticking to the plan, and consistent practice is the best way.

RE: How do you really get better at golf?

CNelson — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 13:25:35 GMT

Yes, it’s a waste if you don’t put the practice time in. I go to my golf coach every other week and play twice a week. I typically practice every day when not playing. I’m paying about $50.00 for a 1/2 lesson. I feel an hour long lesson is too much as I like to narrow down on what to work on between lessons. This is what works for me.

RE: How do you really get better at golf?

Clinton M — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 22:58:39 GMT

practice at the driving range and get a lesson

RE: How do you really get better at golf?

KHur — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 17:18:20 GMT

Has anyone tried those apps where you take videos of yourself and a "PGA instructor" will evaluate and give advice on how to improve your swing?

RE: How do you really get better at golf?

GStuart — Tue, 08 Jul 2025 17:03:09 GMT

This is the best response out there! Well put! The important piece is having fun between shots, even if you just had a bad shot. I think Tiger allowed himself 10 steps to sulk about the bad shot he hit before relaxing and moving on.

RE: How do you really get better at golf?

Erich F — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 01:22:31 GMT

Congrats, now go break 80!

RE: How do you really get better at golf?

WKilloran — Sun, 08 Jun 2025 20:45:44 GMT

Learn how to chip and putt.

RE: How do you really get better at golf?

ABjes — Sun, 08 Jun 2025 16:33:52 GMT

One of the biggest things that has helped me become a single digit, college golfer, is the ability to focus in for the 2 minutes that the shot is happening. Then be able to relax that during the travel time to the next shot. Your mind can not stay focused for 4-5 hours straight. You have to give yourself time to reset. What I exactly mean by this is during the time that you are thinking through the shot and executing it, you are 100% focused/ locked in. Then after you hit the shot, your brain goes into relax/ fun mode, where you aren’t thinking of the next shot or the previous one. Will help you eliminate compound mistakes or compound bad holes back to back.

RE: How do you really get better at golf?

JBrand — Sun, 08 Jun 2025 14:51:27 GMT

My musings:

- A good instructor who you believe in and have a good relationship with and meet regularly
- set realistic goals for your game and timeframe
- Trust the process (sometimes results are not instant) and IGNORE everything else (eg YouTube, well meaning playing partners, etc…)
- well fitted titleist clubs
- play as much as possible (even a few holes at night rather than pounding balls)
- play with people better than you
-learn to manage the course and game and have a short term memory loss on bad shots

Most of all enjoy

RE: How do you really get better at golf?

Dale V — Sat, 07 Jun 2025 17:40:33 GMT

I will agree with almost everything you said, especially for someone striving to be a single digit handicap. I do see some value in everyone, regardless of ability, to be properly fit into their set of golf clubs, not waiting until they reach a certain level of skill. Many will never reach, or even want to reach that level but can benefit from clubs that suit the current skill level.

RE: How do you really get better at golf?

BSharpley — Sat, 07 Jun 2025 03:39:21 GMT

I finally took my first lesson, my coach was able to connect with me in a way that I could understand what I needed to do. Once it clicked in my head and I felt what he was saying when I actually struck the ball as intended it all started coming together. Took my new coaching lesson to the course today and finally broke 90. I know that isnt a huge deal to some but it was a huge deal to me.
Practice, play and lessons

RE: How do you really get better at golf?

JBuck — Fri, 06 Jun 2025 11:16:00 GMT

Patience, good guidance from whoever you have lessons with and equipment fitted for your game

RE: How do you really get better at golf?

Chuck Zirkle — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 23:03:45 GMT

Beware of coaches who want to spend a lot of time reworking you game. A good coach will take what you have and refine it. I hate cookie cutter coaches who want to make everyone swing the same. You have to work together as a team and if you do not like the results you are getting find another. Again, you must be willing to put in the time to refine you game as well. Remembering that the human race was not perfected in a few weeks. We are still working on it. Now that takes a lot of practice. If you do not understand something the coach is saying, have him break it down so you do. Again, you are a team in this project.

RE: How do you really get better at golf?

William B — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 17:43:58 GMT

A lesson will make its purpose only when the instructor/coach and student have a way to understand what the student needs and what the coach explains, in a code/language the student understands what the coach is trying to explain (effective communication).

I've had many coaches over the years, and later trying to fix something, was when I got the idea of what 3-4 years before was being explained.

If the communication fails the lesson will lose its intend.

Last year I discovered something by my own that none of the coaches explained in a way I understood

Just my $0.02

RE: How do you really get better at golf?

Tom J — Mon, 02 Jun 2025 11:13:30 GMT

What i always tell beginners is to take lessons as soon as they start playing, otherwise you can start to create your own swing wich just hurts you in the end:)

RE: How do you really get better at golf?

Edward K — Tue, 13 May 2025 23:08:00 GMT

[quote user="Don O"]2 biggest (sporting) mistakes in my life - not taking lessons for downhill skiing or golf when I started.

At least I didn’t buy ski equipment.

[/quote]

Same here Don, I think I had a set of Rossignol's before I had my first official bike. I sure miss those days in Upstate New York in my youth.

RE: How do you really get better at golf?

Don O — Tue, 13 May 2025 18:24:11 GMT

2 biggest (sporting) mistakes in my life - not taking lessons for downhill skiing or golf when I started.

At least I didn’t buy ski equipment.

RE: How do you really get better at golf?

GMaynard — Tue, 13 May 2025 17:30:57 GMT

After getting a lesson , remember that " the secret is in the dirt" , practice what the instructor gives you to work on its all steps to being better

RE: How do you really get better at golf?

JYoung — Tue, 13 May 2025 16:49:33 GMT

[quote user="Jerry M"]I agree with everything that has been said so far. The biggest problem I have is that I did not take lessons early on and developed bad habits. We all know those are hard to break. Lessons are great with the right instructor but you definitely have to put in the work after the lessons.

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This is me too. Wish I would have had lessons years ago. Baseball/softball swing still shows it's ugly head to me a few times a round. My bad habits have been very hard to get rid of.

RE: How do you really get better at golf?

JYoung — Tue, 13 May 2025 16:34:40 GMT

Rylan, probably every course you play will have a golf pro there. Seek them out and talk to them. If you don't want to try lessons at the course, try a place like Golftec. They had a swing evaluation for $95. I went there and really enjoyed the experience. Golf Galaxy and the PGA Superstore also have guys/gals that give lessons. As everyone has said, the lessons will only help you as long as you put the time in to practice what they show you.

RE: How do you really get better at golf?

Tue, 13 May 2025 15:51:01 GMT

I'm an agreement with pretty much everything said, find a great instructor early. If you don't, you will develop habits that may feel natural but is hurting your game, only a instructor who knows what there doing is helpfull. Also you should figure out how much your willing to sacrifice to get better, and how far do you want to go. Overall, practice is the best, but if you have never had a coach, like everyone already said, get one quick. Lessons depending on pro varies, expect to pay anywhere from 50-100 an hour for a decent coach, to 100-300 bucks for a more qualified pro. Make sure they know what there doing.

RE: How do you really get better at golf?

Jerry M — Tue, 13 May 2025 13:28:32 GMT

I agree with everything that has been said so far. The biggest problem I have is that I did not take lessons early on and developed bad habits. We all know those are hard to break. Lessons are great with the right instructor but you definitely have to put in the work after the lessons.

RE: How do you really get better at golf?

Eric H — Tue, 13 May 2025 11:40:56 GMT

[quote user="Rylan A"]What do lessons usually cost? I don’t want to waste my money or over pay for a lesson that might not help.

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You can find a pga professional in your area. The PGA website has a find a coach search. you can look at teaching professionals near you and they'll have their location and rates all listed. Im sure you can find a package with multiple lesson sessions that are pretty affordable.

RE: How do you really get better at golf?

Erich F — Tue, 13 May 2025 01:13:32 GMT

Rylan, if you have never had a lesson, I would urge you to find a PGA teaching pro. At a minimum, sound fundamentals, grip, stance, alignment are crucial. A set of trained eyes can do wonders to help you make sure these are sound.