COMMUNITY

Never have.

For free I had three swings of mine videoed, and from those, I saw how badly I shifted my hands/shoulders/etc. at the top of my swing and from there hit from the top. That one video has led to a handful of changes over the years, all made on my own, all from reading Harvey Penick's books, Golf Digest tips and stuff on TV.

I'll get Hogan's Five Lessons sometime this year.

There's nothing a golf pro can tell me that a couple of my good friends can't by simply watching a few swings. And if I had a good tripod and video unit, I wouldn't need them.

50 per half an hour. Well worth the money spent. I'll post a video this week of where I was eight months ago and where I am now. I always go a little backward each lesson until I master the homework my instructor gives me. All lessons include a videotape of the days lesson. If the best players in the world use instruction, why shouldn't we?

Last time I paid for a lesson was about 4 years ago, and it was $5. I bought Ben Hogan's Five Lessons - The Modern Fundamentals of Golf. I'm telling you, if you really get into that book, it's ALL in there.

Never paid for one. But my head pro gave them to me free...that was back in 87'--haven't had any since~

In my position I really don't have to pay for lessons. I have a FEW pros that I trust to look at my swing and it always helps.

Since I didn't play well last year, I decided to take a couple lessons- a free one and a paid one from 2 different pros- the first lessons I've had in a few years. Although the drills were different, they both arrived at the same conclusion: that I needed to change my swing path. I have not been able to play or practice as much as I'd like since the lessons, so I haven't been able to fix my swing up to this point, but I'm very satisfied with the advice I recieved from the lessons. I now have a clear picture as to how to fix my swing- I just need to find the time to take a lot of swings and retrain my muscles away from the bad habits.

Yes! need to go back for a few more

Last summer in July after I shot 120 and was a great move I must say. Brought my handicap down from 22 to 19 in a month.

yes, last summer...all summer long.

Last year and yes it helps every time I take a lesson

I try to take a package of lessons to start the year. Found a guy I like a lot last year at Valleybrook, Ed Kramer, recommend highly! It was 3 lessons for $100.

First session was driver, I was hitting too many banana slices. He tweaked my grip and I was hitting a very nice power fade for most of last season. Second lesson was putting, I felt at the time that putting was a strong point in my game and I wanted to see if I could capitalize a little. He noticed a little bit of a figure 8 in my stroke. I practice now with two irons putter width apart to control the path. Hit some awesome! putts last year. Last session was 100 yards and in, full wedges, chips, and pitches. Picked up a bunch of good stuff here and didn't need to hit so many awesome putts in the first place last year.

Definitely plan on seeing Ed again this Spring, brush the rust off all of the above and then work on some new stuff. Mostly I want to get a little polish on my sand game. I don't have trouble getting out of most bunkers but I would like to have a lot more control over distance.

BTW Bucknut, had the same concern before I took my first package several years ago. Forget the guys name, but we talked about my game, he watched me hit a dozen or so shots, and with with a few simple tweaks I started hitting better shots. No changing everything, no major revisions, shaft angle a little back at address, swing plane a little flatter. Simple, easy stuff with immediate positive results. I was hooked! I still think I got more out of my first lesson than any one since then.

Unfortunately I have never had any lessons.

Only thing close to a lesson I have had is pointers, tips from my H.S. golf coach almost 20 years ago. I'm sure lessons would help me but I don't want someone to completly change everything I'm doing and start over, like they probably will do. I would rather go with what I already have and tweek it from there.

I started back golfing after 20+ years and knew I could figure it all out on my own. It took 3 years for me to break 100 again. Rather than spend another 3 years to break 90, I bought 6 lessons / 7 practice sessions the end of last year. I honestly knew or had tried everything he taught me, but being able to view my swing and have that instant feedback has made all the difference. I've only played 6 or 7 times since I started the lessons, my Handicap Index has dropped almost 4 points and my scores are about 7 to 10 strokes better. For me, it's because I get an extra 40 yards out of my driver which gives me more options for my 2nd shot. I also have a lot more AH HA moments. I've had my 1st birdie of the year, last year it took me until September.

About Five years ago and they helped out a little. Since then I just read magazines and study the Golf Channel & Golf Fix. Recently my game has plateaued. I know lessons would help and all it would need is about an hour a week in addition to my once a week play.

Anybody got any suggestions how to incorporate lessons into your schedule / game play in order to get the most effective improvement?