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My game had also reached stagnation. I wasn't improving and I was losing lots of distance with all my clubs. I became frustrated so I found a teacher. I have been working with Carl Cooper for almost a year now and I am very pleased with my progress.

I am hitting the ball more solid that I ever have. My swing is improving and looks more like a good swing should. I still have swing faults and I may always have them. They are ingrained into my DNA after about 30 years of making a consistently poor swing but learning to get around a course relying on my short game.

I have learned to spin the ball on short approach shots but I have to re-learn distance control when I am trying to spin the ball. I sometimes come up short. the ball spins nicely, grabs and stops dead but it may be 20 to 30 feet short. I have hit a few spinners that hit once and stop dead nice and close to the hole. That is a cool thing to see.

Carl Cooper is a former tour pro that is a wonderful teacher in my opinion. I only have my results on which to base my opinion but as I said, I am very pleased with my results. Do I hit the ball perfect every time? NO. Do I still hit some bad shots? Absolutely. But overall, I hit the ball farther more solid, more flush, my irons fly higher and I have gained about 15 to 20 yards on average with my driver. Check out the attached jpeg.

My long drive on my last five rounds have ranged from 245 to 272 yards with the average being 234 yards.

Thanks Gilbert. Yes I need to find a good local Pro here in Louisville.

A one hour lesson is about the same price as a round at a nice course. It's usually worth it I think. I like getting a couple three sessions in each season. It's no cure all but it does help.

Take some time off and catch up on things around the house. Make sure you go out and play golf again when you are really looking forward to it ! Guarantee it will be better ....

Give yourself a mulligan on each side.
Water balls don't count as a penalty if you can find them and retrieve them.
Automatic 2 putts.
Free do overs out of the sand traps until you get it on the green.
And lastly, a visit from the beverage cart every 3 holes.
This should make your experience more enjoyable.

Ok, let me try to give you some advice. First of all golf can vary day to day. The best way and the most basic way is to look at your fundamentals.
This can begin with the grip, posture, body alignment, stance and balance.
Remember that the golf swing is a motion that brings the club around your body as your swing begings to go past your trailing hip the swing should begin to swing up and so that the shaft is behind your rear ear. Bring the club back along your stance line(foot line) which is parallal to your target line with your weight over your flexed rear leg. You should feel some torque on the inside of your rear leg.
Try to bring the club down along that same line. Don't try to think of much else. Let gravity bring the club down, don't force the swing. Let Gravity do the swing. Alway remember that your hands lead the clubhead. Not the other way around. Let your trailing arm finish up going down the target line as if you were about to shake hands with someone in front of you. (about three feet in front of you) This could be the start of improving your situation. Be relaxed, not tense, think smooth and don't force the power. It is effortless power. Don't think of the ball, think of a smooth swing and gravity will do the rest.

....and the golf swing is like a perfectly choreographed dance move. Start practicing it in slow motion, then add speed until it comes natural. And fire those hips. Remember,'pivot for power'.

I thank you for the great info. I went to the driving range yesterday and I noticed when I relaxed and just hit the ball smooth, it went further than when I tried to crush it. I am having trouble hitting the sweet spot consistently but when I do the ball just jumps off the club. I definitely need to relax and just swing. Edward I am working on keeping my hands ahead of clubhead. Don I am working on doing the same thing every time.

I only get to play about once a week and I "might" get time to go to driving range. I look forward to going every Saturday morning. I am to addicted to this game to not play, unless something prevents me from playing. I have pretty much taught myself how to play by watching the pros. The teaching shows just mess me up.

Just over the last month or so I noticed I was shifting my weight to my right leg instead of shifting it back forward to left leg. Then I realized I was allowing the clubhead to get ahead of my hands at impact. Now I am noticing longer distances with each club.

Thanks gentlemen!!! I guess you are the professionals. Send me the bill to P.O. Box...............LOL

We all go through days like this. I personally just play for that next one good shot. The next good hole. Can't worry about the last shot. Shake it off and step up to the next shot and it that one good. It's just my theory! Doesn't always work for me....but I keep trying to repeat it.

Lets get back to a basics: Take your normal address position. Place the back of your left hand against your right elbow. Now, holding your right hand in the address-type-position, make a backswing noting the feel of your left arm brushing across your chest, then moving up. This drill prevents you from pulling the left arm in against the chest. This will not allow you to suck the left arm in and around your body.
this is called the left-arm-brush drill. this drill can be done without a club in your hand. Give it a try.
The right hand left arm connection drill. Assusme your address position. Hold your upper left arm with your right hand. Make sure that the left arm is on the top of the pec muscle and not to the side of your body. Rotate your body slowly toward the target while holding the upper part of your left arm against your chest. Feel the left arm and the inside pocket of the left elbow rotating with the left elbow and remember to mimic this action when swinging the club. Do this move and add a very small takeaway still holding the upper left arm into your body. Get the feeling of the body swinging the arms. This will keep the left arm "connected" to your body. It will make a difference in your shot-making prowess.