Quote:
Originally Posted by Firebuffette
I don’t know anything about golf. I’m taking lessons in August for the first time. My husband has been playing for 50 years. He can’t help me.
That being said, I’m thoroughly enjoying the banter between all of you. Thank you
Happy 4th of July.
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Excellent plan! I doubt that golf lessons by your husband will harm your marriage. At the same time, I'm pretty certain that they will not help your golf game.
When you search for an instructor, look for one who uses a video camera so you can see what he/she is saying you are doing wrong or right. Golf instructors speak a language that they understand, but is unintelligible to other humans (i.e."you need to drop the club into the slot on the downswing"). Most beginners are embarrassed to question the instructor to learn what he/she means so that they understand what they are to do.
The learning rate/retention rate from seeing something is much higher than only being told something.
Subject to my own advice about the language, make sure that you come away from the instruction with four things that are the keys to a good golf swing.
1. Have a strong grip. The "V's formed by the thumb and forefinger of each hand should point to your right shoulder when the clubhead is behind the ball and you are ready to swing.
2. Keep your left arm/left elbow straight. When you let your left elbow bend, you change the radius of the swing and make it harder to get the head of the club back to where it needs to be to hit the ball squarely. Also, a stiff left elbow is the key to a powerful swing. The language which you will not understand is that you "collapse your left side" when you bend your left elbow during the swing.
3. Learn to "shift your weight" (strange language) from your left side to your right side (for right-handed players) during the backswing and downswing. For some players, this comes naturally. They are a small minority!
4. Learn to have a smooth, controlled swing so you make solid, square, contact with the ball.
If your instructor doesn't teach you these four things, look for another instructor.