Most golfers treat lessons a bit like going to the doctor.

They wait until something hurts.

The driver is going sideways.
The irons have developed a violent dislike of the middle of the face.
The short game has become a hostage situation.

Then they book a lesson.

By that point, we’re not really coaching. We’re triaging.

The better approach is much less dramatic.

Golf lessons shouldn’t only be about fixing something that has gone badly wrong. They should be about checking the fundamentals, keeping the big movements in good order and making small adjustments before they become large ones.

Think maintenance rather than surgery.

A good set-up.
Good structure.
Good rotation.
Good contact.

Nothing particularly glamorous.

Unfortunately, golf has developed a slight obsession with waiting for disaster and then searching for a highly technical cure.

“My handicap has gone up four shots and I’m hitting a low snap-hook. Do you think it’s because my right wrist is 11 degrees too extended at P6?”

Probably not.

Sometimes you just need someone to look at the basics before the wheels completely fall off.

The golfers who improve consistently tend to do exactly that. They don’t wait until they’ve lost the plot. They check in, tidy things up and keep moving forwards.

You service your car before the engine explodes.

Golf probably deserves the same courtesy.

If your game is feeling good, that may actually be the perfect time for a lesson.

Jon Kennedy
The Wry Golfer