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Questions & Answers
Responses from PGA/LPGA Teachers on FINDaLESSON.com                                                                                  << BACK
From Randy, golfer:
I have a 'which comes first, the chicken or the egg?' question. Should you take lessons first, or should you be fitted for clubs first? I've been playing for two years, and I am a 20+ handicap. I have a good swing, but I have several break- downs: wrists, tempo and I don't bump my hip forward every time, creating active legs. Thank you for your time!
PGA/LPGA TEACHING PROFESSIONAL RESPONSES:
California
"Randy, you should take lessons first and ask a credible teaching pro who does not sell clubs if your equipment is holding you back."  - Adam Schriber, Teaching Professional
California
"Randy - I have played and been successful at all sports and I find golf is the only one I needed guidance on. There are just too many skills involved to learn on your own. Your own ability will take you to a certain level and then you must bite the bullet and take lessons which means you will probably have to change a lot of what you have already learned. Get with a capable professional who has taught, as their primary source of income, for at least 10 years. They have learned cause & effect and most likely will try to work with what you have. Observe potential instructors, ask questions of their students, and see the volume of their business - male & female. This will give you insight if this is the person for you. See if they take notes on your golf history, ask questions on injuries, sports background, goals, practice time availability, etc. After a few lessons, if you don' get what they are saying and they are not communicating to you, find another teacher. You, however, have to be willing to change and take steps backwards in order to go forwards. We are not magicians or miracle workers. We only facilitate your learning and are with you a very short amount of time. Your obligation is to take what you have heard and seriously put it into practice and ignore what your friends have to say about it. Good luck & Good Golfing." - Kati Biszantz, Teaching Professional
California
"Lessons first...but make sure they are the right lessons. Keep it simple and stick to the basics. Wouldn't hurt for you to have a little knowledge of the golf swing and the golf instructor."
 - David Ruvolo, Teaching Professional
Colorado
"I would take lessons and have a pro fit you once she/he made any important basic adjustment to your swing." - Paula Adelman, Teaching Professional
Florida
"Randy: It sounds like we need to wipe the slate clean and start over because you are thinking of way too many things. You may not have all of the challenges that you think! A twenty handicapper is just a few chips and putts away from being in the 80's. This is a good question that many people should be asking who go out and purchase equipment, only to find that it is not fit for them when they are on the lesson tee. It is wise to work with an instructor that is going to help you progress at a level less challenging that worrying about all of those swing thoughts. Beginning with putting, a good instructor will have you hitting chip shots, then pitch shots, then shots off of a tee... get the picture? It is only when you are hitting consistently off the tee that you should be concerned about fitting, or even sinking any amount of money in clubs. When your "authentic swing" is identified, the good instructor will then fit you for the clubs you need. This may not even then be a full set. There are several companies that allow purchase of single clubs at a very reasonable price. Your investment in equipment is directly related to your enjoyment of the game and should be taken seriously. Make sure you are getting your advice from someone who believes in the approach here. You will know that your best interest is a concern." - Tony Simpson, Teaching Professional
Florida
"Fix the swing before any serious fitting processes. The shaft flex is crucial (flex points, tip, mid or butt flex points). This will influence the lie angle as well." Mike Calbot, Teaching Professional
Florida
"It's critical that you get properly fitted clubs before your swing habits are deeply ingrained with your existing clubs. See your local Henry-Griffitts fitter for the best possible fit."
- David Balbi, Teaching Professional
Florida
"Since you have been playing for two years and have established a handicap, I would suggest that you have a professional fit you and compare the results with the specs on your current clubs. If the specs vary greatly, I would definitely suggest having your clubs changed, if it's possible and cost effective, or buying a new set. Some of your problems could be a direct result of ill-fitted clubs. Remember, you want a club fit for you, not to modify your swing to fit the club." 
- Andrea Drake, Teaching Professional
Florida
"Lessons first, then fitted for clubs. In your case now, go get fitted."
 - Sean Gorgone, Teaching Professional
Illinois
"Randy: To answer your question, "which comes first, the chicken or the egg?"... take lessons first or be fit for clubs?  The first thing one should do is learn the basic fundamentals of the various swings... hold, stance, posture, aim and alignment and swing. All of this is done without a golf ball. After all of these pieces are habituated (learned), then and only then is the golf ball introduced. When the golf ball is introduced and centeredness of hit is the goal, the golf club is fit to the individual. This ensures that there will be no compensations needed to achieve the desired ball flight. I have followed this formula (Thanks to Chuck Hogan) and it has never failed. Check out "Learning Golf" or "Rethinking Golf" by Chuck Hogan if you would like more information. Thank you for your inquiry."
 - Ryan Graff, Teaching Professional
Missouri
"I would first get a lesson to review your fundamentals, especially your posture. I have seen too many people spend hundreds of dollars on clubs that hurt them more than help. If you would like to see the difference, set-up in front of a mirror with your normal posture and look at how the club head lays on the ground. Now set-up feeling taller to the ball with a straight spine. Rear out, chest out and your chin up.  Now look at the difference in the position of the club head." - David Mulso, Teaching Professional
Pennsylvania
"Randy: first take lessons and try to get an understanding of what will make your swing more consistent. Remember, Freddy Couples won at Augusta using Tom Watson's wife's 3- wood. Hardly custom fitted. It's all about swinging the club." - Bob Sheppard, Teaching Professional
Pennsylvania
"Dear Randy: That is a very good and very fair question. One that I often get. My answer to you would be to do both at the same time. And here is why.....You first need to do a little research in your area and find out not only who is recognized as an expert fitter, but an excellent teacher as well.  If you can find that person, then I'd feel comfortable in doing both. This can person will have a keen eye for where your golf swing currently is and where it possibly can go based on your dedication. There is a term known as a Compensation fit, this is done when the pupil says to me, "Listen, I play 2 times a week, never practice and don't want to....Can you put something in my hands that will help reduce the curve of my ball?"  While this player will see immediate improvement in ball flight, they are destined for little improvement. Another term is a Corrective fit, this type of fit will not look good at first, in terms of lie board marks, but if the player makes the corrections he and his Swing Coach have decided on, then he's there. Another note I'd like to make is that the companies I fit will allow the customer to send clubs back free of charge one time to make a lie angle alteration. While they will not re-shaft for free, they will make the one time lie angle adjustment.  Keep that in mind when choosing a brand. This allows for change, as your swing gets better. Anyway, I've gone on too long, feel free to contact me if I may be of any further assistance. Don't keep your head down." - Mike Dynda, Teaching Professional
South Carolina
"As a golf professional, its hard not to say take a lesson first. However, I feel that since the equipment is such an important part of the process, you should be fitted first. If the lie of the club is wrong it can cause you to go left or right and no lesson will correct this because it is equipment failure. If the length is wrong it can cause poor body or wrist movement. A lot of variables can happen with the wrong equipment. Why not eliminate the tool and work on the process, instead of trying to figure one or the other on a daily basis." - Sean Carey, Teaching Professional
Texas
"The chicken comes first. Take more lessons, say for a few months, then get fitted."
- Kim J. Brown, Teaching Professional
Texas
"Randy. We can fit for shaft flex and length at any level. Other than that variable, I would do lessons first. Buy a set that the lie can be adjusted when your game gets more consistent."
 - Dave Baron, Teaching Professional
Texas
"Randy: How tall are you?  If you are 5'10," and have clubs less than ten years old. They probably fit (in the ballpark). Make sure that your fitter doesn't try to fix your ball flight without taking into consideration your potential. Example: If you slice you don't want him to just make your clubs upright to fix that mistake if you are the mistake. Best of luck." - Mark Moore, Teaching Professional 
Texas
"Take lessons then get fitted to a set." - Fred Collins, Teaching Professional