Booking your first golf lesson is one of the best steps you can take to enjoy the game more, and preparing for it properly will make that hour of instruction infinitely more valuable. This guide walks you through exactly what to do before, during, and after your lesson to show up confident, absorb as much as possible, and make the changes stick. We’ll cover everything from what to bring to what to expect, so you can focus on what matters: hitting better shots.
The best preparation starts well before you ever step onto the driving range. A little bit of groundwork in the weeks leading up to your lesson will set the stage for major breakthroughs.
Walking into a lesson and saying, "I just want to get better," is a good start, but it's too vague. Your instructor can help you so much more effectively if you can be specific about your frustrations and aspirations. Before your lesson, spend a few minutes thinking about what you really want to achieve. Having a clear destination in mind helps your coach draw the map to get you there.
You don’t need a perfectly technical diagnosis of your swing, your coach will handle that. Just focus on the outcomes you’d like to see. Good goals sound like:
Actionable Tip: Write down your top one to three goals on a small piece of paper or in the notes app on your phone. Bringing this list will help you start the lesson with a clear, focused conversation.
A common point of anxiety for new golfers is whether they need their own clubs. Here’s the simple answer: don't let equipment stop you.
Great! Give them a quick wipe-down. There’s no need for a deep spit-shine, but clean grooves on your clubface will help the ball perform as intended. You don’t need to haul your entire bag, either. Your instructor will likely want to see you hit a few different clubs, so a good selection would be your driver, a mid-iron (like a 7-iron), and a wedge (like a pitching wedge or sand wedge). This core group gives them a good overview of your swing.
Do not go out and buy a set before your first lesson. This is a common mistake. Your swing will likely change during the lesson, and clubs that feel good now might not be the right fit later. More importantly, nearly every golf facility or teaching academy has loaner or rental clubs available for lessons. Just call the pro shop ahead of time and say, "Hi, I have a lesson booked with [Pro's Name] on [Date], and I'll need to borrow some clubs." This happens all the time, and they'll be happy to accommodate you.
It can be tempting to dive down a rabbit hole of YouTube instructional videos before your lesson, but this can often be counterproductive. You might show up with five different "swing thoughts" that conflict with what your instructor wants you to work on. Remember, you hired a professional to sort through the noise and give you personalized advice.
Instead of trying to teach yourself, you can simply familiarize yourself with some basic golf terms. Knowing the difference between "grip," "stance," and "posture" will help you follow along more easily. The idea isn't to master these concepts but just to have heard the words before, so you're not starting from zero. Let your coach be your primary source of technical info.
The day before your lesson is about simple logistics and putting yourself in a good state to learn, not cramming for an exam.
Getting everything together the night before removes any day-of stress. A well-packed bag isn't just about clubs, it’s about being comfortable. Here's a quick checklist:
It might feel like a good idea to "prepare" with a long practice session the day before, but it's better to rest. You can easily tire yourself out or accidentally ingrain a bad habit just hours before your instructor tries to fix it. If you feel you must swing a club, limit it to a very light, easy session focused on tempo, not on trying to hit perfect shots. Arriving fresh and open-minded is far more valuable than arriving tired and frustrated.
This is it! The day of your lesson is all about mindset. Your goal is to be a sponge, ready to absorb new information.
Plan to get to the course or driving range 15 to 20 minutes before your scheduled start time. This gives you a buffer to check in at the pro shop, use the restroom, and find the designated teaching area without feeling rushed. Use the extra few minutes to do some light stretching. If there's an area to chip or putt, you can roll a few balls. You can also grab a small bucket of balls and hit about 10-15 gentle shots with a wedge just to get your body moving. This isn’t a practice session, it's a warm-up.
Your lesson will begin with a conversation. Your coach will introduce themselves and then ask about you and your golf game. This is your cue to pull out that list of goals. Be honest about your experience level and your struggles. There’s no judgment here. They’ve seen it all, from complete beginners who have never held a club to seasoned players with a persistent slice. A good coach isn't there to critique you, they're there to help you.
Once you start swinging, your mindset is everything. Your coach may ask you to do things with your grip, stance, or swing that feel completely bizarre. This is normal and, frankly, a good sign - it means you're changing something! That weird feeling is your body learning a new movement pattern.
The lesson doesn't end when the hour is up. What you do in the days and weeks that follow will determine whether the investment pays off.
As soon as you get to your car or walk into the clubhouse, take out that notebook and pen (or your phone) and jot down the key takeaways. Don't wait until you get home. Your pro likely gave you a summary at the end, focusing on one or two main points or drills. Write those down in your own words. What was the main feeling they wanted you to have? What was the one drill they told you to practice? This short summary is your roadmap for improvement.
Your practice sessions now have a clear direction. Instead of mindlessly hitting a large bucket of balls, focus entirely on what you worked on in your lesson. If your coach gave you a drill for your takeaway, spend the first 20 minutes of your range session doing *only* that drill - without even hitting a ball at first. Then, try to replicate that feeling while hitting short, easy shots. Quality of practice is far more important than quantity of balls hit.
Preparing for your golf lesson by setting goals, coming prepared, and adopting a learning mindset completely changes the experience. It turns a simple transaction into a powerful investment in your game, ensuring you walk away with clarity and a plan, not just a few temporary tips.
Between lessons, keeping that momentum can be challenging when questions pop up on the range or the course. We created Caddie AI to be that expert in your pocket, reinforcing what you've learned. If you forget the reason behind a specific drill your coach gave you, or you’re facing a tricky lie and need a quick strategy, you can just ask. It’s a great way to deepen your understanding and continue learning, ensuring every practice session is building on the progress you've already made.
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