golf lesson - still undecided

[gambit]

Anybody here taken golf lessons? if so when did you decide to? I don't know if i should take lessons. I've be playing on and off for 3 months now, learn everything on my own by watching. I can swing pretty well practically will all of my irons, i got a lot of great comments from people that i have a natural golf swing. I vastly improved on my chipping and putting where it killed my scores. My weakness at this point is my woods. I rarely put any times working on them cause i was playing on a par 3 course. Now i'm ready to move up to par 4 where i need to learn how to use my woods. so should i learn how to use the woods on my own or take some lessons? But if i decide to take lessons where would they start me off? would they take a look at my swing and go from there?

In my bag:
TM 200 irons (r) got the lie angle adjusted to 2 degrees
Odyssey white steel #1 putter 34 inches
Titlesit 975F & Adams tight lies woods (r)
Callaway BB Warbird driver. (r)

Those are my equipments need to uprade my woods and driver and would like to have it fitted, I'm only 5'6 with shoes

Oops my bad post it in the wrong forum

[Marmotte]

If somebody says that you do not need lessons, smile....
I normally take lessons during the winter or before the start of the season. It improves my game every time... and more it makes it more enjoyable.
There are a couple of indoor facilities like Kevin Haine, Ottawa Athletic Club, Académie de Golfe de l'Ile in Hull that will run a diagnostic and build you a practice program. Try it.

[dbleber]

Who are are these people telling you how good your swing is? Are they qualified to make that call? Do they even understand the mechanics and technique involved in the proper swing? Local guys that you play with is the last place anyone should go for advice since you can read the same book and watch acedemy live just as they did! Go to a pro and get some lessons. You just started so this is the time to do everything right from the start. I too taught myself to play. Got myself down to a 10 handicap which isn't to bad. Thought I had a great swing, people use to tell me how smooth of a swing I had and good it looked. Long story short, I went to a golf school this winter and they had a different thought on my great swing. I have changed everything and my swing is now less complicated, more compact and easier to repeat. I am also getting the best ball contact ever! Now this did not happen after one lesson and I still go to lesson 3-4 times a week and everytime I get the last lessons point, they give me something else. The golf swing cannot be made with quick fixes like on TV where they have pros shooting awful shots as if they were amatuers and then eurika a perfect swing after only 15 minutes! Get lessons, more then one and stick with what they tell you. It will feel awful at first and then everything will click.
Denny

[gambit]

Who are are these people telling you how good your swing is? Are they qualified to make that call? Do they even understand the mechanics and technique involved in the proper swing? Local guys that you play with is the last place anyone should go for advice since you can read the same book and watch acedemy live just as they did! Go to a pro and get some lessons. You just started so this is the time to do everything right from the start. I too taught myself to play. Got myself down to a 10 handicap which isn't to bad. Thought I had a great swing, people use to tell me how smooth of a swing I had and good it looked. Long story short, I went to a golf school this winter and they had a different thought on my great swing. I have changed everything and my swing is now less complicated, more compact and easier to repeat. I am also getting the best ball contact ever! Now this did not happen after one lesson and I still go to lesson 3-4 times a week and everytime I get the last lessons point, they give me something else. The golf swing cannot be made with quick fixes like on TV where they have pros shooting awful shots as if they were amatuers and then eurika a perfect swing after only 15 minutes! Get lessons, more then one and stick with what they tell you. It will feel awful at first and then everything will click.
Denny

You sound like me regarding the swing. A lot of people on the range including the certified instructor said i have a natural swing and suprised that i just started, but recommend that i should take lessons to improve on my game. I then recently went to the biggest known golf shop in CA USA to get the lie angle adjusted and they too told me how natural my swing look. My recent score on a par 62 course was 85 mostly due to my woods and driver, it wasn't consistent. But yes i'm leaning toward getting lessons $$ is my concerned and therefore i try to learn it on my own, but then golf is a rich man sports and i'm no where close to that. I have to save money by not going to the range and to practice at home hitting the net cage so that i can save that and spend on the green fees which is awful $25-45 US.

[beatnik58]

I'm a self taught short hitter. I played 5 rounds a year for 20 years, never broke 100, and then got the golf bug last year big time. Got myself down to a 13 handicap and wanted to go to the next level.

Went and took a lesson. The video analysis showed me that my swing was pretty bad. And this after all my buddies were telling me how well I was doing etc.. The video camera does not lie! Reverse pivot, left arm breaking, hip sway, backswing way too long, hitting behind the ball, scooping. You name it.

I'm back to square one and looking forward to building a good swing from the basics. This involves signing up for a series of 4 lessons at T to Green and getting in lots of practice.

[gambit]

I'm a self taught short hitter. I played 5 rounds a year for 20 years, never broke 100, and then got the golf bug last year big time. Got myself down to a 13 handicap and wanted to go to the next level.

Went and took a lesson. The video analysis showed me that my swing was pretty bad. And this after all my buddies were telling me how well I was doing etc.. The video camera does not lie! Reverse pivot, left arm breaking, hip sway, backswing way too long, hitting behind the ball, scooping. You name it.

I'm back to square one and looking forward to building a good swing from the basics. This involves signing up for a series of 4 lessons at T to Green and getting in lots of practice.

when i first start golfing i had my swing analyzed on video and it looked horrible. I then download a bunch of professional golfers video clip and watch them and studied how they swing a golf club after that my swing vastly improved. now with the lessons it would only helped me improve.

[Andru]

You sound like me regarding the swing. A lot of people on the range including the certified instructor said i have a natural swing and suprised that i just started, but recommend that i should take lessons to improve on my game. I then recently went to the biggest known golf shop in CA USA to get the lie angle adjusted and they too told me how natural my swing look. My recent score on a par 62 course was 85 mostly due to my woods and driver, it wasn't consistent. But yes i'm leaning toward getting lessons $$ is my concerned and therefore i try to learn it on my own, but then golf is a rich man sports and i'm no where close to that. I have to save money by not going to the range and to practice at home hitting the net cage so that i can save that and spend on the green fees which is awful $25-45 US.

Gambit you don't need to be a qualified anything to know a good action. that's Nonsense. Golf isn't rocket science man. A good swing is the one that gets the ball where you want it to go most of the time. If Jim Furyk listened to anyone of these guys he would have quit the game.

Lessons have there place like anything else. It's all in the individual. There's a pile of good players who have taught themsleves and some have used the guidance of a coach. Find your game. Don't take lessons indoors that's the dumbest thing I've ever heard. How do you know where your ball is flying? Because you look good on Camera? Bah. All the advice in this forum is straight off the golf channel. You can literally go to the site and cut and paste it.

What do Retief Goosen, Bruce Lietske, John Daly, Jonathan Kaye, Chris Dimarco, Hale Irwin. Craig Stadler, Allan Doyle, Moe Norman, VJ Singh ,Todd Hamilton, Bobby Jones and the best of them all Ben Hogan have in common, besides tour wins, they all have self taught swings. Unlike Ottawa there's more than one road that leads from here to there. Take the road YOU think will get you there and keep you there. Not what these people think. Especially people who have never played with you or seen you hit a golf ball.

To steal some words from moe norman. "If it's not your swing, it's borrowed".
If you are going to take lessons do it in the spring outside. You can imporve your grip and setup from a book. It takes no talent to hold the club and set up. Then go to a pro and work on improving your action.

Enjoy the game

Cheers

[Golfpeasant]

While I agree with Andru to some extent, I've gone down both roads. Self-taught is great if your Retief Goosen, Bruce Lietske, John Daly, Jonathan Kaye, Chris Dimarco, Hale Irwin. Craig Stadler, Allan Doyle, Moe Norman, VJ Singh ,Todd Hamilton, or Bobby Jones.

The list he leaves out are the thousands who couldn't do anything after being self-taught. Sure, there are success stories, but I'll bet the ratio is 1000 to 1.

Here's my philosophy on anything: learning something can't be bad. If its not for you, don't go back for another lesson, but it sure can't HURT. The problem, as I see it, is if you EXPECT one lesson to get you shooting in the 80s.

Like anything worthwhile or complex, golf is a life of learning. It takes hours of work to improve your game.

I ruined my game by self-taught, and the few lessons I took did a world of good, maybe not incredible, but it sure helped me understand my swing a bit more. As Andru points out, thats what was good for ME.

[gambit]

<---I'm from the US .....where i will get to play all season long . You guys are right about getting lessons. I know that will be the best investment to improving my golf game. Now i need to find a good instructor. The place where i practice offer lessons. They are professionl golf insturctor. They charges half hour lesson for $40 $50 w/video. Series of 4 lessons for $160 , series of 7 $250, series of 10 $300 and all for half hour lesson. I think i migh try out the series 4 and see where i wiill go from there. Also today i ran into a guy who is always at the range teaching students but he is Korean guy who i barely talked to but i'm afraid his englsh isn't any good. It is very important where i can communicate with my instructor. His price look affordable. He charges $6 hour lessons for $200, $40 for hr lesson. Group of 2 $150 six hour lesson and $30 for hr lesson. His flyer said that he is a cerfied teaching professional. So i dont know who i should chose. I guess i will get to know him a little better before i make my decision. Btw, my swng is deadly the most consistant i ever swung

[Golfpeasant]

<---I'm from the US .....where i will get to play all season long . You guys are right about getting lessons. I know that will be the best investment to improving my golf game. Now i need to find a good instructor. The place where i practice offer lessons. They are professionl golf insturctor. They charges half hour lesson for $40 $50 w/video. Series of 4 lessons for $160 , series of 7 $250, series of 10 $300 and all for half hour lesson. I think i migh try out the series 4 and see where i wiill go from there. Also today i ran into a guy who is always at the range teaching students but he is Korean guy who i barely talked to but i'm afraid his englsh isn't any good. It is very important where i can communicate with my instructor. His price look affordable. He charges $6 hour lessons for $200, $40 for hr lesson. Group of 2 $150 six hour lesson and $30 for hr lesson. His flyer said that he is a cerfied teaching professional. So i dont know who i should chose. I guess i will get to know him a little better before i make my decision. Btw, my swng is deadly the most consistant i ever swung

Asking around can't hurt. Either ask fellow golfers if anyone can recommend a good instructor, or ask a few golf pros at a few golf courses. Overall, if you are in sync with the person, and you feel like you're learning, go for it. You can always approach an instructor, and say "Im interested in multiple lessons, but I want to make sure I'm comfortable learning first." Get one lesson, decide after.

[Andru]

While I agree with Andru to some extent, I've gone down both roads. Self-taught is great if your Retief Goosen, Bruce Lietske, John Daly, Jonathan Kaye, Chris Dimarco, Hale Irwin. Craig Stadler, Allan Doyle, Moe Norman, VJ Singh ,Todd Hamilton, or Bobby Jones.

The list he leaves out are the thousands who couldn't do anything after being self-taught. Sure, there are success stories, but I'll bet the ratio is 1000 to 1.

Just because I didn't decide to list every tour player to have a self made swing doesn't mean there are no more. Fuzzy Zoeller, Dana Quigley, Jim Thorpe, Notah Begay, Frederick Jacobson, Paul Azinger, Jeff Maggert, Fred Funk, Bob Estes, Scott Hoch, Kenny Perry, Craig Parry. Shall I continue? Or have I made my point.

Golf is not a complicated or complex game. People make it complicated.

[beatnik58]

It's like anything else in life. Some folks have innate ability and don't need a lot of help. Others do.

Some can go a long way with a self taught approach. others can''t.

I'm a self taught musician and can play fairly well. Golf is a different story!

[Andru]

Well said.

[dbleber]

Just because I didn't decide to list every tour player to have a self made swing doesn't mean there are no more. Fuzzy Zoeller, Dana Quigley, Jim Thorpe, Notah Begay, Frederick Jacobson, Paul Azinger, Jeff Maggert, Fred Funk, Bob Estes, Scott Hoch, Kenny Perry, Craig Parry. Shall I continue? Or have I made my point.

Golf is not a complicated or complex game. People make it complicated.

I don't think you have a point! All of those names that you have listed may have started out by teaching themselves but I am sure that they have all sought out the help of a pro. Some people have the natural ablity to make their weird golf swing just work but the majority of us amateurs do not!

You love Tiger Woods, he has been taking lessons his whole life and even now still works with a pro. Jim Furyk with his funky swing still gets help from a pro. The big difference in your long list and the average golfer is that the pros still have the fundamentals right. And Jim Furyk did not just get these fundamentals from a book his father and a huge part in his development and he went to pros when he was a kid. They tried to change is loopy swing but he took the fundamentals and mechanics then used is own way to get to slot but the main fundamentals are still there. Every pro interview you see has them telling the average Joe to see a pro early and learn the proper foundation for the swing.

The bottom line is a self taught swing will only get you so far and just because you have a quirk in your swing that is not the norm does not mean you should not see a pro. A good pro will see that your quirk is one that still gets the job done and work within your swing or more than likely you will be right out to lunch and will have to change. Gambit go try the 4 lesson package, listen to the instructions and you will have the proper foundation to implement your own swing.
Denny

[Andru]

I don't think you have a point! All of those names that you have listed may have started out by teaching themselves but I am sure that they have all sought out the help of a pro. Some people have the natural ablity to make their weird golf swing just work but the majority of us amateurs do not!

You can be sure all you want. They're self taught and have admitted so on several occasions. Sure sometimes you need an extra set of eyes from time to time but it's not the swing reconstuction you keep pimping to everyone.

The hypocritical part of all this is the pros didn't take lessons from day one. If you really want to learn like the pros follow their lead.

1) As a child most if not all got a club in their hands and WITHOUT guidance. developed fine motor skills and hand eye coordination just hitting balls.

2) Then maybe as they got older they were introduced to a coach to help refine those swings. they were good golfers BEFORE they were coached.

Even Tiger woods starting out hitting putts as a child. He could hit the ball BEFORE he saw a coach.

You love Tiger Woods, he has been taking lessons his whole life and even now still works with a pro. Jim Furyk with his funky swing still gets help from a pro. The big difference in your long list and the average golfer is that the pros still have the fundamentals right. And Jim Furyk did not just get these fundamentals from a book his father and a huge part in his development and he went to pros when he was a kid. They tried to change is loopy swing but he took the fundamentals and mechanics then used is own way to get to slot but the main fundamentals are still there. Every pro interview you see has them telling the average Joe to see a pro early and learn the proper foundation for the swing.

I never said don't take lessons. You guys are ones stating categorically you can't play well unless you take lessons. Which is FALSE. You can play your best teaching yourself there's no doubt about it. The issue is can you create and sustain a practice plan on your own. The problem isn't any given golfer. It's the information you're given and what you choose to hear. There's no better teacher than yourself.

Jim Furyk has had one coach, his father. There's nothing "fundamental" about Furyk's swing. From has two finger overlap grip to his crowding the golf ball at setup to his aiming 20 degrees right of target and to the extremely open positon at impact. So no he doesn't have any of your so called "fundamentals". What are the fundamental anyway. The only fundamental in golf is this.

1) Your hands should be ahead of the ball at impact.
2) The Club face should be square at separation
3) I didn't actually believe this one but I'm starting to. You should approach the ball from the inside.

The bottom line is a self taught swing will only get you so far

I've prooven you wrong on this point. So you should probably stop mentioning it. Larry Nielson taught himself from hogans book, Carlos Franco doesn't even practice.

and just because you have a quirk in your swing that is not the norm does not mean you should not see a pro.

Again I never said. DON'T go see a pro. I'm challenging the notion it's the only way to play your best golf.

Gambit your at the crossroads here. Do what's best for you. If you want to take lessons go for it. If you're not showing improvement in a week. Stop before you ruin the good work you've probably already done. I haven't seen you hit a ball so my advice is general as it SHOULD be.

[dbleber]

As usaully Andru you ramble on and miss the point. These people you mention are in a very small percentage of golfers. These pros that you seem to know so well, may have picked up a club early but then went for lessons from someone be it their father or a pro.

Lessons are not the only way to go for eveybody, I don't remember saying that. But for the majority of golfers lessons will help because we do not have that natural talent that will take us on tour. If you have taught yourself and cannot get yourself to the next step then go see someone. If you are a good golfer or like having a slice and don't care then don't, read another book.

If you watch any of the pro ams or even lessons from the pros, they will always say that when you first start and for the average amateur that seeing a pro is the way to go. Jim Furyk was one of these guys and also admits that no one should try and play golf like him! Having you own swing is important but for the average Joe that swing sucks. Sure there are lists of tour pros that have made their swing work but what are the odds that Gambit or anybody else on here is that calibre and has that much natural ability?

Mario Lemieux use to eat poutine before games and never work out. Now he is a hell of hockey player but that's a small percentage where natural talent makes up for everything else.
Denny

[gambit]

I just went to see the instructor this morning and i asked him if i need any lessons and he said let see how well you hit the balls and how well my acuracy by aiming to the flag, so i hit about 50 balls with all my irons except for woods and he was amazed how well i did and he said i don't need any lessons that i have this tiger wood giving talent.

[Andru]

As usaully Andru you ramble on and miss the point. These people you mention are in a very small percentage of golfers. These pros that you seem to know so well, may have picked up a club early but then went for lessons from someone be it their father or a pro.

As usual dbleber you've completely forgotten what you have written.

Go to a pro and get some lessons.

Gambit go try the 4 lesson package, listen to the instructions and you will have the proper foundation to implement your own swing.

Talk about missing the point.

Lessons are not the only way to go for eveybody, I don't remember saying that.

It's in writing you can view it for yourself.

But for the majority of golfers lessons will help because we do not have that natural talent that will take us on tour.

There are thousands of golfers who do take lessons and they won't make it on tour.

If you watch any of the pro ams or even lessons from the pros, they will always say that when you first start and for the average amateur that seeing a pro is the way to go.

That's why I call them hypocrits. Why shouldn't average Joe take the same path a pro does. Develop the hand eye skills then get some tweaking.

Jim Furyk was one of these guys and also admits that no one should try and play golf like him! Having you own swing is important but for the average Joe that swing sucks. Sure there are lists of tour pros that have made their swing work but what are the odds that Gambit or anybody else on here is that calibre and has that much natural ability?

Again I never ever said, unlike you. That he has to do anything. He can and should evaluate lessons as an option. But don't fall in love with the notion you take lessons and eveything will be fine. It sometimes doesn't work out. Sometimes as it was with me you're better off on your own. It's my swing. I won't need a coach for the rest of my life. A set of eyes maybe, a coach and video camera? Not likely. Maybe Jim Flick. I like his simple approach.

[em69]

I just went to see the instructor this morning and i asked him if i need any lessons and he said let see how well you hit the balls and how well my acuracy by aiming to the flag, so i hit about 50 balls with all my irons except for woods and he was amazed how well i did and he said i don't need any lessons that i have this tiger wood giving talent.

An instructor who tells you that you do not need lessons?? I find that odd considering that you do not know how to use the woods...

It would be wise to find a new instructor and get lessons on using the woods. Just a thought....

[gambit]

An instructor who tells you that you do not need lessons?? I find that odd considering that you do not know how to use the woods...

It would be wise to find a new instructor and get lessons on using the woods. Just a thought....

I was only kidding

[dbleber]

As usual dbleber you've completely forgotten what you have written.




Talk about missing the point.


It's in writing you can view it for yourself.



There are thousands of golfers who do take lessons and they won't make it on tour.


That's why I call them hypocrits. Why shouldn't average Joe take the same path a pro does. Develop the hand eye skills then get some tweaking.


Again I never ever said, unlike you. That he has to do anything. He can and should evaluate lessons as an option. But don't fall in love with the notion you take lessons and eveything will be fine. It sometimes doesn't work out. Sometimes as it was with me you're better off on your own. It's my swing. I won't need a coach for the rest of my life. A set of eyes maybe, a coach and video camera? Not likely. Maybe Jim Flick. I like his simple approach.

More rambling and cut and paste tricks to suit your idiotic ideas. Reread my posts and you willl see that none of them say that lessons are the final answer and thats that. But that for most lessons are the extra step that people need and that a lot of golfers find it hard to get what they need from books, videos or gadgets.

:groupwave
You are obviously a very special boy and by the sound of things you are the perfect golfer who will never need help because you have that much natural talent. I guess I must have missed you on TV at the FBR Open or Maybe you love Tiger so much that you have started to believe that you are Tiger yourself. Anyway I have wasted enough energy on this stupid conversation. Cut and paste what you want.

Gambit hope you find a good instructor and if it doesn't work try some books or the AJ truth about golf series is supposed to be fairly good.
Denny

[zhangtony]

In my view, you can play Golf just by yourself, but
you couldn't see your swing flaw just by yourself.

No matter what some of the Pros claim they improve
their golf swing just by themselves. They just don't give
the credit enough to those people who helped their swing before.

Everybody knows it if you want to learn something by
youself, you must have enough knowledge first. Otherwise,
how do you know what you learn is on the right track?

Anyway, it's not a bad idea to learn golf from CPGA.

[Andru]

More rambling and cut and paste tricks to suit your idiotic ideas

Nice Denny. Here's some more cut and paste.

If you can't answer a man's argument, all is not lost; you can still call him vile names.
- Elbert Hubbard

But that for most lessons are the extra step that people need and that a lot of golfers find it hard to get what they need from books, videos or gadgets.

This is where we differ in opinion.

You are obviously a very special boy and by the sound of things you are the perfect golfer who will never need help because you have that much natural talent. I guess I must have missed you on TV at the FBR Open or Maybe you love Tiger so much that you have started to believe that you are Tiger yourself.

Everyone is special Denny. Even you, and your sarcastic remarks.

[gambit]

More rambling and cut and paste tricks to suit your idiotic ideas. Reread my posts and you willl see that none of them say that lessons are the final answer and thats that. But that for most lessons are the extra step that people need and that a lot of golfers find it hard to get what they need from books, videos or gadgets.

:groupwave
You are obviously a very special boy and by the sound of things you are the perfect golfer who will never need help because you have that much natural talent. I guess I must have missed you on TV at the FBR Open or Maybe you love Tiger so much that you have started to believe that you are Tiger yourself. Anyway I have wasted enough energy on this stupid conversation. Cut and paste what you want.

Gambit hope you find a good instructor and if it doesn't work try some books or the AJ truth about golf series is supposed to be fairly good.
Denny

I bought a series of 5 dvd called swing the handle from a gentleman here from ottawa, but it's been 3 weeks and have yet to show to up. I'm not going to name no name but i will if it doesn't show up in a month. Pretty much frustrated.

[Marmotte]

Gambit hope you find a good instructor and if it doesn't work try some books or the AJ truth about golf series is supposed to be fairly good.

Videos work if you actually do the practice drills. I was not impressed by the AJ "truth series" because it was wrapped in the preaching style of the infomercial sales pitch, just like the "Gravity Golf" and "Natural Golf" series.

I have learned a lot from videos and books, this is my style of learning. But I must recognize that I have learned more from trial and errors... and most important, human feedback. If you wish to learn by yourself, do it with a friend that can honestly tell you if you are achieving what you say you are trying to do. If that friend is an instructor, best for you, he (she) will stay away from quick fixes and tips. But the bottom line is that unless you practice with a specific goal in mind each time you are on the range, you will only continue to hit balls fast, hard and ... poorly.

[psniddy]

Take Lessons. I played my first year last season and was able to play into the mid 80 range without lessons. This winter I decided to join the OAC golf school and had my first video session ever. All I can say is that seeing yourself on tape and then getting instruction on what needs to be fixed has worked out out extremely well for me.

[Golfpeasant]

Just because I didn't decide to list every tour player to have a self made swing doesn't mean there are no more. Fuzzy Zoeller, Dana Quigley, Jim Thorpe, Notah Begay, Frederick Jacobson, Paul Azinger, Jeff Maggert, Fred Funk, Bob Estes, Scott Hoch, Kenny Perry, Craig Parry. Shall I continue? Or have I made my point.

Heres a point you can't argue with (or shouldn't). In this world, there are "naturals" and "learned". The learned outnumber the naturals, otherwise there would be mozarts everywhere. CHANCES ARE, lessons are good for you. BUT MY MAJOR POINT WAS, IT CANT HURT.

[Golfpeasant]

There's nothing "fundamental" about Furyk's swing. From has two finger overlap grip to his crowding the golf ball at setup to his aiming 20 degrees right of target and to the extremely open positon at impact. So no he doesn't have any of your so called "fundamentals".

You're totally wrong here. Jim Furyk, on playing lessons from the pros said, paraphrased, other than my loop, my swing is the exact same as every other pros, and I think he even mentions fundamentals.

[Kilroy]

Enough bickering. This thread is an example of how a bit of friendly difference of opinion can mushroom into insults and attacks. While it is not quite out of hand yet, it is getting very close.

I do not want to close it, so please folks, no insults.

[beatnik58]

Quote from Andru:

"1) Your hands should be ahead of the ball at impact.
2) The Club face should be square at separation
3) I didn't actually believe this one but I'm starting to. You should approach the ball from the inside."

Question for Andru:

If I can't do 1) and 3) after a few years of trying (even though I play to a 13 handicap which I thought I'd be happy with coming from the 30s!), what would you recommend? Keep slogging it out? Or get some instruction?

Since I have some bad habits that I can't correct on my own, I am taking lessons.

Over and out.