yes, It’s a question that comes up a lot: what do golfers really want from a lesson?

From my experience over the past year, only about 20% of players actually understand this when they walk in.

Most say they want to:

• Stop slicing
• Hit it longer
• Change their swing

All fair goals. But here’s the issue:
Those don’t automatically lower your score unless you approach them properly.

The Real Goal: Lower Scores

When you strip it back, most golfers want one thing:

To shoot lower scores.

The problem is how they try to get there.

• They chase distance instead of control
• They chase swing changes instead of outcomes
• They focus on mechanics instead of results

Those things matter—but only if they connect to scoring.

A Real Example From Spain

Last week in Spain on my annual coaching trip, one player wanted to hit his driver longer.

Good goal—but the real issue was:

• He wasn’t finding the centre of the clubface
• That reduced ball speed
• Which reduced distance

So we changed the focus.

Step 1: Fix the Strike First

We worked on a simple drill:

• Stop the out-to-in (over-the-top) path
• Improve club delivery
• No balls at first—just movement

This forced his body to learn a better pattern.

Step 2: Commit to the Process

He stuck to it. By the end of the session:

• He started finding the centre of the face
• Ball striking improved immediately

Step 3: Change the On-Course Goal

We didn’t chase distance anymore.

We set one goal:

Hit as many fairways as possible

Results:

• Day 1: solid progress
• Day 2: 14 fairways hit

That changed everything.

• More balls in play
• Easier second shots
• Lower scores

He still wanted distance—but now he saw what actually mattered.

The Hidden Problem: Expectations

A big issue isn’t technique—it’s expectations.

Most golfers:

• Expect to play “perfect” golf
• Get frustrated when they don’t
• Let bad shots affect the rest of the round

But golf doesn’t work like that.

A Different Way to Think

Here’s something I use in my own game:

On the first tee, I set expectations like this:

• I allow myself 3 poor drives
• I allow 2 bad iron strikes

That changes everything.

• I expect mistakes
• I don’t react emotionally when they happen
• I stay focused on scoring

After the round:

• If I exceed those numbers → I review the swing
• If not → I move on

You Can Still Score Without Your Best Game

One of my biggest lessons came when I shot -5 with only 4 greens in regulation.

I wasn’t hitting it well.

But I:

• Managed the course
• Stayed composed
• Focused on scoring, not swing

That’s when it clicked:

You don’t need your best swing to shoot a good score.

What You Should Want From a Lesson

If you’re asking what you want from a lesson, start here:

1. A Clear Scoring Goal

Not “fix my swing”
But:

• Hit more fairways
• Avoid big numbers
• Improve strike

2. A Simple Process

• One focus at a time
• Clear drills
• Repeatable habits

3. Better Expectations

• Accept bad shots
• Stay level emotionally
• Focus on the next shot

Final Thought

If you can take the game you already have and find ways to score better with it, that’s a win.

Lessons shouldn’t just change how your swing looks.

They should change:

• How you think
• How you manage the course
• How you respond under pressure

That’s where real improvement happens.when feedback is built around individual ranges, not generic numbers.