Which to get first: lessons or new clubs?
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I need lessons and new golf clubs.* I usually shoot around 95, and my current clubs are from when I was 14 (I’m twice that now), have never been regripped, and lack a 7 iron.
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Should I get the clubs first so I can take my lessons with the new equipment, or should I take the lessons, improve my swing, and then find some clubs that are a good match?
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Anyone have suggestions for new clubs, or for lessons in the Minneapolis area?

It isn't the "fun" answer but I would def get the lessons first.

definitely lesson, because you'll have a better understanding of what clubs will benefit you the most after working with someone

Lessons 100% Your clubs are going to be fit to your swing. Don't fit clubs to a bad swing prior to getting a few lessons.

Get the clubs regripped, then get lessons.

Thanks for the responses.

So I'm going to go with lessons first. Not really sure where to begin here, but I'll find some teachers in my area and contact them. Anything I should know about getting lessons for the first time?

Where do u live? What kind of budget do u have?

Minneapolis.

Budget is flexible -lessons are a gift from my parents and they'll pay whatever.

Check out Jeff Sorensen at Columbia in NE - imo he's he best instructor in the area. I think he gets around $45-$50 for a 1/2 hour lesson, the price goes down a few bucks if you buy in bulk.

+1

TY, I'll look him up.

I live in St. Paul. Some good pros in the area like Gaylan Allen, he's been known to be VERY technical. So if you don't really like that way of thinking about the swing don't go to him. A really good pro about an hour away in St. Cloud is Craig Thomsen, he's 50/hr and definitely the best value out of any pro I've been too. Rod Lidenberg is mediocre, I found him online he is supposed to be a Golf Mag. Top 100 pro but I did not like him, he was 125/hr lol. Bill Israelson is up in Staples, MN at The Vintage, I think he charges about 50/hr but is really good, he is a feel player. Peter Krause was at Winsong for a while but I think he is in Texas now but I'm not sure.

Glad to hear you're getting lessons first - things will progress much faster that way. Here's some suggestions for your first lesson:

Get there early & hit some balls to loosen up before the lesson. Go in with an open mind, and be prepared for things to feel odd and for changes to take some practice & time to become ingrained. I would ask around for recommendations on instructors, then call & speak with them before you commit to a lesson. I'd recommend looking into a package or plan with an instructor - you're not going to get much from 1-hour of instruction - but don't commit to a package until after the first lesson - make sure you & the instructor click before you decide to go forward with more lessons. Discuss packages & future lessons at the end of the lesson. If an instructor has a website, visit it to see what he offers - video (a must IMO), does he work at course or range? Does he have a specialty? I would tell the instructor that you are looking for long-term improvement and would like to learn about all areas of the game - not just swing. Ask what kind of improvement packages they offer and how often they feel you should take lessons (1/week max, 1/month min). You might want to schedule 2-hours for your first lesson - you'll feel much more relaxed, and, since you're new to the game you might have more questions. Remember - you are NOT the worst player the instructor has ever seen - we've all seen much worse. Don't feel embarrassed - but ask questions and make sure you understand the motions/positions the instructor is explaining - if you don't fully understand, ASK!

Understand that I'm writing this more from an instructor standpoint - most students don't ask enough questions to help them fully understand "why" a certain shot/move/position is important. And many players think that 1-hour with an instructor will make them improve - to really learn to play, it's going to take more than one lesson. Find a good instructor (you really get what you pay for in most cases), and tell them you want them to help you design a plan to improve. Enjoy the journey!

If you have an questions or need a recommendation on instructors in your area, let me know.
rob

I've worked with Rod Lidenberg quite a bit. I thought it really helped my game and he's very good at explaining swing thoughts. I'm not a very technical player so it helped that he was able to take swing thoughts and positions and put them in terms of how they should feel throughout my swing. I thought he was anything but mediocre.

Thanks for the advice in this thread. I've sent emails to a couple of local instructors and am waiting to hear back from them.

Perhaps this is a question that has a unique answer for each instructor, but what kind of lesson plan do people recommend? Is once a week too much? Not enough? Is there a thread that better addresses lessons now that I know that's the route I'm going to go?

Thanks