Getting the Most from Your Practice Time

By: Jack Moorehouse
Submitted: 2007-01-17 16:25:45
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Practice is a must in golf if you’re serious about improving your game. Whether you have a high golf handicap or a low one, you need to practice to get better. That said, there’s only so much time in the day to get everything done, leaving you little time for practice. That’s why you need to get the most out of your practice sessions.

Below are 5 keys to getting the most out of your practices. Follow them and you’ll profit from your practices, regardless of your golf handicap.

Admit Your Limitations

Check your ego at the pro shop. Too many golfers let their egos interfere with their practices. I see it in my golf lessons all the time—players swinging for the fences. You’re only human and you can only hit a ball so far, so don’t try to crush the ball every time. In practice you’re there to work on a single aspect of your game, like hitting chip shots or escaping the sand. Concentrate on learning that aspect, not how far you can hit the ball. Swing in slow motion and focus on doing it right.

Use an Iron

To simplify things in practice, I recommend in my golf lessons and golf tips that players use an iron if they’re working on a swing change. Use a 7-iron or an 8-iron instead of a driver or 3-wood. Tee the ball up to make it easier to hit. Also, focus on the swing fault you’re trying to change, not how far you can hit the ball. And don’t clutter your mind with too many swing thoughts.

Check Your Aim

Control is the key in golf. As I tell students in their golf lessons, it’s more important to hit the ball with consistency than a 300-yard drive once in a while. Have a target for every shot you take in practice, and change targets frequently. If you hit to a target on the right side the first time, aim for a target on the left the next. Changing targets forces you to concentrate on your aim, alignment, and set-up. I also recommend in my golf tips using two clubs during practice sessions to aid in alignment. Place one club near the ball pointing toward the target and another behind you parallel to it.

Work on Weaknesses

Go to the range with the idea of working on your weaknesses. Many players go to the range and work on the things they do well. Focus instead on your weaknesses. For example, a lot of golfers who have trouble breaking 90 are poor iron players. If that’s you, try hitting your long irons the next time you’re at the range. Also, try hitting opposites. If you slice, try hitting a draw. Don’t worry about how many times you do it, just try it. Often, your body will find a way to do it instinctively.

Swing Freely

Since there’s nothing on the line when you’re practicing, you probably swing more freely than when you’re on the first tee. Remember the feeling next time you’re on the course. And don’t practice when you’re tired. I can tell when a student is tired by the way he or she is swinging. Tired swings create bad habits. If you get tired, stop—even if you haven’t hit all your balls or haven’t fixed your problem.

Hit a Variety of Shots

Most players hit a few balls from a tee before a round. Then they hit a few medium-length shots and some short putts. That’s not enough. Hit other shots, like chip shots or pitch shots. If possible, hit shots from a bunker as well. Try to get a feel for the texture of the sand. Is it firm? Is it soft? This practice will boost your confidence during the round. And confidence is the key to success.

Another tip is to use your imagination when practicing. Make a game of it. Better yet, challenge yourself. Tell yourself you’re going to hit five shots to the red flag. Then see how many you hit. Keep track of how many times you do it. Finally, practice on grass when you can, so you can check your divots, which will tell you how you’re hitting the ball.

Practice isn’t necessarily fun, but it’s necessary to improve. Develop an improvement program and follow it. Remember practicing is the quickest way to a lower golf handicap.

Jack Moorehouse is the author of the best-selling book “How To Break 80 And Shoot Like The Pros.” He is NOT a golf pro, rather a working man that has helped thousands of golfers from all seven continents lower their handicap immediately. He has a free weekly newsletter with the latest golf tips, golf lessons and golf instruction.

Article source: Expert Articles