Most golfers, regardless of their ability level, waste their practice time.
How many times have you been at a driving
range and witnessed stall after stall filled with tired looking golfers endlessly beating
balls. Most have selected the large bucket and think only of launching all those little
pellets with the big stick.
Most of these people would
have been better off if they had just stayed home and mowed the lawn. Why? They are
practicing without a purpose.
Plan
Your Golf Practice
The first step in improving your golf is learning more
about the swing. If you do not want to take lessons, there is a wealth of information
available in books, magazines and on the web. Find some information related to a part of
your game you are struggling with. You’ll likely find many articles related to any
and every golf sin you could possibly commit. Focus on the cause and effect. Try to
understand not only what you need to do to improve, but the causes of your problem. There
are likely to be multiple possible causes and solutions.
Hit the
Driving Range? Not Yet
Instead of running to hit that next large bucket, take those golf tips you learned and
apply them in front of a full-length mirror. This is especially effective if you are
working on your stance or setup. You can easily compare your body position with those of
the pros in the magazines. Take your backswing in slow motion, stopping at various points
to again compare your position with the pro. This exercise will help you picture and feel
a good golf swing.
Small
Bucket, Please
When you finally get to the range, your mind is no doubt full of
energy and excitement as you prepare to apply your new thoughts. That is good. But,
remember that it is quality golf practice, not quantity, which counts.
Get the small bucket and take your time.
Rest between shots. Resolve in your mind to think about what you are working on before
each shot. Apply one swing thought before each practice shot. Too many thoughts will
result in “paralysis of analysis.” After each shot, reflect on not only the
result, but how the swing felt. What did you do wrong? What did you do right?
Practive With a Friend
You can triple the effectiveness of your golf practice if you
bring a friend with you. Buy one large bucket and share a stall. Take turns hitting a few
shots each. Tell your friend what you are working on and ask him to describe how it looks.
Watch one another from the side and behind to get different angles. Ask your partner to
focus on different elements of the swing: the grip, setup, plane, top of back swing, lower
body position, shoulder turn, etc.
Improvement Takes Time
Remember to keep focused on improving your weaknesses. It makes
little sense to spend 75% of your golf practice time working on your strong points.
Don’t get impatient. Realize that improvement takes time! Nobody goes from a
twenty-handicap down to a single-digit overnight.
However, if you apply these
tips, you’ll be building your knowledge of the game as you practice. This can only
help improve your game in the long run.
