Golf Practice Should Be On The Course Too

Golf practice that is planned and consistent is the key to mastering your game. The what and how you practice is as important as where. Least of all your golf practice should have a purpose and a plan.

It is hard even to master the game from precision putting, the short game, your golf swing, playing your irons to the driver from the tee. Not to mention the mind game, building strong routines, managing your emotions and of course being fit and flexible too.

For many golfers a few practice putts and hitting hundreds of balls off a practice tee is about it. No plan, no real purpose. Every golfer who wants to improve needs to have a plan, a program with specific outcomes to work towards.

Any golf pro worth their salt have crafted shot routines that are consistent and precise. That’s why they play more consistently. Building routines that are ingrained into their physiology and psyche where the timing alone is identical every single time. From pre shot, shot to post shot routines. Each part of a routine has a purpose.  

When to think and not think, what to think about standing behind the ball, managing their emotions and their process routine for making a decision to addressing the ball to set things up.

Whilst your average golfer attempts to hit the ball the same each time at the practice range, it is not built on a routine they take out on the course. Even at the range every shot, every drill should build a whole routine for a shot to build a repeatable and reliable golf swing and pre shot, post routine.

Practice where it really counts out on the golf course. Not just on the practice areas and range.

Golf practice is more than hitting golf balls.

For instance you need to build your golf game plan. First of all head to the 18th green and walk the course backwards, you’ll be amazed to see what you see in terms of distance, depth, hazards all from a different angle. Most golf courses have been designed as an optical illusion.

Practice recovery shots and shots to get back into play. Sloping shots uphill, long grass, out of trees, downhill lies, out of sand you name it.

Think about and create a practice plan to develop your eye for distance, line, and accuracy. Learn to read greens, the break, distance, speed and to pick a line on the green. Learn to putt a line precisely.

Have you noticed a phenomenon where golfers smash the ball off the tee, they really over play it and get more and more tentative the closer they get to the hole. Practice, repetition and rehearsal builds neural and physiological pathways for confidence and certainty. Especially in your short game and putting.

Practice body awareness. Notice your body, what it is doing, what it is telling you. Notice what feels right or not at any time. Then in competition your mind and body knows what to do, you can trust your golf swing too. The last place you want to practice or try something out is in competition.

Breathe. Practice breathing, feel your breath going in and out, the natural rhythm, and use it in your golf swing, in on the backswing and out through the downswing through the ball. It will help you manage your emotions and to get out of your head when it counts too.

With the right program you will develop discipline to know when a shot looks and feels right or not. The discipline to manage your emotions and to keep your mind and thinking focussed. Knowing when a shot does not look or feel right is invaluable, especially if you know to stop and start again. If Tiger can stop in a downswing so can you. Discipline and awareness will save you strokes.

If you want to achieve golfing excellence, then in any golf practice program know what you are practicing and why exactly. Keep a record of your stats on the course and a record of your outcomes as you achieve them. You can refine your golf practice program as you gather valuable information.