[Yartonbler]

Sloppy Practice Habits Make Sloppy Play On The Course

1. Make it a competition

2. Set goals (Skill test) for example 6 out of 10 balls on the green from the bunker. 8 to 10 drives between two targets of fairway width.

3. Vary the lie of the ball. Do not just put the ball on a nice lie as this will not happen always on the course.

4. Picture and visualization must be done in pre-shot routine.

5. Always practice to a target. Never hit a ball/s haphazardly.

6. Keep a log or record book of practice as this provides a means for expressing, understanding, and remembering what was learned in the practice session. This can also capture useful ideas, feelings, insights and adjustments.

Full Swing

Woods and Irons

1.Full swing technique work (refer to No.'s 4 and 5)
2.All strokes must have a pre-shot routine

Check the following;

Ball position
Posture
Alignment A to E must never be taken for granted
Grip
Stance
Pivot
Swing drills - Practice all allocated swing drills that are necessary at the time of practice session (Develop Feel)
Go through the proper motions of the golf stroke. Know precisely where you must be at all times.

IRONS _ Vary club selection between irons eg. 3 iron to 9 iron (Vary the lie of the ball. Do not always practice off good lies.

WOODS _ Vary club selection between driver and fairway woods.
Play drives between two markers for skill test. (Width of fairway. This can be done with all clubs).
Vary the direction of the target you are playing to.



Times Not To Practice

1. When tired. This promotes more chance of error, which leads to poorly hit shots, and loss of confidence.

2. Do not practice if you feel as though you are losing interest. This is the time that bad habits can start to creep in.

3. Stop practicing if things are going poorly and you feel that progress isn’t being made. Remember that tomorrow is another day.

4. Bad weather conditions may cause a player to alter their swing.



In practicing the chipping stroke we will divide this area evenly into two areas;

50% TECHNIQUE


Improves chipping technique and impact position for all strokes.

50% FEEL DEVELOPMENT
How far back and through.
The pace of the stroke for the given length.
Vary targets – 10 feet, 15 feet,20 feet and 30 feet.
When possible vary between uphill, downhill, side hill.
Vary club selection example – 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, Wedge.


Pitching Stroke

50% Technique

Improves pitching stroke and the correct release motions for all full swings.
50% Feel Development
How far back and through.?
The pace of the stroke for the given length.
Vary Targets – 10yrds, 20yrds, 30yrds, 50yrds, and 75yrds.
Vary target directions.
Vary the lie of the ball.
Vary ball trajectory.
Low – Punch shot - Length stroke, ball position, club selection, amount follow through.

Medium - Length stroke, ball position, open stance. club selection, amount follow through.

High – Lob Shot –open stance, open clubface, Long soft long stroke.





If you have a range that allows this

Bunker Stroke

50% Technique
similar to Lob shot.

50% Feel Development
How far back and through.
The pace of the stroke for the given length.

Skills Test

Set Goals - for example, 6 out of 10 balls on the green from the bunker.
Vary length of target.
Vary target directions.
Vary the lie of the ball.

Fairway Bunker Shot

Vary length of the shot.
Vary the lie of the ball.
Vary the club selection. Example – 3iron to 9 iron and fairway woods.

Putting Practice Program

Short Putts

6 Balls around the hole and make all 6 putts to develop pressure skills

Long Putts

6 Balls into a one (1) yard radius from 15feet, 25feet and 30 feet.

Vary your putts between uphill, downhill etc



These are my notes and things I have learn by being taught by many different Instructors over my golfing career

It's is a routine I would follow religiously.Of course we must have the time to commit to all of this.If we don't, develop a routine that works for your time allowance.If you don't have a ton of time to practice this way every time out,Vary your routine to get all aspects of the game to be practiced each and every week
You will find your routine and see improvements.Don't expect results right away.

[en-druzhba]

My biggest two issues always turn out to be the same, setup and tempo. If I get these two right, the others just fall into place. I constantly have to check that the ball has not crept too far forward in my stance, particularly with my driver. It is the never ending battle for truth, justice and the American way.

[bobibnoxx]

Lefty - Just reading that made me tired.

[Yartonbler]

Lefty - Just reading that made me tired.

Sorry,But learning how to practicing isn't simple to write

[deermealec]

Yesterday I went out to practice my putting. I made the first 5 putts, from various locations I tried from 10'. I packed up my stuff and went home. Shortest putting practice session I have had.

A lot of time I use the competition regimen you listed while practicing my chipping, and pitching. I only use one ball, and putt out each chipped, or pitched ball from various distances, and lies. I tend to practice from more bad lies than good ones. The idea is to one putt each chip, or pitch shot for par. 3 touches of the ball (bogey) is not good, 2 (par) is good, and the occasional 1 (birdie) is great At the end of the session I average my shots. I am looking for a number 2.5 or less per each chip, and/or pitch. Another way of looking at this number is my own short game handicap.

[JonnTEN]

Hey, good stuff! I'm going to have to print that out and put it in my little black, err, blue book I keep in the bag.

[Yartonbler]

Yesterday I went out to practice my putting. I made the first 5 putts, from various locations I tried from 10'. I packed up my stuff and went home. Shortest putting practice session I have had.

A lot of time I use the competition regimen you listed while practicing my chipping, and pitching. I only use one ball, and putt out each chipped, or pitched ball from various distances, and lies. I tend to practice from more bad lies than good ones. The idea is to one putt each chip, or pitch shot for par. 3 touches of the ball (bogey) is not good, 2 (par) is good, and the occasional 1 (birdie) is great At the end of the session I average my shots. I am looking for a number 2.5 or less per each chip, and/or pitch. Another way of looking at this number is my own short game handicap.

Great Idea.Have you noticed your on course performance improve?

[deermealec]

Not so much improvement, but the practice keeps me pretty consistent at 2.23 while on the course. Add that to my long game handicap of 2.22, and I am averaging right around 80 per round. Some days are better than others, and a good portion of these averages come from my home course.

Great Idea.Have you noticed your on course performance improve?

[parurorges]

Holy cow, that is some serious golf practice in post #1: No wonder I am a hack!

I don't have the time to go that far with my golf practice, but I have started to do the following at the range: I play an imaginary round at my favorite course, tee-shots, approaches and pitches only, starting at hole 1, then all the way through the course. For logistical reasons I leave the short-practice (e.g. chipping and putting) for afterwards. I bring just a limited set, to play my fake round: A long iron, a mid iron, a short iron, a wedge and a putter (I don't carry woods). If I mishit my tee-shot, I take a longer club for my approach, and if I mishit that also, I finish the hole off with the wedge. Repeat through 18!

I do it to avoid 'grooving' with any one club. I can hit a small bucket with one mid-iron with the best of them, but it doesn't do me much good on the course. And I have had sooo much more fun at the range since I started doing this. On the putting green I will do the same: Chip, putt out, repeat.

[Discus]

T.L.D.R.

I hate practicing, it's a game I play for fun. If I have to practice that much then it simply becomes work.

[Mimsykzr]

T.L.D.R.

I hate practicing, it's a game I play for fun. If I have to practice that much then it simply becomes work.

It is a lot more fun when you are good though, and the practice is fun if you do it right.

[SiM7W2zi]

It is a lot more fun when you are good though, and the practice is fun if you do it right.

That is not always the case. The better I have made my game in a lot of ways the less fun it has become. You expect more and when things do not go as they should it stops becoming as fun.

[Discus]

It is a lot more fun when you are good though, and the practice is fun if you do it right.

I don't agree with that, just because someone does not shoot whatever you would consider is a good score, does not mean they aren't having fun. A few guys I work with can't get out of the 60's for 9 holes, yet they enjoy their rds.

That is not always the case. The better I have made my game in a lot of ways the less fun it has become. You expect more and when things do not go as they should it stops becoming as fun.

Agreed, if it's so much fun for those who are "better" why do you always hear those people screaming & tossing clubs?

[SiM7W2zi]

Agreed, if it's so much fun for those who are "better" why do you always hear those people screaming & tossing clubs?

You were behind my group again Dyna?

[bobibnoxx]

Sorry,But learning how to practicing isn't simple to write

Nah - I just hate practing - that makes me tired and bored. Your plan seems thorough - just not for me.

[nvmrfgopyy]

And every so often, it's fun to grip it and rip it. Just like every so often, it's fun to eat a hot fudge sundae. Not all the time, but once in a while.

[Yartonbler]

T.L.D.R.

I hate practicing, it's a game I play for fun. If I have to practice that much then it simply becomes work.

If one want's to maintain a very low handicap,it is work to keep it there.When I don't practice very much,My handicap shows it.

If I follow my routine to the T,I can maintain +2.If I only follow 1/2 of it,I fall to 0 to 1.If I only follow 1/4 of it then I hover around a 3.

That's 5 stokes. What I notice when I don't have the time to really put forth,I see my short game drop and my swing gets a bit loose.

For me to maintain +2 is practice 5 days a week not including my rounds,Practice time is approx 2 hrs each time.
0-1 is practicing 3-4 days for 1 hr each time with only 10-15 mins putting
2-3 is 1-2 days a week for an hour with little putting and chipping

It is a lot more fun when you are good though, and the practice is fun if you do it right.

That is not always the case. The better I have made my game in a lot of ways the less fun it has become. You expect more and when things do not go as they should it stops becoming as fun.

It's always fun to shoot low,but it does come with alot of disappointments.
In the last 6 years I had an attitude adjustment that allowed me to have fun playing regardless of what I shot.I'm very glad to have found that piece of mind and so is my wife.
I used to be miserable after a round of 74 knowing I blew it on a few holes.Now, I can shot an 80 and enjoy it for what it is.A fun time with friends on a golf course .

[en-druzhba]

It has taken me almost 9 years to get to the point where I feel like my practice actually translates to my play on the course. I have been working on refining my swing so it is more consistent each time. Not perfect, just perfect for me. When I started, I practiced just so I didn't embarrass myself by being a hack, then I practiced so I didn't go broke a quarter at a time at the hands of my buddies. Now I practice to get better.

I understand why many people don't want to devote that kind of time to it and I can see how you can enjoy the game without becoming obsessed with improving all the time. I find the satisfaction I am looking for when I am faced with a situation and know I can hit the shot because I practiced it many times. Different strokes for different folks.