Been practicing hard but not showing the benefits of all that practice when you get to competition? This is extremely common and it occurs with players of all levels, from Tour players to high handicappers. Frustrating isn’t it!
How would you like to ensure that your efforts in practice are transferred to the golf course, especially in competition? Of course that is what every golfer wants.
One way to ensure value from your practice sessions is to avoid making the errors outlined in this booklet by first being aware of them and following the advice
Problem #1 Practicing without a purpose
Solution Be intentional when you are going to practice
This is probably the most common area of error. Players may have a vague idea of what they need to practice, or no idea of the parts of their game which let them down. Alternatively they try to practice a little bit of everything.
Most players are time poor when it comes to practicing; a couple of hours after school or work never seems enough. At the other end of the scale are players who have decided to dedicate themselves to the game and are spending quite a few hours at the golf course each day yet still struggle to improve.
Those who only have a limited time need to target their practice time to get the most from it. Those who have a number of hours each day need to be aware that the habits they develop in training will transfer to the course. This is especially important when training habits become a bit sloppy due to boredom and lack of focus.
Regardless of how much – or how little – time is available, you need to have a strong intention for what you want to gain from the session. Have this intention in mind constantly during the time you are training.
For example if you are working on a particular point of technique, then stay with the thought throughout the session, rather than wavering and trying something else. It is fine to use different drills, as long as the primary outcome of the session doesn’t change.
If your intention is to complete three different competitive drills, then do so with full commitment to both completing them and doing so with complete attention to the task; as if you were in competition.
Being intentional brings a laser-like focus to the session. Because you are so intimately involved with what you are doing, it will enable you to more easily transfer your learnings to the course.
When you are intentional, describe your focus on practice?
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Problem #2 Not knowing what to practice
Solution Know your game and devise a practice plan
This may seem similar to problem #1 however it is quite different. To be intentional in your training assumes you know what it is you are going to practice. In this instance the player isn’t even really sure what to practice.
Nothing wastes more time than wondering what to practice. During the session the internal voice is asking whether you are practicing the right thing or not. This doubt will undermine the quality of the session and fail to cement any learnings from the session.
The easiest way to determine the areas of your game most in need of development is to collate statistical data from your game and to analyse it.
Generally there should be approximately a 60:40 break-up of time with 60% devoted to short game (putting, chipping, bunkers and pitching up to around 60 metres). There should then be a slight bias toward the areas of the game which are showing up as statistically in need of development. This certainly doesn’t mean an ‘all the eggs in one basket’ approach as that would be unbalanced.
What are the strengths of your game?
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Which are the areas in need of development?
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What is the priority in practice for you for this month?
Problem #3 Practicing only swing technique
Solution Use other types of training: competitive, routine, shot shaping, and mental skills
There is nothing better than the feel of a well-struck shot or the sight of a drive soaring through the air. Striking the ball correctly is one of the most impressive aspects of the game, especially when you are the one doing the striking. Perhaps this is the reason for such a preoccupation with the golf swing with both players and coaches.
A constant focus on swing technique, no matter how justified it may seem will be detrimental to the overall development of your game and the ability to transfer your practice to the course.
In order to create a more seamless transfer, other types of practice must be utilised. When you go to the course, the focus is on scoring rather than swing positions (at least it should be).
Other types of practice include competitive drills; performance in these has a direct correlation to performance on the course. Ideally you should do some competitive practice a few times a week and record the results so you can monitor your progress.
Routines should be considered to be part of the shot. As such they should be practiced at every session. When you practice routines, include shot visualisation, planning, focussing and creating your playing state. Development of your routines is a skill and should be treated the same as the development of any other skill.
Routines include pre-shot (assessment of lie, target, wind direction and strength), shot (walk-in, looks and waggles, etc) and post-shot (no emotional attachment to a poor shot and full emotional attachment to a great shot).
Shot shaping is useful not only for developing a skill that you can use on the course, but there is an added benefit: noting the shapes that are easy or difficult to play can point to areas that need to be addressed with your swing. If one shot is difficult to hit (for example a draw), then practicing hitting the draw will positively influence your entire swing.
Mental skills including visualisation, self-talk, goal setting, state management, concentration, etc can all be practiced during any training session. There is no need to develop them in isolation, as they can all be incorporated into any practice (except perhaps for relaxation). In fact they are either developed as good habits or bad habits during your practice as you respond to good and poor shots you hit while practicing.
Task: develop your own practice plan for a 2-hour session incorporating every type of practice.