4 Easy Ways to Take Your Golf Practice to the Course
One of the most common concerns expressed by golfers is "how come I can hit the ball so well on the range but have a difficult time replicating this on the golf course"? When left on their own to try to figure this question out, many people look at their on-course behavior, thinking and playing for the source of the answer. Frequently, the answer lies more in their practice behavior than it does in their playing behavior.
It is necessary to hit a lot of golf balls in order to become proficient at golf. However, in addition to hitting bucket after bucket of practice balls, what is also imperative is that the type of practice that one undertakes approximates as much as possible the actual experience of playing the game. Watching people's typical practice involves seeing them hitting ball after ball on the range- frequently using the same club and hitting to the same target over and over and over again. This is not real golf. Why then would you practice in this manner? The key is to practice more like you play!
Here are 4 easy ways to make your practice sessions translate to better golf while playing.
1. Change targets frequently. On the golf course, you rarely hit two balls in a row to the same exact target. Practice hitting to a different target with each shot. This has application whether with the full swing, pitching, chipping, or in the bunker. Each shot is thought through and executed as a unique entity- just like on the course.
2. Change clubs frequently. On the golf course, you rarely hit two balls in a row with the same club. If you regularly hit your 7-iron three or four times in a row on the course, your game is in big trouble! However, this is how people practice. Changing clubs regularly- say every second or third shot- is a good way to approximate what it feels like to be on the course.
3. Use your pre-shot routine more frequently. Preparation for each shot on the course and preparation for each shot on the range are generally vastly different for most players. This creates a rhythm that's different, a thinking process that's different, and a result that's different!
4. Putt using one ball. You are not given the luxury of hitting the same putt two or three times on the course. Yet many people drop two or three putts and stroke the same putt over and over to the same target. Practice using just one ball- with a full read- to create an environment that's similar to the golf course.
It is true that early in the process of learning one's swing it is sometimes helpful to hit the same club to the same target without a pre-shot. However, once you are ready to go play, make sure that you're preparing yourself to deal with some of the same sensations that you have on the golf course!
Jeff Troesch, MA, LMHC is an internationally recognized expert in the mental side of golf. As the former Director of Sport Psychology for the David Leadbetter Golf Academies, Jeff has worked with thousands of golfers nationwide and brings a wealth of experience to seasoned golf professionals as well as the recreational golf lover. You may contact Jeff directly through his website, http://www.fitnessforgolf.com.
Latest News
 Reuters | Kim, Villegas lead charge for PGA Tour's young stars USA Today - Actually, Garcia arrived on golf's grand stage at 19 when he nearly chased down Tiger Woods at the 1999 PGA Championship and a month later was 3-1-1 as the ... In His Absence, Woods Has New Challengers Teeing Off Golf-Singh to miss next four Tour events due to knee surgery PGA Tour Commissioner Finchem to appear on Golf Channel tonight |
 Slippery Brick | How Can a GPS Help Your Golf Game? Ask Garmin PC Magazine - The only thing caddies have to do is carry the bag. by Craig Ellison LAS VEGAS—If you want to slice a few strokes off of your golf game, Garmin's new ... New Garmin GPS unit helps your golf game Garmin® Goes Golfing with Approach™ G5, New Touchscreen GPS Device ... |
Disc golf referendum might face legal question MSNBC - CHICO -- A referendum seeking to keep disc golf courses in upper Bidwell Park faces a legal issue that could potentially allow the Chico City Council to ... City Council Changes Mind About Disc Golf City Council Votes To Restore Disc Golf In Upper Bidwell Park Council takes on disc golf again |
Xerox Golf Classic Won’t Run This Year 13WHAM-TV, NY - (Rochester, NY) – Xerox has decided to drop its sponsorship of the PGA this year, and move those marketing dollars into other areas. ... Xerox Classic golf tournament goes on hiatus Xerox Classic goes on hiatus for lack of sponsor |
 Times Online | Palmer, 79, is still the King San Jose Mercury News, USA - By Eric Pinkela Even at 79, more than 20 years removed from his last victory on any tour, nobody can justly claim that the game of golf has passed Arnold ... The Long Shot Rough Putting: Five Things To Watch In 2009 Tiger may defend Match Play title in Tucson |
Troubled Collins Hill Golf Club open, but with ‘skeleton crew’ Atlanta Journal Constitution, USA - By PATRICK FOX The Collins Hill Golf Club is still open, but things are no better than they were last month when the governing board asked the county to ... |
 GolfDigest.com | Golf-Recovering Seve targets return as Royal Trophy captain Reuters.uk, UK - BANGKOK, Jan 7 (Reuters) - Seve Ballesteros is planning to return to golf next year as captain of Europe's Royal Trophy team after starting rehabilitation ... Olazabal: European skipper Olazabal wary of Asian threat in golf showpiece Europe urged to win for Seve |
Golf tips for Barack Obama Los Angeles Times, CA - Barack Obama, a southpaw, will be the 15th US president to play golf, but Obama's game is nowhere close to being an amateur version of lefty Phil ... |
 Reuters | Golf-Hawaiian delight for Els after tortuous flight Reuters.uk, UK - By Mark Lamport-Stokes KAPALUA, Hawaii, Jan 7 (Reuters) - It took Ernie Els 26 hours to fly to Hawaii for this week's Mercedes-Benz Championship but he is ... What they said: Ernie Els |
 Oneindia | Some golf clubs may cause hearing loss WFIE-TV, IN - Twenty years ago the impact of wood on golf balls generated a healthy click on the range. Now is something akin to a small sonic boom. ... New golf clubs causing hearing loss Study on golf driver sounds more a bust than a sonic boom Loud Golf Clubs May Damage Hearing |
Resources
-
The Simple Golf Swing
Unlock Your Hidden Potential by Discovering the Golf Swing that is Delivering Consistent, Accurate Distance to thousands of golfers world-wide.
-
Golf Options: Hit Fairways Your Way.
New Golf System that Explains How Setup and Swing Factors Affect Ball Flight and Solutions to Common Golf Problems.
-
Golf Fitness Book - Golf Exercise Guide - Golf Training Workouts
Golf fitness exercise training book providing Golf workouts,Golf stretches,Golf exercises and Golf swing tips to improve Golf swing.
-
Golf Tips, Golf Lessons and Golf Instruction- Guide On How To Break 80
How to Break 80 is an instructional guide for golfers looking to get Golf tips, Golf lessons and Golf instruction.
-
Golf FREE At Golf Courses And Get Paid!
Discover the secret to playing free Golf at Golf courses anywhere and make up to $897 a week for playing Golf.
-
The Dave Way.
Destroy your Golf Slice in a matter of Minutes using this Revolutionary New System! Success Guaranteed. Sports & Recreation.
-
ShopUntilYouDrop.net - Get paid for shopping, eating out and more...
Get paid for shopping and eating out. Shop at your favorite stores, eat at popular restaurants, see the latest movies, shop the internet. Even your purchases are free!
-
Golf Fitness Experts provide comprehensive guide to better Golf
Golf exercises, mental strategies, and swing instruction from 7 leading Golf experts.
-
Play Golf For FREE And Get Paid To Play...
PaidToGolf reveals how to play FREE Golf and get paid to play.
-
Golf Game Method Book Putting Scoring Clubs Teeing Off Golf Instruction Ebook To Score In the 70s Im
This Revolutionary New Instructural Method is So Simple So Easy to Learn So Effective Golf putting Golf book shooting in the 70