By Brandon Guile
Another winter season is nearing an end with spring just around the corner and the practice facility is filling up with golfers looking to shed the wintertime rust! Watching golfers hitting balls today made me realize that many golfers are practicing incorrectly. No doubt you've heard this one before: "Practice does not make perfect; perfect practice makes perfect". Golf is unique in that most golfers have to warm up at a practice area and then play on a course, whereas athletes in other sports have the advantage of practicing on their field of play. Every shot you hit on the golf course is unique with its own challenges and requires high levels of thought and concentration. To maximize your practice time, it's imperative to minimize distractions and have a practice plan!
Here are some keys to developing a quality practice routine:
- Practice like you are playing on the golf course. Simulate game-like conditions. Play shots, just don't just beat balls.
- Hit every shot with focus and intention. Pick a target and visualize the ball flight, seeing your ball fly through the air, land on the green, and roll towards the hole. Remember, your brain can't differentiate between what you imagine vividly and what actually is real.
- When practicing, imagine some of the holes on the course. Play the round on the practice tee! Start with the tee shot, then execute your approach. Play the first 3 or 4 holes this way so you get a feel for the clubs you potentially will be using during the upcoming round.
- If you are playing that day and have an hour or so to wait, practice your putting first, then your long game. Too many people hit shots first then move to the putting green 20 minutes or so before their tee time. By the time they get to the first tee their body has cooled down ... and their swing may have as well!
- Allocate a sufficient amount of your practice to short game. 63% of your shots on the golf course are from 100 yards and in!
- Practice developing your weak areas, not your strengths. How do you know your strengths and weaknesses? By accurately recording and evaluating your rounds. Keep track on your scorecard of statistics such as GIR (Greens hit in Regulation), Total Putts per round, Fairways hit from the tee (X/14), up and down from the sand or sand saves (SS), Course and weather conditions.
- If you are making swing changes, pick one change to work on at a time. Stick to one drill or swing thought. A clear and free mind works better than one full of competing thoughts.
- Use drills to enhance your practice. Make up games. Compete against your friends on the practice tee. Have a KP, or have your friend call a shot style in the middle of your back swing and try to execute it, i.e. high draw, low fade, etc.
- Use good practice balls if you can, especially for your short game and for putting.
- Utilize training aids that assist you in developing muscle memory on a proper swing plane
Remember, if you just want some exercise, beat balls. If you want results, engage in quality practice.
Investing in a good coach is always a smart idea for anyone who wants to take his or her game to the next level. There is no single better way to develop your game than to have a professional assess and evaluate your technique, then work with you to develop a plan for improvement. Maximize your practice and minimize your mistakes! Brent Morrison Golf Academy at Glengarry provides a Coaching program for golfers who are serious about making game improvements. One lesson will always help to provide some key insights, however an ongoing coaching program tailored to your needs can really pay off. Contact the Brent Morrison Golf Academy to register for a Coaching program or have a custom program designed to fit your specific needs.
Good luck and happy golfing!
The Brent Morrison Golf Academy is located at Pheasant Glen Golf Resort, 1025 Qualicum Road, Qualicum Beach, B.C. V9K 1M5. (250) 752-8786. For more information on instruction programs for adults and juniors, contact the Academy office.
