| Practicing your golf game properly is vital to improving. | | | | starting with a pitching wedge, then dropping down to |
| Knowing how to practice increases self-confidence, | | | | a 7-iron, but you can use other clubs as well. Hit |
| reduces scores, and lowers golf handicaps. It also | | | | several shots with each until you feel comfortable |
| increases the fun of playing as you see your scores | | | | swinging the club. |
| drop on each round. I consider it so important that I | | | | • Next, spend about 15 minutes or so working |
| discuss how to practice with all my students during golf | | | | on areas of your short game needing improvement, |
| lessons. | | | | like chipping. Try dividing the time into four 15 minute |
| Unfortunately, some students don't always follow my | | | | mini-sessions, with each mini-session devoted to one |
| advice. They either focus on the wrong things during | | | | phase of your short game- pitching, putting, chipping, or |
| practice or they practice without purpose. Some | | | | bunker play. |
| students do both, preferring instead to flail away with | | | | Use drills during the 15 minutes that focus on improving |
| the driver on a driving range time and time again. | | | | weaknesses within that phase of the game. For |
| When their scores don't drop as quickly as they'd like, | | | | example, use this drill to practice chipping from the |
| they stop practicing, forfeiting any chance of improving. | | | | rough shot: |
| You have only so much time to practice, so you must | | | | • Place a ball just outside the first cut of |
| make the most of it. To optimize practice time, try | | | | rough on the green's fringe. Make sure the grass is |
| organizing your sessions into a structured program | | | | about one to one and one-half inches in length. Instead |
| with specific goals clearly in mind. The program needs | | | | of hitting the ball, practice just sweeping the tips of the |
| to focus on fundamentals and address your | | | | grass. Use a low sweeping motion employing just your |
| weaknesses. Developing an organized program | | | | arms and shoulders. After ten sweeps, move |
| speeds learning, maintains focus, and cuts strokes | | | | immediately to the ball and chip it using the same |
| from you golf handicap. | | | | motion. Then move the ball back to higher grass and |
| Here's one organized practice program I suggest in my | | | | repeat the sequence. |
| golf lessons: | | | | In the next hourly session try focus on your long game. |
| Adopt a set of exercises and drills to practice at | | | | You can work on hitting your woods and long irons |
| home. They should concentrate on grooving your | | | | during this session. Spending 5-10 minutes on warm up |
| fundamentals, like your takeaway or your backswing. | | | | shots, then 10-15 minutes each on your woods and |
| My golf tips highlight drills and exercises that fit nicely | | | | long irons. Once again, use drills should be designed to |
| into a program. The phone book drill, for example, | | | | improve a specific problem. |
| improves your putting stroke: | | | | Work in some realistic game situations in your practice |
| • Drop two phone books on the floor. Position | | | | sessions. For example, try chipping over a wading pool |
| them far enough apart so your putterhead just | | | | in your backyard to practice hitting over an obstacle |
| squeezes through them. Place a ball between the | | | | on the course. Another good technique is to actually |
| books, assume your putting posture, and make your | | | | play holes on the driving range. So, let's say the first |
| stroke. Use the books as a visual guide to match the | | | | hole you're going to play on Saturday is a 440 yard |
| lengths of your back stroke and forward stroke. This | | | | par four. When practicing during the week or prior to |
| approach ensures a smooth stroke with perfect | | | | the round, you would actually "play the hole" but |
| tempo. You'll find it difficult to guide your putter | | | | starting by hitting your driver, then maybe a 6 or 7 iron |
| between the books unless your stroke follows the | | | | for your approach shot and then maybe a small chip in |
| intended line. If you strike the side of either phone book, | | | | case you missed the green. The more of these you |
| your stroke strayed off-line. | | | | can program into you session, the more you'll prepare |
| Go to a practice range as often as you can. Split your | | | | yourself for hitting a shot under the pressure of actual |
| time between your short game and your long game. If | | | | game situation. |
| you can't work on both in one session, try working on | | | | This program is just an example of how you can |
| the short game in one session and the long game in | | | | structure your practice. It might not be appropriate for |
| the next. Your goal might be to perfect your pitching in | | | | every golfer, but I think you get the idea of how to |
| the first session and to master long distance driving in | | | | organize a session or session. Developing an |
| the next. Also, organize your time within each session. | | | | organized program-and following it closely -produces |
| An organized session could look like the following: | | | | results. The more you work on it, the more you'll build |
| • Hit some warm-up shots for five minutes to | | | | self-confidence, reduce scores, and slash your golf |
| loosen up your muscles. Start with a short iron, then | | | | handicap. |
| move to a mid-iron. In my golf lessons I suggest | | | | |