Establishing Good Practice Techniques

As a golf instructor, it amazes me how little focus most people have when they practice. I often see individuals drag a second ball to hit before their previous shot has even finished landing! Even during lessons, sometimes I’ll watch a student’s ball to determine flight, curvature, reaction on the ground, etc… and when I turn my attention back to the student, he or she already has another ball in place… ready to hit!

If you’re serious about getting better, you must… (YOU MUST redux) practice effectively, with purpose, and with patience… more than perhaps anyone else on the practice range. Here are some things to look for (from right-handed golfer’s perspective) when practicing:

1. Watch the direction that the ball starts. Did it start straight, left, or right of your intended target? Observing the direction the ball starts oftentimes indicates your swing path’s approach to the ball. Too far inside… and the ball may start to the right of the target line. Too far from the outside and the ball will start left of the target line. And of course… there’s the importance of alignment. Many students think they hit balls off target because of poor swing mechanics, only to realize after I show them, that they’re aimed wrong to begin with.


2. Watch to see what direction the ball curves. Curvature of the ball indicates what the clubface was like at impact. Slices and fades indicate an open clubface, hooks and draws… closed clubface. Excessive curvature may indicate a faulty grip position.


3. Watch to see the trajectory of the ball. Too high may indicate scooping rather than hitting down and compressing the ball or little or no forward weight transfer during impact. A ball flight that is too low may indicate sliding ahead of the ball during impact position or coming down on the ball too steep.


4. Watch to see the ball land. How else are you going to know how far you consistently hit it? Also, does the ball stop… spin back… release… other?

In addition to monitoring ball reaction, focus on going through the same pre-shot routine with every shot… just as you should be doing on the golf course. You do, do that on the golf course… don’t you? Pre-shot routines develop consistency as well as keep your nerves in check when playing that 25 cent skins game on Saturdays.

So practice with purpose. Take enough time between each shot to observe outcome AND if need be… make appropriate corrections.

Heck, at the very least… slowing down will save you money by making one range basket last an hour instead of going through three of them in the same amount of time. There… I just gave you some financial advice as well!

Good Golfing To You!