Ok well, I am soon coming up to a 10+ week break from uni and really want to see drastic improvements in my golf. I realise that this will only come with an air tight and all inclusive training regime.

I am basically hoping to create an index in this post for myself and others in my position of how I should structure my practice sessions, training drills, where I should allocate my time (probably 4×2-3 hour sessions per week), how often I should get lessons (and what I should look to learn through them), what strength, core and flexibility training I should be doing (specific exercises are great). And anything else you guys can think of.

I have a gym membership (so can access strength training facilities), already do a stretching workout before and after each gym session as well as what me and my gym mate call “crazy abs” because it is a ridiculous amount of abdominal work.

Guys I wanna train like im off scratch and got 2 weeks to get to +15!

Looking forward to your replys. Hopefully we will all learn something through this thread.

Cheers,
Mr C.

What handicap are you at present?

Do you have a current teacher?

Do you or he/she have video?

Have you been profiled by Carey Mumford?

1. 27
2. Not yet, to date my teacher has been youtube, but I am in the process of organising lessons with local pro.
3. Do you mean a video of my swing? If so, I’ll have to figure out how to get it from phone to the computer.
4. And as of yet no, but I do plan to.

Wanting to improve your game is great mate. A few tips… Practice quality and not quantity. What is the part of your game that lets you down the most? Identify it and that is where you should practice the most. The majority of people need to work on their short game. Getting up and down from around the greens more times than not, geting rid of the 3 putts from 25 feet for etc. This is were you can shave shots off your round. You will know when you have lifted your confidence in your short game as you will have a feeling of… I can get this so close, or, I reckon I can chip this in. When you remove the fear of…I just want to get this close, to…I can chip this in from 20 feet…that is what I mean.
Many years ago, I would spend hours on the chipping green/bunker and would not leave it until I was binning chips or lipping them out from say 20/30 feet. I would do it in almost darkness. It gave me so much confidence when I would go out to have a round on the course.
Strength?.. working on wrist/forearm and legs are great for golf but do not over do it. Light weights. Having said this, you do not have to be some muscle bound dude to play this game to improve. Strength in the correct areas helps as long as your technique is pretty sound.
Hope that helps mate…......Tai

The majority of people need to work on their short game.

I’m not in the majority. What are your tips for improving the long game?... (apart from the obvious).

Make sure you get a pro who is commited to helping you improve and understands your goals.

Frequency of lessons depend how quickly it takes to pick up changes. Too many people have a lesson, try the changes for a day or two, then forget what they were working on. Stick at whatever change you are working on and forget ball flight.

Are you going to be playing during this time frame or just practising.

Agree with Tai regarding the short game, both for short game and long game results. Work on building a swing from a short slow swing right up to a driver smash.

Danz…

My tips for improving the long iron game?

It depends mate? You have some 2399 posts, been around a while and I am sure I have replied to many posts in the past to you. I could not be bothered looking into past posts mate… No offence mate ok… Anyway…
Improving long irons?
Are we talking 1/2 irons here and not hybrids? I use my 1 or 2 iron to this day as I dislike the extra height from a 16 or 18 deg hybrid. I do not need a hybrid club mate. My 1 iron is my baby.

How can I give advice on hitting your long irons? It is impossible mate. I have never seen your swing, I do not know what your swing speed is or your swing plane? I have no idea of your swing arc or where you come into contact with the ball. I am guessing you flush it?
Danz…..get those humming 1 or 2 irons on target. If you can get the 1 and 2 on aim… Hello…

Thanks for the information. Went to the golf course today for about 3 and a half hours. Started with a 10 minute putt, then practiced chipping for about 30 minutes (with the PW and 60deg). Then went to the practice fairway and set up 3 sandbuckets at (approx. 35m, 45m and 55m away) and practiced pitching at them for around an an hour and 20. Hit a few full shots with the PW and 60 deg as well. Finished up with a pretty long putting session.

Found some interesting thing out today as well. I chip pretty well with the PW and putt better with my feet together :)) I’m also pretty sure my alignment at address is not as technically correct as it could be.

In terms of practice drills, i took 11 balls to the chipping green and chipped only one ball at a target before moving to the next (i figure that will be a truer representation of chipping during a round). For the putting, i got 8 balls and chose 2 different holes on the practice green (I was alone and normally wouldnt hog the green) then putted one at the first hole, finished it up then putted the next at the second hole, finished up and so on.

Tai, thanks for the info. I feel I’m a pretty well rounded golfer (except bunkers) but I figure ill start with the short game and work my way outwards, with the exception of working on my alignment at address :P. As for the confidence thing you mentioned, by the end it was definately feeling like I was gonna hole 8 of the 8 from 10 feet!

Toolish, I don’t think Id’e survive without playing a round of golf for 10 weeks! But the emphasis will be on practicing, maybe 2hrs practice and 9 holes a day is an alternative.

Anyone see any flaws in my programme for today? Also, any good drills to use at the practice facilities. Ta.

There’s a book called Laws of Accuracy by Sasha Novak, available from Peter Croker’s website. It describes a progression where you make 100 putts at 10 cm, then 20 cm, ... up to 300 cm. You do a similar thing with chipping, gradually increasing the distance.

Sasha describes how the brain learns best in small increments and other theory behind his method. I’m trying to get through it, working around my work life, but If I had a big lump of free time, I’d go for this balls out.

Are we talking 1/2 irons here and not hybrids? I use my 1 or 2 iron to this day as I dislike the extra height from a 16 or 18 deg hybrid. I do not need a hybrid club mate. My 1 iron is my baby.

I am guessing you flush it?

Goodness laney… thats a fair few putts. But as pain staking as it is, it makes sense to repeat the actions over and over to ingrain them. I only worry that after my 500th putt when im putting from a metre or so out (comfortable distance for me) that I can still be maintaining the proper technique (not too mention the strain on the back).

I only worry that after my 500th putt when im putting from a metre or so out (comfortable distance for me) that I can still be maintaining the proper technique (not too mention the strain on the back).

I’ve only been managing to find time for this once or twice a week, and it’s recommended to do every day. Everything was smooth up to 100 cm, at which point my vacation was over, and I have been stuck at this distance for the last few sessions. It’s funny, at first my back or hip or something was sore, but then I either got used to it, or figured out a better posture.

It is amazing how much I’ve learned. I’ve had to review my technique and figure (or refigure) new things out to progress. It starts to get very boring at times, and then I get close to 100 and get nervous. But by that time I’ve been through a boring period, and I can recall that mindset and overlay it on top of the nervousness.

My putting while playing has gotten significantly better at these shorter distances. You can imagine how much more confidence I have.

Ahh, so you don’t aim to do it all on one day then? Just did the maths quickly and its 3000 putts from 10cm to 300cm :P And yes I will definately be giving this a try. Thanks for the drll laney!

Ahh, so you don’t aim to do it all on one day then?

You ARE dedicated, aren’t you? :)

Ahh, so you don’t aim to do it all on one day then?

You ARE dedicated, aren’t you? :)

Yes, I’m taking the lots of progress in a little time appoach. :P My goal is single digits and my time frame is ASAP (but I know that it is still a way off!

Hey guys, was out at the course today on the practice fairway and was thinking, is it worth practicing my full iron shots that much if I am by myself? I make really consistent contact with them and am thinking that unless there is a pro there who can identify my faults and hopefully rememdy them, is my time better spent on the putting green.

Any feedback appreciated.

Cheers,

Mr C.

Thats a good thought. What seems right might be (and I stress might) the beginnings of a bad habit that could take a longer time to unlearn.

My kids love short game comps around the green. Chip, pitch and then putt. More than 3 shots gets the raz of “How is the gee string today”....I am going to have to explain to them one day what one of them is. Wonder where they picked up that turn of phrase from though???

Yea, thats what I was getting at. Might be time soon for a lesson I thinks to make sure my “perfect technique” is actually somewhere near where I think it is. I agree with the short game comps good way to make it fun. I played 9 holes and shot a 43 but I still ain’t having much luck figure out the weakest part of my game :( Guess till then its pitch ‘n’ putt… ‘n’ chip :P.

And as for ya kids, I certainly hope the gee-string you show them isn’t yours!

Cheers.

I recommend you find a good coach first of all. Otherwise how do you know what is right or wrong?

Second, here is my favorite practice activity. Needs 5 balls. Chip a ball about 10-15 metres. Then make a bigger chip getting it to land about where the other rolled. Then make a small pitch to where the last shot rolled. Then make a bigger pitch to where the small pitch rolled. Basically, you try and land each shot where the other rolled to and that ball will continue to roll another 10-20m so each shot will get progressively longer. If you screw one up, reshoot it till you get it. If you can do the 4 shots perfectly, you then have 1 ball left for a full shot. If not then, you miss out. Idea here is to work on your swing progression, from perfect Basic Motion up to Acquired Motion and finally a Full Shot. It requires you to set up properly each time, take aim, and also works on distance control. You can do this with all your irons.

Sounds like a winner to me solarbear! Am gonna do this drill for sure. And as for instruction, I plan to start getting lessons once uni is over so I can have no interruptions. Cheers.

Well that 10+ week break did wonders for my golf, but I’m craving further improvement. I am going to try to start getting up early, well I will start by aiming to get up before noon so I can fit in the gym and also some practice time in the same day.

I have a 2 day gym play which I will try and do twice a week (4 days). Currently day one is a generic weights day and day two is focussed more on core work and golfy type exercises. What I would like help in is identifying the muscle groups that I need to focus on (which will make up the strength training aspect and replace generic day 1) and which, if any, muscle groups can sent my game down the toilet. I am hoping to get some of the bulk I used to have back (not that it was ever excessive, but I wasn’t always the pin I am now!)

Cheers for any help.

Well that 10+ week break did wonders for my golf, but I’m craving further improvement. I am going to try to start getting up early, well I will start by aiming to get up before noon so I can fit in the gym and also some practice time in the same day.

I have a 2 day gym play which I will try and do twice a week (4 days). Currently day one is a generic weights day and day two is focussed more on core work and golfy type exercises. What I would like help in is identifying the muscle groups that I need to focus on (which will make up the strength training aspect and replace generic day 1) and which, if any, muscle groups can sent my game down the toilet. I am hoping to get some of the bulk I used to have back (not that it was ever excessive, but I wasn’t always the pin I am now!)

Cheers for any help.

The REAL Mr Consistency

http://www.golflink.com.au/...

Hey Mr C.

If you are looking at strength and conditioning for golf power? If so I would focus on a posterior chain movement (squat, deadlift, lunge) upper back (1 vertical plane, 1 horizontal) serratus (pullover, straight arm pulldown) tricep extension x 1, forearms x 1-2 and core (bracing and twisting movements only)

Remember: In the gym athletes know that power is in the muscles that are behind them (apart from the core muscles), Gym Junkies train what the see in the mirror.

If you are after power production, I would focus my training on speed strength and flexibility, rather than maximal strength and bulk. By this I mean moderate weights moved quickly (remember good technique to avoid injury)

I personally utilise cables for 95% of my speed training and barbells for posterior chain work. If you are not deadlifting, you are missing out! I regard this as the single best lift for any athlete. Squats are a close second but better done as a box squat (squatting onto a low box with a pause) Core work is usually moderately weighted with medicine balls, cables and occasionally dumbells or barbells. Remember we are trying to train the deep core muscles not build a 6 pack.

Recommend getting this month’s Men Health! There is a golf specific workout in it and I can tell you from a qualified strength and conditioning coaches perspective it is a decent program!

If I can be of assistance with your gym work, let me know and I will certainly assist

AB

Thanks AB, I will definately grab this month’s Men’s Health. I will have to look up some of those exercises you reccomended and perhaps get a couple more exercises that involve the cable machines. Also, what do you believe is the optimal amount of reps?

Go for a run! Do it early morning, late at night out of the heat and it will fix up your fitness. Swimming, cycling and for those less inclined, do a power walk if you have older legs. Eat rice, plenty of fruit and vege, do not smoke…..This would be a good place to start a training regime. It works.