This thread should find itself pretty popular and I encourage all of you who have had a good day at the range to step forth and throw in their ‘tips’ as to why they had a good day out at practice.

Rule one for Practice is:

1) Have a point to it. Stay focused on ‘it” whatever ‘it’ is that you are working upon.

HAHAHAHA

Guru, after seeing your post in the other thread I just started the exact same thread…. I’ll pop back and delete it now!

What I wrote in there was

“Right, after the bi-weekly blip/mental meltdown at the driving range last night, I thought it was time to start a thread on doing better practice… Not a definitive guide obviously because practice seems to be to some extent personal. But after nearly doing a helicopter with my 6 iron off the top level of the local driving range last night I was wondering what strategies the good people of ISG use to get the most from their practice sessions. With limited practice sessions (2 nights a week) I need to achieve more in the limited time I have…. I can imagine that I’m not alone. Your input would be gratefully received!”

OC

Great timing, the threads must have started almost simultaneously!

For me, don’t buy 100 balls and belt through all of them, take it slow, and feel each shot, start off with slow swing and gradually build on your power once you are warmed up, this way no club throwing :D

Oh and don’t get in to a ego contest with the guy next to you, as Guru said practice on “it” don’t try to out drive the guy next to you.

I decided to put off making a coffee first and put it straight up:)

Practice 2)

Start with your Wedges and hit some Basic Motion (Chip type shots with no wrist cock) to warm up. This promotes the entire package to work as one. If the arms flail around at this point in the practice time, there is zero point in hitting the ball with longer strokes. Practice your hinge (clubface control) actions here where you can see the head doing its thing. Feel those hands.

Practice 3)
One the Basic Motion is happening, lengthen the swing and add Wrist Cock to pitch more balls with. Only go past this point once that package is tight. This is Acquired Motion

At this point I stress that more time needs to be taken in the above two areas than for anything else for most golfers. OK those on single figures can hit maybe 10 balls of each. The rest of the mere morals need a bucket of each at least.

Practice 4)
Now to 3/4 swings where you now have to complete the swing with more follow through and the finish swivel to kill off that pesky bending left wrist at higher speeds.

Hints

Set up a practice station so you have something to align and relate too for ball position and direction.

At all times AIM at something. Aim at nothing and you will hit it every time.

Take more practice swings than hitting balls. There is no rule that you have to hit a ball to practice a motion.

Keep them coming guys.

This thread already looks like a winner. The thing that annoys me most is that I am aware that I am rubbish at practicing. I reckon one in 3-4 sessions I leave the range being satisfied. Here lies the future!

I never get to bucket #2 until I am totally happy with a full bucket on all shots inside 100m, after warm up…..........result, rarely get to bucket #2.

I’ve just started a new practice routine using 4 different drills, most of which doesn’t involve hitting balls.

1st I set up at impact position and in slow mo move thru to about half way to finish position. Concentrating on hand position head position and hips and body releasing.

I do this at least 10 times

2nd Get into set up position and again in slow mo go thru full swing
but stopping at eight different positions in the swing, keeping track of hand and body positions thru out this drill.

I do this at least 10 times

If anybody is interested in the last 2 drills I will be back a bit later because I ‘m going to do some practice myself. Best part about it is I dont have to go to the range to do this.

Regardless of what your practising.
Stay positive.

Your not playing against anyone.
No course, nothing.
It’s practise. Designed to help.
Not hinder.

At all times AIM at something. Aim at nothing and you will hit it every time.

Best advice and something that we can all remember.

I have a similar routine at the range where I start with my PW and don’t pick up another club until I’m getting consistent, solid strikes but nothing more than 3/4 swing.

A very wise old mate of mine said perfect practice makes perfect.

Cheers,

Mick

Try and find somewhere with grass to hit off, not those stupid astro mats… Train how you play.

when your hitting balls oc shoot, hold, rest….....
dont forget flw…...
maybe some more punch shots!!
lol

I like to practice using the same pre-shot routine I’d like to use during play … down to lining up the shot from behind, the way I place the club behind the ball, set my ball-to-feet distance, spread my feet, a little feel of a forward press, waggle etc etc.

I feel that if you can get the pre-shot routine consistent in practice, it will become just that … routine … and you won’t have to think about it as much. A consistent pre-shot routine leads to more consistent actual shots.

NickE

You’re a dog!

Hoover the pro shop….

Oh and set your alarm on Saturday mornings… lol….

Publish, fair point…. In fact that is the way I’m leaning. Spending time on the mat to hit shots and practicing any technique away from the hitting area.

nice you got me there.!!!

I have a perfect practice swing with my flashlights and also with no club in front of the mirror. Its only when I put a club in my hands do I struggle.

I would of though after 6 months of consistant practice of the above my muscle memory would of kicked in but obviously not given last night form on the range.

I decided to put off making a coffee first and put it straight up:)

Practice 2)

Start with your Wedges and hit some Basic Motion (Chip type shots with no wrist cock) to warm up. This promotes the entire package to work as one. If the arms flail around at this point in the practice time, there is zero point in hitting the ball with longer strokes. Practice your hinge (clubface control) actions here where you can see the head doing its thing. Feel those hands.

Practice 3)
One the Basic Motion is happening, lengthen the swing and add Wrist Cock to pitch more balls with. Only go past this point once that package is tight. This is Acquired Motion

At this point I stress that more time needs to be taken in the above two areas than for anything else for most golfers. OK those on single figures can hit maybe 10 balls of each. The rest of the mere morals need a bucket of each at least.

Practice 4)
Now to 3/4 swings where you now have to complete the swing with more follow through and the finish swivel to kill off that pesky bending left wrist at higher speeds.

Hints

Set up a practice station so you have something to align and relate too for ball position and direction.

At all times AIM at something. Aim at nothing and you will hit it every time.

Take more practice swings than hitting balls. There is no rule that you have to hit a ball to practice a motion.

Keep them coming guys.

awesome advice mr guru. practical and easy to implement. i will definitely be using this one.

I like NickE’s addition to the thread. It gives you a chance to survey the condition of your FLW, Balance and Feels post impact and watch the ball flight for clues.

My club just put the bulldozers through our practice area – somthing about a bigger dam and more room for residential development. So it’s back to the course:

with two balls that compete against each other (try and follow a great drive of “ball 1” with another from “ball 2” – not easy!)
or
- 1 ball and one club (7,8 or 9 irons best) – “par” is getting on the green in one over regular par – and don’t lose the ball! This is fast so I good a good heart workout as well.

At all times go through pre shot routine and concentrate hard on scoring.

We still have a practice green and this gets lots of attention as this is where games are won or lost.

I agree don’t go without something to focus on. I don’t know where I read this idea but after warming up I will aim at something – fortunately my local range has footy style goal posts. Every time I get the ball through the posts I give myself a point. If you are practicing shorter clubs give yourself a smaller target. You can count your points and compare to last time etc.

I just find doing this stops me from blazing away and gives me a bit of focus.

As for putting practice I will just putt from a relatively short distance over and over getting used to the ball dropping in the cup and gaining confidence that when I hit the ball it will go in. Only then will I gradually move away. This drill really helps with those nasty little five footers on the course.

If you can only play on the course play 2 ball worst ball.
Ambrose type style, for e.g tee off with 2 balls, and pick the worst. Play 2 from there, and play the worst.
etc etc.
See how good you can manage..
If you can play to your handicap.. your playing a pretty solid round :]

When I get to the range I instinctively reach for the driver first – a few practise swings and then fire. Before I know it my bucket is empty. I take my wedge with me but despite my best intentions I never seem to get around to using it. I know this is moronic but I cant help myself. I’ll only take my wedge and 9 next time and implement Guru’s routine…from little things big things grow.

Try and find somewhere with grass to hit off, not those stupid astro mats… Train how you play.

great advice

I’m going to monitor this thread for now.

I’ll post in detail at a later date for now though:

1) Make practice ‘harder’ than play
2) Be aware of the type of practice you are doing, usually it will be either mechanical (where you are training your swing) or practical (where you are trying to take your game to the course). Never mix the two sessions, if you are having a mechanical session, to a large extent you must not care where the ball goes.
3) If you find yourself ‘dragging and hitting’ throw the balls away, you might as well throw darts at a tree – neither is practising for golf.

Remember that “Every Shot (even at practise) Must Have a Purpose.”

I think it’s vitally important to challenge yourself during practice. Create some sort of competition to practice your game under pressure. A practice partner is great for this, but even saying something like “I’m not going home until I put 5 of these chips within one-putt distance”. Did I mention that I usually leave the golf course in pitch dark?

Kids make games all the time—it’s one reason they progress so quickly.