Practicing Smart

photo credit: Hawaiiwave19   Too many amateurs spend their time on the practice range in an unproductive manner.  They can be observed  hitting balls with each and every club thinking that it will help them develop a familiarity with every club in the bag.

The bottom-line is that if you are swinging properly, it doesn’t matter what club you have in your hands.  You must work on your tempo which will create solid contact with the ball. 

At the range, try hitting only the following clubs:  pitching wedge, 6-iron, driver, or:  pitching wedge, 4-iron, 3-metal.  The lob wedges deserve special attention since they can be very difficult to master properly.  At least half of your practice time should be devoted to putting.

The Need for Practice

Golf is like no other game.  A player like Tiger Woods, who was at the top of his game for so long, can lose his edge in a matter of weeks.  After nearly a year, Woods’ game is finally starting to make a come-back but only after an almost fanatical practice schedule. 

The single biggest problem with most amateurs is their lack of  a systematic practice schedule.  Playing once or twice per week just won’t get the job done if you want to improve.  You cannot expect improvement in your game without spending sufficient time on the practice range.  Bring no more than 3 clubs per session.  Doing so will pay great dividends in your game and enjoyment on the course.