The game of golf demands practice if you have any goals of increasing your performance. In my experiences, this is one of the most delicate balances of time a person with a 9-5 job has to juggle. Unfortunately, we all don’t play the game for money and we all have so many different responsibilities in life (family, those who depend on you and their needs, work matters) and finding time to practice throughout the week is difficult! So, no matter what kind of time you may be able to dedicate to practicing, it is paramount that you understand the idea of “Perfect Practice Makes Perfect”.
Now, I won’t act like I came up with this quote. I believe it was first coined by Vince Lombardi, but has been reiterated many times over the years in sport. I first began to apply this concept to my game when I began reading “The Four Foundations of Golf” by Jon Sherman. The concept basically employs practicing with specific intent every time you put a ball down on the mat (or grass if you are lucky enough). The beauty here is that it can be different for every player. You first have to figure out what you must work on for yourself. This can be done through many different ways, but, in my experience, the most effective way is to go to a teaching professional and have them evaluate you. I’d recommend GolfTec. You can get a swing evaluation to start, then choose a lesson plan curated specifically for you based on that swing evaluation. There is an online “clubhouse” that houses all your recorded lessons and videos so I have gone in and rewatched all my lessons in trying to create a practice plan for myself. I would also HIGHLY recommend videoing yourself on the range. Once you figure out what you need to work on, it’s time to hit the range!
Here is an example practice plan that I have been working on, with an emphasis on face control, arm structure, and overall tempo. The below is something I have been following to try and implement REAL swing changes:
- Grab 30 balls
- For the first ten, make abbreviated and slow swings with your swing thoughts in the front of mind. For me, it is keeping the face square and the club on a proper plane. Don’t worry about what kind of ball flight you have on these ten.
- For the second ten, you want to keep the same thoughts in mind but you want to make that swing a little less abbreviated. Still keep it on the slower side, really trying to feel what you are working on.
- For the final ten, you want to start making full swings and normal speed with those same swing thoughts in mind that you are working on. Pay special attention to contact, ball flight, and any numbers you might be gathering.
I think this can be a great starting point if you are trying to truly implement some changes into your swing, try it out!
Mark Roberts Golf 