How Do You Practice?

One thing I realize more and more is that most of us treat golf UNLIKE any other activity we do. This especially comes to mind with regard to practice. For example, here is how many of us would practice for a basketball game if we did it like golf: go to the gym and spend five minutes shooting 5-foot jump shots, then 10-footers, 15-footer, all the way back to a bunch of three-pointers. Heck, if we're really dedicated we will probably finish by getting close to the rim and tossing in 10-minutes of lay-ups. OK - I'm ready to go - bring on the big game! Well, I can't remember practicing like this when I played ball in high-school, and I doubt this method is being used much today, either. Yet we practice EXACTLY like this for golf, and then expect to get to the course and shoot a great score every time.

Just a few more examples of this:

• Does a concert pianist practice stiking the same key over and over?
• Does an NFL quarterback throw pass after pass from a standstill?
• How about baseball? How often do you see a short-stop checking his elbow position as he gets ready to throw to first?

So how can we take examples of other sports to our golf "rehearsals?" Let's continue back with the example of the basketball. Usually the first few minutes of time is devoted to the warm-up. Randomly shooting short shots, long shots, and throwing in a lay-up or two - basically getting a feel for the ball as the body loosens up and get's ready to go. This is a great way to begin our golf practice session - hit some chips and pitches, high-and-low shots, and vary the distance of each. Focus on getting the feel in your hands: re-connecting your body with the game enabling your natural ability to take over. Eventually you will want to lengthen the shots so that you are swinging fully, but continually change from driver to iron to wedge and so on. Like a basketball player, every shot you'll face on the course will be different. Get your body ready for this.

In basketball, once the team is warmed-up, there are often new plays or drills to simulate a game-scenario that are worked on. Coaches work these drills over an over to make them second-nature, not to figure out how they work. Practice golf with the intent that it is also becoming second-nature. Let your natural swing achieve the desired result for you instead of forcing something un-natural. Calling a play in basketball is equivalent to determining the shot you want to hit (ie. a low draw, a half-wedge, etc.) on the course. Ultimately the play enables the player to take the shot, so it is important to have the shot. For example, if we want to add the knock-down shot to our game, work on it on the range until it feels natural (this is the drill). But our focus should be getting us confident enough to be able to hit the shot on the course.

Finally, when the warm-up is completed and the drills are done, usually the rest of the time is devoted to real game simulations. In golf, it means GET OUT ON THE COURSE. Practce out there. You don't have to play an entire round - it could be four or five holes. And like a coach observing a practice, if the team messed up a play, he may require them to do it again. If you're on the course for the purpose of practice, allow yourself to hit the occasional second try. However, if you have a recurring problem with a certain club or shot, note it to yourself and if time allows, spend a few minutes back on the range when you are done.

One other note - we hear stories of Tour pros hitting thousands of balls. Well, this is true. But trust me, those guys PLAY golf nearly every day. Their entire life is devoted to the game, so they take the time to play AND work on the smaller details over and over. Just like an NBA star - they too may shoot a basket-full of three-pointers or 100 free throws in a row, yet this is not nearly the majority of their practice. When you observe the entirety of their practice sessions, you will realize that playing the game is a BIG part of it. Golf is a game that is meant to be played. When we look at golf in the same way as other thing we do well, we can begin to make it a more normal action and make it more fun. Play the game. Get on the course. Trust your natural abilities and enjoy the game!