I have heard from many of my students that their practice does not seem to affect their play. In other words there is no real evidence in their overall performance of lower scores and better ball control. I would like to highlight a few things you must do in order for your practice to pay dividends on the course.
First, you must keep accurate stats of how you measure your on course performance against what you are practicing. Golfers tend to work on what they do best and not what they need to be doing in order to lower their scores.
Second, understanding the differences between random and block practice. Random practice is one shot at a time to different targets with different clubs and can vary from short game to full swing. Random practice mirrors more of your actual playing conditions. Block practice is placing an alignment aid on the ground at one specific target and working on specifics in your swing. Research has shown that golfers improve more doing random practice than block. Block can be effective when you are making swing changes, but during those changes merge random practice with it.
Third, in order to improve you MUST practice. You don’t have to do it until your hands bleed, but you must have a specific intent on what it is you are working on and how you measure it. It simply makes the game more fun and certainly will give you a sense of accomplishment.
How much should you practice and where? Practice can be at home, in your back yard, or on the range. At home the use of mirrors to check the correct posture, along with practice swings and drills are very helpful. Indoor putting matts to enhance your mechanical skills, as well as pitching or chipping balls in to a garbage can for distance control with your wedges. Short brief practice sessions a few times a week on a consistent basis will bring a lot of benefit to your game.
The last point I would make is to make sure your practice is fun and creative. The worse thing you can do is force too much block practice that you get bored and get nothing from it. Remember, be specific with what it is you are working on and have a way to measure the outcomes.
All the best,
Dana
