How to set your practice schedule

I was bought up with the concept that it did not matter how long I spent practicing; rather, it was the quality of my practice that mattered.  From what I have seen in Korea, players are bought up with the understanding that it is the quantity of balls, and the amount of time practicing that will make the difference.  7 years ago, I was strongly of the opinion that my way, the western way, was right. However, I will admit that having been here for 7 years now, the western world should learn from the amount of great champions Korea is producing.  Yes, not only the professional level, but also the standard level of the average amateur player is something that we should take into consideration, as well.  I have adapted my principles and my style of teaching in the last 7 years, and my belief now is that if we can take the hard working culture of Korea, and apply a little of the western strategy to practice, we could truly make a winning combination.  I believe strongly this is one of the reasons the Korea ladies are so successful on the LPGA.  They go to America working harder on their game than the western players but learn how to apply a little strategy and science to their practice, producing that winning combination.

“These days, everyone is practicing hard, so you must practice smarter if you want to get ahead!”

Golf is a multi-skill sport, as are many sports. For example, tennis is a multi-skill sport, and to be a champion tennis player you must become good at the serve, forehand, backhand, drop shots, and be fast around the court etc.  If the player is missing even one skill, it will greatly reduce the overall level of his/her game.  Golf has many more aspects, including driving, different iron shots, fairway woods, aiming, variety of bunker shots, variety of chip shots, pitch shots, side hill lies, rouge lies, and the list goes on and on.   These are the skills, but there is then the technical aspect that helps you perform these skills – your technique in each area.   If you want to truly reduce your scores, your practice time should be balanced so that you can develop more skills than just one in order to improve performance.  Too often, I watch players practicing for 1 hr using 1 club with no specific target, basically only working on 1 skill – swing technique.  The facility where you practice will create limitations to what you can and cannot do, but you can improve the quality of your practice.  Today, I am going to suggest skills you can work on and help you set a schedule for your practice to maximize the available time you have.  The session I have laid out is based on 90 mins, but use the ratio of each aspect and change it depending on how much time you have.

5 mins

Warm up using short clubs and stretching.

25 mins

Technique – After a warm up, technique should be the first area you work on.  It may be your set up,  pivot, or a task your local Professional has given you.  Work on your technique with no longer than a 7 iron – never with the longer irons or a driver.

10 mins

Routine & Target – This is where you need to bring the driving range and the course closer together, practicing more the way you would play.  For each shot, select a different target and different club.  Go through a routine on each shot standing behind the ball.  Sometimes, play 18 holes on the range, making the fairway with your tee shot; then a green with an iron shot.  If you miss, chip to a target.  This area of your practice should be about improving your alignment and developing a routine that you can use on the course.

10 mins

Distance control – Actually, in tests I have done with my students from 120 meters, 100% of the students are further away from the pin by distance than they are by direction, on average over a round.  Simply, if you want to reduce the length of your putts, the easiest way is to improve your distance control.  Every practice session should include a time where you work on this aspect.  You can work on it from all distances, but 120 meters and in is where it is most important.  Learn a method to vary your distance; changing lengths of backswing and follow through, grip shorter on the club, and controlling the speed of your swing are a few simple methods you can try.

10 mins

Shot Making – This can vary somewhat depending upon the level of your play, but no matter what, spend a little time hitting some different types of shots.  Try a punch or control shot for playing in the wind, some draws and fades, or even try hitting a higher driver shot for downwind holes.  Don’t say you don’t know how!  Experiment a little.  Maybe you will not learn how the first time you try, but keep putting it in your practice session.  You might surprise yourself and learn a skill that will help you.

10 mins

Chipping – This can be a difficult area to work on at a typical driving range.  From any floor above the 1^st floor there is really no point working on target practice as distances are so different from height.  Spend time working on consistency of impact.  Creating consistency in your impact is what will help you on the course.  A simple key for this is to keep your chest bone target side of the ball at address and at impact.  The club also needs to be accelerating at impact.

20 mins

Putting – Most driving ranges I have seen have an area in or out-doors for practice putting.  The speed of these greens is completely different to that of the course, so distance putting can be anti-productive, not productive.  Keep your practice to short putting, working on basics like aiming and rhythm of stroke. By the way, too slow is not good!

Task – Before you start your practice session, make a goal or task for the session and stick to it.   The key to any good practice session is to make every shot have some purpose.