1. You will choose a target. Make sure
each target you choose is in a differ-
ent direction from the previous one.
2. Gather information about the shot,
distance, wind direction, and then
consider at least a couple of different
options of how to play the shot (draw,
fade, high, low, etc.).
3. Select the club and shot shape with
which you feel confident you can ex-
ecute the shot successfully 60%-70%
of the time.
4. Visualize the shot standing behind
the ball looking directly down your
target line. Either see the shot like you
do on TV with the red shot tracer line
or see the ball flying through a cloud
in the sky. There are many forms of
visualization – I have just explained a
couple.
5. Then have a practice swing while still
being intimate with the shot you visu-
alized. The practice swing should be
a rehearsal of what you are going to
execute over the ball.
6. Stand back behind the ball once
again looking down your target line
and visualize once again the starting
line of the ball, the shape, the height
and the landing zone. At this stage I
would also recommend choosing an
intermediate target within one yard
(in front of your ball) which is on your
starting line to help you align the club
face to your target line when you ad-
dress the ball.
7. Engage with the target as you stand
over the ball and waggle the club to
relieve tension. Then put your focus
into one thought as you swing the
club. That thought could be singing
a song in your mind, thinking about
maintaining a constant grip pressure
or counting one – two as you swing
the club to improve tempo. Don’t
try to over complicate the swing by
thinking internally about technical
moves you want to make during the
swing. This usually leads to increased
tension and you trying to control the
swing rather than letting it flow.
8. Learn from the result by watching the
ball flight and the sensation of the
contact. If you did not get the desired
outcome have another swing without
the ball and see the shot you visual-
ized. That way you finish the shot with
a positive sensation.
Then you put that club back in the bag (even if it was a bad
shot) and repeat the entire process for the next shot. The next
shot should also not be a club close to the previous club. If you
hit a driver for the first shot, the next club should be a short iron
like an 8-iron for example. The reason for this is because once
again it simulates the game as you would experience it when
you play on the course. Do this for about five shots and then
go to the short game area to get a ball up and down, and then
head back to the range to repeat the process.
This form of practice requires some discipline and commitment
to the process. You may also lose that sense of competency you
had when you practiced in the blocked fashion, but trust that if
you practice this way you will improve your ability to play better
where it counts – on the course.
There are also many other ways to have an effective practice
session as long as you understand what your intention is for this
particular practice session.
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Is your intention to make technical changes? Then the
practice session would be different than what I have
explained above. (blocked but with speed variability
training)
Is your intention to get a particular ball flight? (mix of
blocked and random practice)
Is your intention to improve your ability to grove your pre
and post shot routines? (random practice)
Is your intention to test your skills with a performance
challenge? (random practice with a challenging game to
complete)
Once you are very clear on your intention for the practice
session, then your time spent can be a lot more effectively.