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must simulate that environment as best as we can in our training sessions .
A typical practice session for most recreational golfers begins with buying a bucket of range balls and making swings with the same club to the same target over and over in rapid-fire fashion . This can provide some satisfaction , as hitting a 7-iron with a little draw and relatively the same distance 10 times in a row feels like “ you ’ ve figured it out ,” but this rarely translates to the course . The reason it doesn ’ t transfer is you don ’ t hit multiple 7-irons in a row to the same target on the golf course with only a few seconds between each shot . So why do so many practice that way ? The recreational golfer doesn ’ t know any different .
The best way to see results on the golf course is to train hard and play easy . The concept is to simulate pressure in your training sessions with purpose or intent behind each shot . By testing your skills with one ball and one opportunity to hit the shot , your brain has to engage more than just its ability to repeat a motor pattern . If there are no consequences to each shot in your training then you are not training like you play . Basketball , football , baseball , hockey , name any sport , every coach for every team simulates competition through scrimmages , so why don ’ t we in golf ?
I challenge every one of my students to spend 30 days training like they play . I want them to break their training sessions up into sections . If they can allocate one hour to practice a couple times a week then I want structure to their training . If I prescribe them to work on their golf swing I prefer 10-15 minutes of block practice , working on fundamental movements with a focus on setup , alignment , grip and ball position . The real training starts with the next 20-30 minutes in which I have them randomize their practice by choosing a different target every shot and going through their pre-shot routine . I always want them to switch clubs and randomize their targets .
I need the player to engage the creative side of their brain , which requires more than their ability to repeat a motor pattern . The last 25-30 minutes I want them to test , such as creating a makeshift fairway on the range when working on driver . I want the player to take five balls and see how many fairways they can hit , going through their whole routine . The shots don ’ t have to be hit perfectly , they just need to stay in play . If the player only hits two out of five in the
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Having a game plan during practice will help your progress translate to the golf course .
fairway then the next five balls they need to get three in the fairway , always challenging themselves to score better each time with added pressure . The player can repeat this process with any club in the bag , setting the target as big or as small as their skill set allows . Don ’ t make the challenge too easy , as the goal is to simulate pressure .
When working on the short game with only an hour to practice , I want my player to take one ball , a couple of wedges and a putter . The task is to play nine holes by choosing a different shot on the chipping green each time and get the ball in the hole in three strokes or less . For the recreational golfer the par can be set at 27 making no worse than a three on each hole . The more experienced golfer can challenge themselves by lowering their par to 22 or 23 , in which they have to get at least three or four of their attempts up-and-down . Recreational golfers lose the most strokes on and around the green , so this type of training gets them more focused on scoring than improving their technique .
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If they only have an hour to practice putting , I want them to train similar to their short game with one ball and to play nine holes on the practice green . The first putt on each hole must be at least 20-feet long and they can ’ t pick the same putt twice . Depending on the level of player , the par for the nine-hole challenge could be between 18-21 strokes . For a player who averages an 18-hole score of 100 , I am trying to get them to go from approximately 26 putts for nine holes down to 21 . Once they hit 21 for nine holes then their goal is to get to 20 and repeat the process until they can get a score of 18 . For an advanced player I want them to try and score a maximum of 18 with the hopes they can break par by holing at least one long putt .
Most golfers want to have fun and shoot lower scores , so train more like you play and see how the shots drop off your scores .
Ryan Zylstra is the teaching professional at Lakeside Park Club in Richmond . He won the 2017 State Open of Virginia .
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