Does practice make perfect?
Do you think 'practice makes perfect', or 'practice makes permanent'?
It is surprising how many golfers do not have a practice plan. This inevitably means you are practising faults and grooving them, rather than sound principles.
The earlier in your golfing life you learn sound principles, the better - sound mechanics are important to be able to play the game consistently well. There are a number of issues that have to be taken into account: your range of motion, the time available and the incentive. If necessary get professional help to form a practice plan, which has clearly defined goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, recordable and timed.
Playing 36 holes in a weekend, every weekend, may not be the best approach to improving your golf. By playing only 27, put the time you've saved into a practice session which is planned out.
Practice like it matters. Never waste time, never waste a golf shot and make sure that the shot is executed to the best of your ability with your full attention on it.
The next time you decide to go to the range to work on your game, consider that you have a marvellous opportunity to start practising with real purpose.
You should design your practice so that it’s specific, engaging and repeatable and you’ll discover that this shift in the way you go about performing your practice will build a strong and reliable bridge between practicing on the range and performing on the golf course when it really counts.
Golf is hard. We know, this is no revelation, and to get better you not only need to practice, but know how to practice correctly. Going to the range and bashing a bucket of balls with your driver might help let off some steam, but it’s not necessarily the best “practice” for your game.
Instead, try picking targets, using different clubs, shaping shots and working a club or two that gave you trouble during your last round. This kind of practice will do a lot more for your game.
Try placing a club on the ground and use the shaft to check that your stance line is square to your target line. Practice hitting shots to a target like you are hitting a real shot on the course, not just a 7 iron aiming for the 150 marker.