How Important is Practice in Improving Your Golf Game?
By Dr. Eric C. Wilson, PGA
Co-Founder
Most who play the game of golf have jobs/commitments other than golf. Those fortunate few who play the game for a living on the PGA, LPGA and developmental tours must dedicate most of their waking hours to working/practicing their golf games.
Does practice make a difference in how well one plays golf? Absolutely, if done correctly.
Many casual golfers define practice as hitting golf balls at a range. This activity, however beneficial, may not be the way to improve your game.
Research has shown that “deliberate practice” is the key to improvement.
Dr. Bob Christina defines “deliberate practice” as: “Being engaged with full concentration in activities specifically designed to improve performance” and is ideally done 4-5 hours per day, every day. If done correctly, deliberate practice allows for “transfer training,” which is often referred to as “simulated training.”
Dr. Christina states that “transfer training” encourages the learning of golf skills in a playing context, encourages players to think as they should when they play, encourages players to analyze and correct their own performance and require less frequent feedback/instruction/coaching, and encourages players to practice as they play.
While most of us cannot dedicate 4-5 hours a day to practice, we can ensure that we practice appropriately when we do practice. We, at Impact Aware Golf, work closely with our students to develop "deliberate practice" plans for those who choose to take their games to the next level.
Co-Founder
Most who play the game of golf have jobs/commitments other than golf. Those fortunate few who play the game for a living on the PGA, LPGA and developmental tours must dedicate most of their waking hours to working/practicing their golf games.
Does practice make a difference in how well one plays golf? Absolutely, if done correctly.
Many casual golfers define practice as hitting golf balls at a range. This activity, however beneficial, may not be the way to improve your game.
Research has shown that “deliberate practice” is the key to improvement.
Dr. Bob Christina defines “deliberate practice” as: “Being engaged with full concentration in activities specifically designed to improve performance” and is ideally done 4-5 hours per day, every day. If done correctly, deliberate practice allows for “transfer training,” which is often referred to as “simulated training.”
Dr. Christina states that “transfer training” encourages the learning of golf skills in a playing context, encourages players to think as they should when they play, encourages players to analyze and correct their own performance and require less frequent feedback/instruction/coaching, and encourages players to practice as they play.
While most of us cannot dedicate 4-5 hours a day to practice, we can ensure that we practice appropriately when we do practice. We, at Impact Aware Golf, work closely with our students to develop "deliberate practice" plans for those who choose to take their games to the next level.
