A Dozen Helpful Tips for Maximizing Practice
By Dr. Eric C. Wilson, PGA
Co-Founder
Adapted from an article by Dr. Deborah Graham and Jon Stabler
GolfPysch – Think Like a Champion
www.golfpsych.com
This is an excellent article on how to practice, authored by Graham and Stabler. While all the below suggestions are valid, we also recommend practicing "Small to Big" and "Slow to Fast." We believe that if you cannot move the club correctly "Small and Slow," you won't be able to do so "Big and Fast."
1. RESIST THE DESIRE TO “RAKE AND HIT”
Practice with a goal in mind and structure your practice accordingly (even if it is just to get good temp and feel). Once accomplished, leave. Practice too long and you will likely create problems due to increasing fatigue, tension and poor concentration.
2. ADOPT YOUR OWN STYLE OF PRACTICE – NOT THAT OF OTHERS
Always find the balance between drills and play that fits your learning style and current needs (i.e. more technique when incorporating a new skill, more creative when maintaining skills). Do not copy the practice style of someone else who may have a different personality.
3. PRACTICE FOR THE RIGHT REASONS
Your practice should be for productively learning or maintaining skills, not as punishment for poor play, to relieve guilt or boredom, to please someone else, to quell fears of losing round to others, because you have nothing else to do, etc.
4. REGULARLY IDENTIFY AND DEFINE STRATEGIES FOR STRENGTHENING WEAKNESSES
Use some method of journalizing to help monitor skills and defining strategies for strengthening weaknesses (lesson, drills, play, etc.) and incorporate these strategies into your practice schedule.
5. KEEP PRACTICE IN BALANCE WITH THE REST OF YOUR LIFE
To play golf well, golf must be kept in balance with other things that are important in your life such as family, friends, hobbies and other responsibilities. Keep time for practice in balance with other things in your life so that golf remains something you do, not who you are.
6. RESIST OVER PRACTICING
Watch for signs of over practice such as outcome thinking, fatigue, strains, injuries, burnout, etc. If noticed, take a break and change your approach.
7. RESIST UNDER PRACTICING
Watch for signs of under practice such as low performance confidence, poor touch, bad timing and tempo and feeling undeserving of playing well.
8. PRACTICE LIKE YOU PLAY
Spend at least some of your practice playing shots just as you would in competition. For example, use your imagination to simulate competitive and challenging situations (such as a one stroke lead going into the 18th hole in your favorite tournament paired against a tough opponent). Use deep breathing to relax and a strong mental routine to confidently and consistently execute the shots or putts under the imagined pressure.
9. PLAY LIKE YOU PRACTICE
Think of how you managed yourself in some of your all time best rounds with friends, in practice, at fun outings or events. If you were relaxed and carefree, did some chit chat or day dreaming between shots, or used first impressions when committing to shots. Try to emulate these types of things when you play. Challenge yourself to hit shots and putts in competition with the same composure, peace of mind and tempo you had in one of your very best practice sessions.
10. ALWAYS WARM UP YOUR MENTAL ROUTINE BEFORE COMPETITION
Take a few minutes of your warm up before each competitive round to warm up mentally, especially if you have a tendency to start poorly. Use the three steps of your mental routine (commit, visualize, feel) to hit a number of shots. Mentally rehearse playing the first few holes before you tee off.
11. INCLUDE SOME CREATIVE, ATHLETIC, “RIGHT BRAIN” PRACTICE IN EVERY SESSION
Creative practice keeps the “athlete” in your game instead of just the “thinker”. It includes such things as warming up your mental routine (along with the physical routine), hitting shots around or through imagined obstacles (such as a tree or goal posts), imagining playing a hole or holes in competitive situations, competitive practice “games” with yourself or another player, or the fun drill of creating shots by having someone call the type of shot you are to hit as you begin the downswing.
12. SEPARATE MENTAL PRACTICE FROM PHYSICAL PRACTICE
Make a hard and fast rule with yourself that you will separate mental “athletic” practice (routine, process, temp, visualization, great feel, etc.) from the physical “thinker” practice (drills, chalk lines, set-up, technique, positions, problem solving, etc.). Trying to do them simultaneously will only frustrate you and hurt your game. Before you start, decide which one you are working on and organize your practice accordingly.
Co-Founder
Adapted from an article by Dr. Deborah Graham and Jon Stabler
GolfPysch – Think Like a Champion
www.golfpsych.com
This is an excellent article on how to practice, authored by Graham and Stabler. While all the below suggestions are valid, we also recommend practicing "Small to Big" and "Slow to Fast." We believe that if you cannot move the club correctly "Small and Slow," you won't be able to do so "Big and Fast."
1. RESIST THE DESIRE TO “RAKE AND HIT”
Practice with a goal in mind and structure your practice accordingly (even if it is just to get good temp and feel). Once accomplished, leave. Practice too long and you will likely create problems due to increasing fatigue, tension and poor concentration.
2. ADOPT YOUR OWN STYLE OF PRACTICE – NOT THAT OF OTHERS
Always find the balance between drills and play that fits your learning style and current needs (i.e. more technique when incorporating a new skill, more creative when maintaining skills). Do not copy the practice style of someone else who may have a different personality.
3. PRACTICE FOR THE RIGHT REASONS
Your practice should be for productively learning or maintaining skills, not as punishment for poor play, to relieve guilt or boredom, to please someone else, to quell fears of losing round to others, because you have nothing else to do, etc.
4. REGULARLY IDENTIFY AND DEFINE STRATEGIES FOR STRENGTHENING WEAKNESSES
Use some method of journalizing to help monitor skills and defining strategies for strengthening weaknesses (lesson, drills, play, etc.) and incorporate these strategies into your practice schedule.
5. KEEP PRACTICE IN BALANCE WITH THE REST OF YOUR LIFE
To play golf well, golf must be kept in balance with other things that are important in your life such as family, friends, hobbies and other responsibilities. Keep time for practice in balance with other things in your life so that golf remains something you do, not who you are.
6. RESIST OVER PRACTICING
Watch for signs of over practice such as outcome thinking, fatigue, strains, injuries, burnout, etc. If noticed, take a break and change your approach.
7. RESIST UNDER PRACTICING
Watch for signs of under practice such as low performance confidence, poor touch, bad timing and tempo and feeling undeserving of playing well.
8. PRACTICE LIKE YOU PLAY
Spend at least some of your practice playing shots just as you would in competition. For example, use your imagination to simulate competitive and challenging situations (such as a one stroke lead going into the 18th hole in your favorite tournament paired against a tough opponent). Use deep breathing to relax and a strong mental routine to confidently and consistently execute the shots or putts under the imagined pressure.
9. PLAY LIKE YOU PRACTICE
Think of how you managed yourself in some of your all time best rounds with friends, in practice, at fun outings or events. If you were relaxed and carefree, did some chit chat or day dreaming between shots, or used first impressions when committing to shots. Try to emulate these types of things when you play. Challenge yourself to hit shots and putts in competition with the same composure, peace of mind and tempo you had in one of your very best practice sessions.
10. ALWAYS WARM UP YOUR MENTAL ROUTINE BEFORE COMPETITION
Take a few minutes of your warm up before each competitive round to warm up mentally, especially if you have a tendency to start poorly. Use the three steps of your mental routine (commit, visualize, feel) to hit a number of shots. Mentally rehearse playing the first few holes before you tee off.
11. INCLUDE SOME CREATIVE, ATHLETIC, “RIGHT BRAIN” PRACTICE IN EVERY SESSION
Creative practice keeps the “athlete” in your game instead of just the “thinker”. It includes such things as warming up your mental routine (along with the physical routine), hitting shots around or through imagined obstacles (such as a tree or goal posts), imagining playing a hole or holes in competitive situations, competitive practice “games” with yourself or another player, or the fun drill of creating shots by having someone call the type of shot you are to hit as you begin the downswing.
12. SEPARATE MENTAL PRACTICE FROM PHYSICAL PRACTICE
Make a hard and fast rule with yourself that you will separate mental “athletic” practice (routine, process, temp, visualization, great feel, etc.) from the physical “thinker” practice (drills, chalk lines, set-up, technique, positions, problem solving, etc.). Trying to do them simultaneously will only frustrate you and hurt your game. Before you start, decide which one you are working on and organize your practice accordingly.
