3 Game Improvement Practice Strategies

Many Golfers go to the practice facility with good intentions… to improve their games. But many Golfers DO NOT have a specific plan in place prior to arriving. So… their practice often becomes disjointed, with no goal in mind… often leaving the facility in the same condition they arrived… with no improvement or worse… frustrated and feeling defeated.

When making changes, we need to remind ourselves that our game is strengthened through practice. We’re not born Golfers… we must learn how to become Golfers… and that happens from practice (translated: Homework).

Here are three types of practice routines to help you improve your game.

1.    GAME IMPROVEMENT PRACTICE

 

This type of practice is used when working on a new position, technique or fix. It will most likely include drills, exercises, or specific practice routines that will assist with incorporating the new component into your game.

When I have students commit to a game improvement practice session… oftentimes I don’t have them aim at a particular target (unless the fix is specifically for target alignment). Trying to hit a target while also working on your swing/game oftentimes results in giving up on the game improvement technique in effort of hitting the target. In either case… usually neither is achieved.

 

In this type of practice it is imperative that you become objective oriented…rather than outcome oriented. Focus on drills, positions, and/or techniques that will make the necessary change and worry about outcome and hitting targets later.

2.    MAINTENANCE PRACTICE

You’ve worked hard on making the necessary changes to your game… now it’s about repetitive practice to make those changes “stick.”

You might still be doing drills and implementing routines into your game from the Game Improvement Practice Sessions… but for the most part… you’re able to execute these drills and routines with some success. Now it’s about doing a bazillion swings, putts, chip shots… etc… so the drills and routines become part of your game without having to “think” about them. Feel the half-swing drill you’ve been working on to create lag, as part of your full swing. Implement the distance control drill into your putting game. It’s about making the improvements become habits.

And now… as part of this practice session… I’ll shoot at targets as well. A typical one-hour Maintenance session for me might be:

            10-15 minutes reviewing/executing the drill I’ve been working on

            35-45 minutes incorporating the drill into my swing/stroke/chip

            10-15 minutes of target practice 

3.    WARM UP PRACTICE

It’s game time. You’ve made the necessary changes to your swing. You’ve practiced them relentlessly and now it’s time to take your new game to the golf course.

You arrive about 45 minutes to an hour ahead of your tee time and after gearing up… you head to the driving range to warm up. And that’s what you do… warm up.

Now is NOT the time to “fix” things. That would be “death” on the course! Besides… you’ve been working on this “stuff” during the other practice sessions. Your goal is to limber up the body and prepare for your epic round. It’s all about picking targets and beginning some type of wedge… hit some pitch shots. Maybe about 50 yards or so. About half dozen… lazy… tension free pitch shots. Then a few nine-irons. Seven-irons. Hybrids. About half dozen drivers. Then finish with more 50 yard shots.

Head to the practice green … chip a few balls to select targets and wrap up the warm up session with stroking a few putts from various lengths… starting with long putts and finishing with short ones. The idea being that the last few putts are makeable and a high success rate.

DON’T use the warm up practice session as a Game Improvement session or Maintenance session. It’s just about limbering up. And like Sam Snead said, “you have to dance with the one you bring.” In other words… you have to play with the game that you’ve brought. If you’re fading the ball… play the fade. If you’re hitting it shorter… play extra club. If the driver magic has left you… hit 3-wood off the tee.

Incorporate ALL THREE TYPES of practice sessions in your practice routines and enjoy the success they will bring!

Peace… Love… Golf!

Oh yeah… and if you’re looking for a game changing experience and you think I can help… check out the online video golf lessons I offer! Click here: IMPROVE NOW

 

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2013 SUMMER JUNIOR GOLF CAMPS - ORLANDO, FLORIDA

Summer Junior Golf Camps

by

Create Golfers Academy

at MetroWest Golf Club - Orlando, Florida

 

Camp Options

Half-Day Full Week $199.00 USD Full-Day Full Week $299.00 USD

Please Pick Camp Dates

June 10th-14th June 24th-28th July 8th-12th July 22nd-26th August 5th-9th August 12th-16th

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Are YOU a Golfer? Or a Golf Scientist?

We’ve all been there. We find the “SECRET” to our game only for it to go away by the next round… next hole… next shot. (sigh)

And then... we try something different.

Maybe if I just keep my head down. Maybe I need to keep my left arm straight. I’m going to try to keep my left heel down on the backswing. On my downswing… I’m going to focus flattening my left wrist and drop into the ‘slot’ while making sure my clubhead hits the ball on the inside quadrant in a descending blow with my hands leading the clubhead and my right arm straightening AFTER impact…. Ok. That didn’t work… Maybe I need to change my grip… (sigh X 2).

Yikes!

I tell my students… “Don’t become a golf scientist… become a Golfer!” What’s a golf scientist? He’s the one who tries “this”… and then when that doesn’t work… he tries “that”… and then when that doesn’t work he tries something else. It might be for one round… one hole… or one SHOT! The problem with being a golf “scientist” is that he never grooves a personal swing. He’s to busy experimenting with his swing all the time and therefore doesn’t ingrain what he should be working on… which is a long term fix.

I confess… as an instructor I get frustrated at times. For the students who take a lesson… have a remarkable experience… understand what it is WE are trying to accomplish… then during a follow-up lesson…they show me what they’ve been working on… AND… it’s not what we worked on. My frustration is that these people have given up on a game improvement strategy because it either A) Didn’t produce immediate results; B) They gave up because it was boring or difficult; or C) got a tip from a friend on the golf course that seemed to help. Ugh!

These Golfers never progress… oftentimes they get worse!

WARNING!! DON’T BECOME A GOLF SCIENTIST!

When working with an instructor… if you agree with their recommendations for helping you achieve your golfing goals (if you don’t, find another qualified instructor)… then practice what she prescribes. And probably more than just once. 

Be carefully of having one good practice session afterwards and thinking, “I got it.” And then never practice “it” again. Rarely do we ever get "it” after one practice session. That’s a false confidence. One that causes Golfers to stop training and practicing prematurely. They go on to new routines before the old routine is truly absorbed. And the bummer is that they will discover they don’t have “it” on the golf course… especially during competition… or that “friendly” match against the person who always beats him.

Then, rather than going back to their lesson notes… practicing the prescribed drills for hours… days… months… these golfers usually try something else… then something else… then something else… and pretty soon… one or two swing thoughts turns into a “checklist” of swing thoughts. Yup! Paralysis by Analysis.

Work on one thing over and over again until you’ve mastered or at least gotten pretty good at it… before moving on to something else. Sometimes (actually MANY times)… making one change to the swing doesn’t always mean it’s totally fixed. It means you’ve accomplished one objective. And that’s GOOD! Then AFTER accomplishing this objective… you move on to the next one. And so forth. And that’s how you become better.

So… don’t become a golf scientist… become a Golfer. Leave the research and development part to a qualified PGA or LPGA professional who has chosen the path of golf scientist for… well… your benefit! It’s what we do.

Peace… Love… Golf!

BTW… You can now get a golf lesson from me from anywhere in the world. Check out the tab above “Online Video Lessons” and have a private lesson with me today!

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3 Essentials for Getting Better in Golf!

Something I continuously struggle with as an instructor is... how can I better assist Golfers with attaining their golfing goals?

I recently sent an email to Create Golfers Academy's Junior Golfer Membership that addressed this similar topic. I'd like to share it with you... and I welcome feedback and your thoughts. Here it is in a slightly modified version:

 

ONE: INFORMATION - Yes... we need information and there's no shortage of information available... but here's the crux. Which information is right for you? Especially when there are successful players using a variety of methods! Soft grip versus firm? Allow the putter to release or not? Straight back and through or arcing? Stay over the ball on backswing... or shift to back foot? One plane or two? UGH! How do you choose? There is no easy answer.

For starters... you should seek out models of TOUR players who have a similar build as you. If you're 5' 8" tall... an haven't been to a gym for a while (ahem)... Tiger might not be the best model for you. Research successful golfers with similar builds and learn about their methods and philosophies.

This is where the next essential helps...

 

TWO: GOOD INSTRUCTOR - A good golf instructor can assist you with finding the right information for YOUR golf game. Without proper instruction from a qualified instructor... progress may be very little, too slow, come to a halt or worse... REGRESS!! I get so many first time students who come to me who have stopped playing golf for years because their games were getting worse and golf was no longer fun!

A good instructor may be able to save you months even years of self-discovery because he or she can quickly point out what needs to be corrected and HOW to correct! So who qualifies as a good instructor (and I hope you guys consider me for this!! :) ...

• A good instructor must have achieved at least a reasonable standard in golf. Do they practice what they preach? Can they demonstrate what they teach? Do they have many student testimonials of success?
• They must be knowledgeable in what they teach AND they must be GOOD at HOW they teach. Again... we all have access to knowledge... but a good instructor is an excellent communicator who can make knowledge become REAL in your golf game. They can prescribe specific methods and drills for getting better.
• They should be systematic and methodical and have the means to help you accomplish your objectives. No jumping around with "Try this... that didn't work... let's try this now." mentality. A typical lesson for a first-time student with me usually includes video taping the "before" swings... reviewing them with the student... then explaining the process (system) of how to make him or her a better golfer. No quick tips... with the rare exception that someone has a tournament in the morning and hasn't played golf in the last eight years. And while one lesson is beneficial... oftentimes... and I hesitate in saying this for the possibility of being misunderstood and seen as an attempt in soliciting more lessons from students... rarely does one lesson fix all the ills. As one of my instructors jokingly told me (I think he was joking!)... "I charge $500 for one lesson or a package of six hours for $400. If a student expects a miracle from me after one lesson... then I'm going to charge him for one!"
• They must enjoy teaching. Unfortunately I see many instructors teach just because it's additional income... with little or no care if their students improve. That's too bad because the majority of golf instructors really, REALLY do care about their student's progress. This is why my personal teaching mission is: "I'm in the people business teaching golf... not the golf business teaching people." There's a difference. YOUR instructor must care about YOU and YOUR progress. If not... dump him or her... there are plenty of other qualified instructors out there to choose from!
• A good instructor ... and I think this is VERY important... teaches and demonstrates high moral values. Enough said!

THREE: BE A GOOD STUDENT - Probably the most important of the three! A student might have good information and a quality instructor... but if the student is unwilling to try new things or take input... they will not achieve their objectives in golf.

 

I listen patiently as students often spend lesson time in telling me what they do wrong and when I give them input they'll say something like... "wait... before I try that... let me try something." I met a lady just yesterday who said to me... "I don't need golf lessons. I know what my problem is. I don't keep my head down." (sigh)

 

I actually had a student this year who read a book that impacted him on being a good student. And in the middle of the lesson series with me, started the lesson by apologizing to me for NOT being a good student and that he was going to change his attitude during the lessons and allow ME to be the instructor. WOW! He's a joy to work with (not that he wasn't before... but progress was slower and oftentimes it was he who provided his own instruction while I was an observer).

 

It also comes down to this... you must be willing to practice regularly and persistently according the the method (information) and teaching (excellent instructor). Lack of QUALITY practice probably more than anything else is why I see golfers fail to meet their objectives. If something an instructor gave you feels different or uncomfortable... take that as a good thing! That means change is happening! It SHOULD feel different (at first).

 

Aimless practice is a waste of time. Want proof? Next time you're at a driving range... take 15-30 minutes before you start to hit balls and just observe the Golfers on the range... uh... "practicing." You'll see what I mean by aimless practice. After watching ... I guarantee your practice session will be different!

 

We preach to our children about doing their homework... but when it comes to golf... it seems that philosophy doesn't apply. BUT IT SHOULD! No one gets better at golf without doing their "homework." 

If you were looking for a quick tip, or short cut in getting better... sorry to disappoint. But take this post in serious consideration... it might be just what YOU needed to get better! We all progress quicker in certain areas of our golf games than others. And some seem to "get it" quicker than others. But truth be told... it takes quality information, with the assistance of an expert, and being open to change while putting quality time in to getting better. Enjoy the process! Some of my fondest golfing memories were times I worked on my game with friends, instructors, or alone! May that be the case for you!

Remember...
1. Good Information
2. Quality Instructor
3. Be a Good Student

Peace... Love... Golf!

Ted

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Making Positive Changes in YOUR Golf Game

Recently (like over the period of the last eight months!!) I decided it was time to make some “changes” to my own swing.

At the top of my swing I felt I was too "loose" in my club position, my left wrist was cupped and the shaft was "across" my target line.


"After" image on left... "Before" image on right (eight months earlier). 6-iron.
A little too long of a backswing for my liking for a 6-iron on "Before" swing and left wrist a bit cupped.
The "Before" swing relied too much on "timing" to get the club square at impact. In the "After" image... the clubshaft is in a much better position and the left wrist is much flatter. Now I won't have to manipulate the club on the downswing and impact ... translated: More Consistent Shots!

 And in my follow-through… I wanted to have my club stay on plane much longer. At times I would hold on at impact causing the club to come up too steep rather than “allowing” the club to release and rotate around my body.


"After" Image on Left... "Before" image on Right.
Ahh... much better shaft angle. I wanted my shaft to be pointing toward the spot where the ball used to be... You should too! It shows that the club is on plane throughout the entire swing and even more importantly at impact. In the "Before" image on the right... the shaft is too steep and dare I say showing signs of a left arm"chicken wing!"Typically this would cause a slice... but notice that my clubface is really shut in the "Before" image. An attempt to keep the ball from slicing. In the "After" swing... my shaft is parallel to my shoulders. That was a key reference point for me when practicing and checking on my progress.

 Changes… Ugh! When it comes to golf (as oftentimes in life) in order to improve… we know we need to change certain areas of our game… but the thought of change is sometimes not a pleasant one. For many Golfers… they’d rather have a root canal than say… moving their hands over to the right a quarter inch on the club handle to fix a slice.

Before I started working on my changes… I answered five questions that helped me stay on track. I’d like to share them with you in hopes that you would use them during your journey in golf when “change” is needed.

Q:     Is this change a top priority?
A:     In my case… I knew that when I was off plane at the top of my swing and in my follow-through… it meant I was off plane at impact… causing me directional problems as well as poor contact causing me loss of distance.

Q:     How much risk are you willing to take?
A:     Blisters? Poor shots? Mis-hits? Out of comfort zone? Not playing with your golfing buddies on weekends for a while? Without a doubt… it could be a very frustrating time… at first. In my own pursuit… I had the additional risk of having students see me practicing and playing during my transition while hitting some not-so-good (translated: bad) shots!! But I decided it was well worth the "risk." And now I'm posting on the world wide web for all to see! Gulp!!

Q:     How much time are you willing to invest?
A:     Is there a magic number of how long it will take? I don’t think so. BUT… if it takes a month out of your golfing career to make a significant swing change that will improve your score dramatically… wouldn’t it be worth it? What about six months? Or… gulp… five years!? And how much time per week… per DAY… could you realistically invest? Can you do three one-hour practice sessions a week? Perhaps doing the same drill CORRECTLY over and over and over and over and ….

Q:     What is the cost of NOT making this change? In other words… can you live (and be happy) with NOT making this change?
A:     If you don’t make this change… are you okay with playing that slice? Are you okay with aiming more left? Playing more club than your playing partners? Having to play the forward tees?

Q:     What resources will be needed to make the change?
A:     Video camera? Photos? Books? The Internet? Golf Channel? Training aids? Mirror? Videos? And yes… perhaps even taking lessons from a qualified golf instructor? Rarely can anyone make changes on their own… rarely. That chair you’re sitting on involved a TON of people. From engineers who designed it, to draftsman who put the designs on paper, to people who made the parts, to people who assembled it, to people who tested it, to people who shipped it, to people who… well… you get the idea. The time it takes to make changes can be shortened when the right resources are being utilized.

These are the questions I wrote out and answered. Perhaps you don’t have to answer all of them… perhaps there are more questions you need to answer.

Create some type of a game plan based on your answers on how you plan on making change and write it down in your golf journal. Review it often. And at times when practice and progress seem to be going nowhere… review the questions and more importantly the ANSWERS… and be encouraged that it will all be worth it! And don’t forget to enjoy the process!

By the way… I’m STILL working on my changes! But I'm getting there!



A bit further into my swing and you can see that the clubhsaft in my follow-through in the "After" image on the left is still on plane... meaning it's still pointing toward where the ball was. This is what I wanted to achieve. Lots and lots of halfswing drills to make this change... and I'm still doing them!

 Peace… Love… Golf!

Ted

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