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Harvey
34 Posts |
 Posted - July 01 2009 : 7:10:30 PM
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What is the best way to get the most from your practice time ?
I hit the driving range twice a week, and the course once a week, and keep the putter in the office.
At the range I'll work through all the clubs, short to long, hit 5 balls with each club, keeping a note of any problems.
Then I play a mental version of the course that I will play that week.
At the end try and work on any problems that have come up, and finally I'll hit the putting green for 30 minutes or so.
I think one of the hardest challenges is to try and recreate realistic situations at the driving range, uphill/downhill , hitting from the rough and also trying to recreate the feeling of hitting shots under pressure.
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flopper
Sweden
320 Posts |
Posted - July 02 2009 : 02:58:17 AM
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Simulate the conditions you play.
I often suggest people to from time to time, just hit 14 shots that day at the range.
One shot with each club. No matter the result, you just hit one shot.
Then go home or go play a round.
Most practice quantity, this breeds bad habits.
Quality shots, whee you know and must perform well as you only have one shot, forces your brain to simulate the same conditions golf plays.
Annika sorenstam as an example become a better sand player when she changed her practice.
She spent a few hours hitting sand shots, become "WORSE".
Then she and Reis alter so she hit one shot only every one hour.
Then she become better.
The reason she become better, now she knew, she had one shot and gave it all her best.
So, before hitting the shot, go trough what the shot is to be like, make everything about the trajectory and what the ball will do.
Then, add how it will be like and make sure its future oriented which means, its already been made.
Then step up and make the shot.
Shift club.
All mental practice try to achive the same goal, to be habitual and automatic where it counts and be effortless and easy.
To get that level of performance, practice one shot each club one day, this will show you how hard it is to actually do.
I spend less and less time at the range.
Reason is I hit one club and one shot, more and more often.
So, even if you hit a bad shot, you dont make another one.
This is important.
Your brain also works knowing if it has another chance, then it wont give the best at this one shot as you now have a mulligan.
Obviously, you can change the practice to be, one flop shot, one sand shot, one foregreenshot with the same club, but all shots, are new and different.
This is also why I practice more of my swing on the pratice rounds, as I only get one shot there and must give it my best.
The important practice is the brain and how you percive things to be.
If we assume we get another shot, we wont give it the best and we dont simulate the playing conditions we have.
This is working by our assumptions and works, often beyond peoples perceptions as it ties into creation of reality.
Doing the above have changed my approach, I play some of my holes at the course differently, due to be in play is more important and my scoring has gone down.
I play with coursemanagement as a pro, and it has come naturally as I also analyze, where is this shot "best" option, and this is on a course I played for years.
The above also shifted my playing game so I am comfortable hitting shots, in competiton the same as I do when practice.
Analyzing my approach shots, shows I can have 150yards or less on 14 holes, if I make a decent tee shot. This shows I should be able to at least have on a good day, 14gir+.
Practice the shots you can make, one only, with quality, and the ones you learn a little more but when you get the hang of them, less and less.
This allows you to train your mental abilites and be though when the going gets rough.
beacuse your already done such shots, and never get nervous or upset or angry or such.
Giving up trying to meet goals and outcomes this year.
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simpleswing
951 Posts |
Posted - July 03 2009 : 11:54:57 AM
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Hi Harvey,
Flopper makes some very good points.
Here's a suggestion I wrote years ago about practice but it still holds true. http://www.golfhelp.com/golf-tips/Play_A_Range_Round.html Doing that kind of practice can make practicing more enjoyable as well as more useful.
I very, very strongly suggest you keep a Practice Notebook and record what you practice and the results. It's even more important to write down information about what your doing well than what you're struggling with although that's helpful too. No matter how smart you are you will forget lots of what you do in practice. ALL THE TOUR PROS (OR THEIR CADDIES) NOT KEEP PRACTICE NOTEBOOKS. I've seen practice notebooks help guys with genius IQ's as well as guys that have trouble figuring out which feet their shoes go on.
Joe Davidson
Simple Golf
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Harvey
34 Posts |
Posted - July 05 2009 : 8:03:44 PM
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Once again, great advice many thanks.
I took these ideas to the range and realised how sloppy/casual many range time really was, I've even grabbed a few extra score cards and have been writing in my scores for each hole, without my usual mulligans !
I've been stuck hitting around the low to mid 80's for about a year, my driver is pretty good about 250 with roll 10/14 fairways, approach shots pretty good, putting pretty good, sand saves pretty good, ( my idea of a sand save is anywhere on the putting surface ! )
So I guess the question has to be, how do you practice better to change pretty good shots into good shots ? What drills can you be doing at home, and what would constitute a good practice routine to get you shooting better golf ?
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jclenden
USA
206 Posts |
Posted - July 05 2009 : 9:25:27 PM
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Harvey, do you know your game well enough to know what needs to improve in order to consistently shoot lower scores? In other words, if you hit 2 more GIR would that lead you to your goal? If your GIR were 3' closer to the hole, would you make 1-2 more putts per round? When you miss GIR, how many times do you get up and down in 2 shots? How many "blow-up" holes do you have per round? What would it take to eliminate them so that the worst score on your card is bogey? Do you play great in stretches and then have 3-5 holes where you just "lose it", or are you a more consistent player?
I have found the answers to these questions to be the key to my practice plans, and they have helped me improve my scoring. You find the biggest obstacle, work on it until something else is your biggest obstacle, and then move on to it. I have been following this "organic" problem solving approach (taken from biotic studies) for a couple of years now. This year I have shaved 3 strokes off my typical 9 hole score thanks to the "organic" approach. You may want to try it, but to do so you need to capture data about the present state of your game. I use a special spreadsheet to track my stats so that I know where my biggest problems areas are. |
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simpleswing
951 Posts |
Posted - July 06 2009 : 11:35:39 AM
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Hi Harvey,
jclenden is right. You have to know where you're losing the strokes before you can start saving them.
That said, by far the easiest way to save strokes is with your short game from 100 yards in, especially from 50 yards in. One good measure is to track how many up and downs (from anywhere inside 50 yards) you get in a round. Hitting a chip (or a pitch)and making one putt is the fastest, easiest way to save strokes. With the Symple Swing Short Game techniques you should be able to boost your percentages.
Good scoring is actually a different skill from good ball striking. It is something that can be learned.
Tell me more about you short game and we should be able to point you in the right direction to get started.
Joe Davidson
Simple Golf
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Harvey
34 Posts |
Posted - July 07 2009 : 03:08:17 AM
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I'll run through last weekends game, it was a pretty typical round for me.
A bit long winded so I'll keep it to the first 9 holes.
Hole 1: 380 yard dog-leg right par 4.
Nice relaxed drive down the right, just caught the first cut, leaving about 140 yards to the pin, playing into the wind changed from an 8 iron to a 7, nice straight shot lands center of the green about 10 feet from the pin !! ...before rolling off the back into a deep bunker . Bunker shot about 15 feet from the pin, easy 2 putt, bogey.
Hole 2: A very beautiful 194 yard par 3.
You need 180 yards to carry the pond, the pin back left.
Hit a nice high 5 wood, heading straight for the pin with a slight draw, ended up about 10 yards from the pin, 2 yards off the green in deep rough. Hacked it out of the rough but with the green slopping away, ended up 15 feet from the pin, tricky 2 putt, bogey.
Hole 3: 440 yard dog leg left par 4.
A wide open fairway, no bunkers, just grip it and rip it kind of hole, a sweet drive straight down the middle...oh I love golf !  .
About 180 yards to the pin, hybrid straight to the center of the green, 2 putt, par !
Hole 4: 560 yard par 5.
Still on a high after the last hole, decided to rip another drive straight down the middle, caught the ball on the heel it goes about 180 yards dead left into the rough...oh I hate this game . Managed to reach just off the green in 3 , great chip to within 4 feet, saved par !
Hole 5: The signature hole, 290 yard par 4.
This hole plays straight uphill, it plays more like 350 yards. The green is a 'U' shape with a massive, deep bunker in the center of the 'U', which has steps to help you get in and out ! You can be on the green but the pin can be on the other side of the 'U'...interesting hole !
Nice drive, 95 yard approach, 10 feet above the hole, a nail biting 2 putt, Par.
Hole 6: 530 yard par 5 .
Over the back of the green in 3, hitting from deep rough, hit the ball 25 feet past the pin, 3 putted Double bogey.
Hole 7: 176 yard Par 3.
OB left and right narrow hole. On the green about 15 feet from the hole, easy 2 putt, Par.
Hole 8: 480 yard par 4.
This hole is all down hill, if you hit a nice drive you are looking at over 300 yards. Left my approach short of the green, chipped to within 10 feet, 2 putt, Bogey.
Hole 9: 438 yard par 4.
Water right, OB left . Nice drive, approach was short, chipped and saved par.
Ended up with an 83, no birdies, no sand saves, 38 putts, about 4 putts burned the edge ( don't know if that is a statistic to keep track of or not  ).
That's my typical game, again any advice on how to shave off a few shots or what to practice on, is more than welcome ! |
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mikeoleary
535 Posts |
Posted - July 07 2009 : 10:10:17 PM
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harvey
great recount of front/ you hit a lot of great shots but threw a few strokes away / let analyze
1- 83 is good score but with your ability should be mid to high 70's on ANY course because
your best drive needs to become your average drive/ your best iron shots need to become your average shots.. same with putting/ so at the end will discuss how to 'mentally' stay in focus to make this happen.
fairways in reg - front nine was 6 out of 7 i believe great job (counted #1 as still had a short iron no problem to green)/ only bad drive was when you 'on high' from previous and swung harder? or faster? or ?? same swing every time/ perfect form is the KEY TO SUCCESS/ don't add variables or cause error by over swinging. become a robot.. "here's another perfect swing at the same speed every time right down the middle".
GRADE A
greens in reg - my count 3/9 ... over 18 holes that is 6/18.. needs to be 11 or 12 at least.
seems like approach shots were long or short correct? why ? is caddie giving you bad yardage? lol or are you swinging at different speeds ? example 7 iron goes 150 every time? or does distance vary? same speed every time on swing. club trajectory decides distance traveled not how hard or slow you swing... same speed every time. consistent repeatable perfect form is the secret!!!!!!
so practice short irons. learn distances for each club using same swing speed.
GRADE C
Putting - putts per round - is 38 avg? need to be at 30 to 32 .. that is 6 strokes right there that must be corrected. this is the easiest to fix especially if you are simple putting.
on the front i counted a misses from 8ft/ 10ft/ 15ft/ last putt on 3 putt had to be close ... so thats 4 strokes right there on front nine that needs to be saved or made.
also your chips from deep rough around green made it difficult to get the ball close to save par, ie below the hole to be aggressive etc on 8 fts is key.
so better approach shots, more greens in reg, less chips from bad rough, better putting all around will equal 6 to 8 shots less EASY If you clean up swing.
so more greens in reg is 1st goal
6 to 8 putts per round less is 2nd goal/ control distance of putts with same stroke speed for all putts inside 30 ft (see symple putting dvd)
I know you can make this happen // now back to mentally - the battle in all sports is manage your emotions, stay relaxed, focus/ golf is not a sport like football or wrestling - it is like swimming or free throw shooting in basketball or bowling. same relaxed swing using same perfect form (that is why SPS is great because it is the same swing for every club ie top of bs and finish all same)
next round focus like robot or 'get in the zone' where same swing thought over every ball, relax and 'see' perfect form and perfect result of shot/ then do it / no tension and the hardest thing no excitement, when the adrenaline gets going because your playing good still relax and focus on perfect swing.
please let us know how it goes both in practice and next rounds
hope this helped
take care
Mike O
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Harvey
34 Posts |
Posted - July 09 2009 : 04:00:07 AM
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Fired the caddie today ! He's gone !
I knew it had to be his fault, giving me the wrong yardages into the green, and giving me bad lines on the green !
First of all Mike, a big thank you for taking the time to read and analyse my front 9.
I feel so close to hitting in the 70's, but always come off the course with a lot of ' Should have, could have, would have ' thoughts, but again I guess that is part of the game, that we all love and ...hate ?
I've tried to take my pratice cues from the Playing lesson 1 DVD, but is there anything else I could be doing in order to get the most from range time ?
What would be the best way to maximise time spent at the range ?
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Harvey
34 Posts |
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flopper
Sweden
320 Posts |
Posted - July 11 2009 : 02:37:04 AM
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Forget about the pin and flag location, make 18 gir.
You might find your adjusting your clubchoice or swing speed.
Course strategy is one thing, and green strategy also applies.
I aim to get the ball into the best position for the next shot which also applies to the green.
Sometimes, the pin is placed so badly, its all about making a green in regulation and forget fully about the pin.
Also, always as noted, make your best shot each and every time, even on the range.
Many just hit a shot.
Always have intention what you want this shot to be like.
If that isnt practised, the brain have no reason to make a good shot on the course.
Always make the best shot you can make each and every time you swing, every time, always...
What people dont know is that, we train the ability and traits to internalize the shots.
We basically build a internal model consistent with the course, the shot and the ability to vary the shot depending on the lie etc...
This is why ben Hogan tried to make every shot the same with every club in trajectory, he didnt care of making a good shot, as he already could do that, he then went on to practice trajectory to be the same.
He trained his ability to perform the same each and every time.
His focus wasnt on the swing, his focus was to match the same trajectory which if he is able to do, his body then knows what to do to get that result without concerning himself with swing thoughts.
So for example, what I have done and do, is similar to that to make sure I work trough each step of the swing.
I done the backswing and are now working on the down swing and follow trough to be correct.
As the backswing starts to get right, I can adjust to get the swing plane right as I now know the difference between a flat plane (old one) and the new one (correct plane) and I also have feedback when I go to flat which I can sort out and clear up as I work on the downswing and follow trough.
So, this allows me to feel something new, suddenly, I am able to connect and make solid contact for the first time and made the ball fly even when it felt totally wrong...
This is the hard part of not having an instructor in place here, there isnt anyone I can take a lesson with to make this right, so I started to build a training and practice model to emulate a better feedback model for me to know what is going on in my swing.
As the backswing started to work out, I moved to downswing and follow trough which allowed me to start noticing what to keep track of to make the shot go straight.
This feels wrong, as the motion is a new sensation one I havent had before.
The ball shouldnt go straight but it does.
However as I written before, practice is made to find the moment when you can do it.
When that happens, you built an internal reference to the shot and then its just needed to practice it from time to time.
so my practice time is less time spent on the range, I just do the shots I can do once, and then work on the stuff that I am until they get into awareness of doing them right.
When the distinction is found, which is your map internally where you know the difference between left and right or right or wrong, then practice the right until it becomes habit.
The distinction is crucial.
No Golf trainer I know of, knows about that and seldom if ever train that specifically.
This is one reason I have added 50+ yards to golf professional drives and 30+ yards t0 their irons.
I am able to optimize their current motions to perfection.
So, when I start to know what to do to keep track of, I optimize that so it goes into habit and later reflex.
Not there yet tho.
/Robert
Giving up trying to meet goals and outcomes this year.
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Getting the most from practice
