Organising Practice

[Kitey]

Hey guys. I typically practice 4 times a week and play once a week. My practice is mainly in a sim (perks of my job), which perhaps limits certain exposures (i.e., different lies). I'd be keen to hear how you guys organise your sessions. This is something I am keen to improve. I try to mix up session by focusing on certain clubs (woods, wedges, approach shots) but I appreciate it might work better by doing different themes (clubhead speed, accuracy, etc). It'd be great to hear what others do and any suggestions. Thanks in advance

[KD1]

Can you play courses on your sim? Do that!

[Dan Drake]

Do you keep detailed stats from your game when/after playing?  If so, I'd love to hear some of the numbers and then could suggest a rough draft of a program to work on.  

[rondo01]

I’ve kinda fallen into the following, which is more or less a general session that doesn’t focus on anything too specific. 
 

1. 10ish warm up shots with a wedge, starting with chips and moving to a full swing.

 

2. Backswing and takeaway position work, going slow, ball teed up

 

3. I cycle through a few drills that I know help me. RH and LH only chipping to check release isn’t rolling over; a few L to L drill to see where things are; right foot back 9-3, right foot back 10-2; hinge turn hit; stick across elbows and drop stick; spray the face with foot spray and check where strike location is.

 

4. I then spend a good bit of time doing a three ball differential drill where I hook a ball, push a ball, hit one straight, and work through the bag alternating between extremes (wedge, driver, 9ir, 3w etc…)

 

5. A few balls hitting to various targets. 
 

6. By this time I’m getting a bit tired and end with silly stuff. Hit the driver 100 yards, see how high I can get a 60, bit hook and draws just goofing around. I hate ending with a bad shot, and this makes sure the bucket ends on a positive. 

Edited May 20, 2023 by rondo01

[RoyalTroon]

18 minutes ago, rondo01 said:

4. I then spend a good bit of time doing a three ball differential drill where I hook a ball, push a ball, hit one straight, and work through the bag alternating between extremes (wedge, driver, 9ir, 3w etc…)

 

I really like #4.  Paint the sky baby! 

[rondo01]

8 minutes ago, BALLYBUNION said:

 

I really like #4.  Paint the sky baby! 

it’s pretty great because I can use that as a warm up to play and at the absolute minimum know that I can push one out right and it’s going to be okish. Might not be far, but I have some idea it’s going to be playable.

[RoyalTroon]

It's like killing 2 birds, or more, with one stone.   I've been saying for years, the quickest pathway to owning straight comes from owning crooked. 

 

 

[Kitey]

1 hour ago, Dan Drake said:

Do you keep detailed stats from your game when/after playing?  If so, I'd love to hear some of the numbers and then could suggest a rough draft of a program to work on.  

I recently got ShotScope, and I also use "the Grint" to track on course. So I have a wealth of data available. More than happy to share, but ultimately I am a high handicapper that needs to work on everything 🙃

[Kitey]

42 minutes ago, rondo01 said:

it’s pretty great because I can use that as a warm up to play and at the absolute minimum know that I can push one out right and it’s going to be okish. Might not be far, but I have some idea it’s going to be playable.

I've used this drill before and really like it. I had done it before to try and work out 'neutral' but hadn't considered keeping this drills as a regular routine. Perhaps its something i'll add!

[Kitey]

To provide a little more input, I currently structure my week as follows:

 

Monday - Light to medium day - usually wedges with technique and within 6ft game.

Tuesday - Hard day - mostly woods, working on speed. Typically the most strokes as well]

Wednesday - work from home, so putting practice only

Thursday - Medium to hard day - Usually a simulated round. I may do some extra driver work as well

Friday - Light day - same as Monday

Saturday - On course Game

Sunday - OFF

 

I work in professional sport, so I try to account for fatigue management, hence my use of light/medium/hard sessions. 

[Dan Drake]

1 hour ago, Kitey said:

I recently got ShotScope, and I also use "the Grint" to track on course. So I have a wealth of data available. More than happy to share, but ultimately I am a high handicapper that needs to work on everything 🙃

That's a great start.  I'd love to see a little info about putting, some stats that show short putting and lag putting if possible.  Some distance numbers and GIR numbers would be a good start, but strokes gained would be better if you have that available.  

[ezra76]

I'm in the process of trying new things after listening to John Sherman 4 Foundations. I got it on audiobook and listened 2x the last few weeks while painting.

 

Putting 

I put a 48" tsquare in my basement and putt straight down that into and empty ball sleeve. My son plays junior league 2x a week, we go about an hour early and play several games. 4 balls around the hole 1 point each. If you miss any your opponent can steal yours plus then it's their turn. We setup like 2ft. 3ft. 4ft. 8ft.. Good pressure game.

 

Preshot Routine

I use "almost golf" balls and hit from 20yds away from the side of my house with an old 4iron. I pick my target, shot shape/trajectory and then setup and go. I hit anywhere from above a 2nd story window to the light inside the basement dormer entrance. 9 window drill but with real windows. So I also count up and my routine from target choice to hitting the ball is 7 seconds which includes 2 feel swings.

 

Speed Training

Speed Sticks. I do the 3 stick routine along with some other stretches then fire off a 2iron into my net with the prgr. I want to start doing more with driver but get a little scared of a mishit. The speed training is paying dividends. Last year 97 was swinging out of my shoes. Now I cruise at 100 with my on course driver swing. My 3w off the deck is 96. So lots more par 5 in 2 and agressive short par 4 play this season.

 

Full Swing 

Again this is net work. I do a lot of 9 to 3 with the "Hanger" training aid on an old 5i. Then I use my gamer 6i and red sharpie on balls. I use the prgr to just stay at 82-84mph and hit the center of the face. I then use driver with the foot spray trick. I use the prgr and stay at 98-102 with center face contact. This is a recent addition but very helpful. My last 2 rounds were superb driving the ball. 

 

 

Wedges

This is where I've gotten pretty good. I have a 1gallon metal pail in the yard and I chip with my 56 and 52 into that thing for hours. Then there is an old field nearby and I can hit up to a 9i over there. I bring a 5 gallon bucket with a dozen balls. I do all my wedges 60-80-100 with a smooth swing. I setup some sticks to mark off a green and hit full shots 100, 120, 140. These are great because I learn my most consistent patterns, which is aim a good 5-8yds. left and trust the cut. I first started doing this then shot even on a par 3 course days later. 

 

That's about it. No decent ranges really close by. There is one at my league course and I use that sometimes before my league but 95% of my practice is at home or in that field. 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 21, 2023 by ezra76

[MelloYello]

If you're hitting in a Simulator then your best clubs are going to be your longer ones. You can't really practice wedges and short irons hitting off of mats. 

 

Focus on becoming a tee shot machine and owning your shot shape with the hybrids & fairways. If you're a great driver golf is 100x easier anyway. 

 

Look at someone like Rick Shiels. He's the perfect example of what you can (and can't) achieve living in a Simulator. Great long game. Suspect short game. 

 

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Edited May 22, 2023 by MelloYello