Practice Plan

[Lemieux54]

How do you plan your practice ?

I just want to know what do you do when you practice:

- What are your goals ?
- How much time do you practice -vs- play ?
- How do you split your practice time ?
- Do you have some help when you plan your practice (PGA pro or other) ?
- How is your method working so far ?

Thanks for sharing with me and others...

[Samsquanch]

1. At first I work on something that I think could have used improvement from the last round I played, which could be pitching, drives, etc. When I get that all figured out I'll work on something that I'd like to improve on for long term results, maybe shortening my swing, etc.

2. In the summer I play 18 holes 5 times a week, and practice 1 other day, and take the other day off.

3. Usually about 60% short game, and 40% long game.

4. Sometimes I work with a pro, about once a month.

5. Pretty good. I think I need to focus more on "quality" rather than "quantity" though.

[rankoutsider]

I practice short game and putting 3 times for every time I practice my full swing.

 

To practice chipping, I keep score for 20 balls from around the green: I have to get up and down with at least 15 before I can quit. If I am practicing from the bunker, I have to get up and down with 10, and I am always trying to beat my last score.

 

In both cases, as soon as I make a 4, I have to start again.

 

If I am at the range with a buddy, then we have a match where we keep score. Loser buys the beer.

 

For putting, I really only practice 5 footers using the gate drill (set up two tees so the putter can go through them like a gate). I have to make 50 in a row before I quit. This is easier than you think and gives you a lot of confidence. I sometimes practice lag putts as well, but this isn't especially good practice. I just do it so when I stand over a long one I have some frame of reference.

 

For the full swing, I spend 3/4s of my practice time thinking about positions, swing thoughts I am working on, drills, habits to ingrain, and the last ten minutes of every session just hitting to a target with no (or at least fewer) swing thoughts.

 

great idea for a thread, and nice swing.

 

Rank

[beachgrovejunior]

- What are your goals ? My Goals while practicing are to ingrain proper movements in my swing, and get rid of the bad ones, as well as improve touch in the shortgame

- How much time do you practice -vs- play ? Probably 40/60 practice play, i dont practice as much from october to march

- How do you split your practice time ? Depends on what was weak the round before, but i would say as an average 40/40/20 full swing/putting/chipping

- Do you have some help when you plan your practice (PGA pro or other) ?Nope, its all me

- How is your method working so far ? It works pretty good, i have improved alot, and i am going to practice alot more this year seeing as i didnt really practice much last summer

[golfing_machine]

Really, its hard to say what the best way to practice is. Depends on what the individual is working on at the time. I believe golfers would benefit from spending more time learning about the golf swing and watching footage rather than blindly beating balls on the range.

[Lemieux54]

Anyone else want to share his practice planning with us ???

[hannul]

In the summer I play 4 - 5 times a week 18 holes. I go to the course about 1 1/2 hours before my tee time. I start with 50 meter shots, then chips from first cut and sand shots, I put about 10 times and continue to Driving range and hit a bucket of balls. (I like to play the same shots as I would at the course - like start with a driver, next is a hybrid then a wedge. Thats hole 1 and so on.)

 

If I don't have time to play a round, I'll practice at the near by range and short game area. This is about once or two times a week for 1 - 2 hours.

 

In the evening I like to play a round of mental golf - just imaging my self playing 3 - 6 holes. (I've played 18 but it does not happen often - I fall a sleep.)

 

I don't use a pro, but I do study about golf a lot and use video in spring time.

 

Hannu

[Navyplayer]

I just want to know what do you do when you practice:

 

- What are your goals ?

- How much time do you practice -vs- play ?

- How do you split your practice time ?

- Do you have some help when you plan your practice (PGA pro or other) ?

- How is your method working so far ?

 

Thanks for sharing with me and others...

 

 

- What are your goals ?

 

My goal is to do well in tournaments and to keep from giving most of my money to my skins partners… Ultimately I’d love to be down to a 1-2 handicap or even better if possible.

 

 

- How much time do you practice -vs. - play ?

I play twice a week during the summer and probably once a week during the winter. Practice is 1-2 hours 3-5 times a week all year round. I include indoor putting at home, swinging a weighted club at home and working out in a gym in that equation. If I have time after a round I’ll hit more balls to work on my misses for that day. It could be anything from driver, to approach shots, putting or bunker play.

 

I keep some heavy duty stats for all my rounds. It's on a excel spread sheet so posting it on here is kind of hard. Below is an example of the stat's I keep. What it basically breaks down is fairways hit, where on the fairway they ended up. Was it a positional tee shot? If so did it end up were I wanted? GIRs, what club and yardage to each green? How close to the pin if I hit a green. If I miss a green where was my miss? Up and downs. Putt’s, how many? How far for the pin once on the green am I putting too? Penalty shots? Were? How many? Keeping stat’s is a great way to identify and work on your weakness. Some stats are surprising. For instance, during my last round I only hit 6 fairways but I hit 13 greens and shot a 3 over 74. You would think I should work a lot with my driver, but after reviewing my notes, it showed that most of my misses were to the right; since I fade the ball 90% of the time my misses were manageable, and just off the fairway. My approach shots were on average 120' in (the course is short but narrow at 6435 yards), with that most of the GIR's hit were over 20' away to the pin so I never had a real chance to make birdie. I had 4 bogies and one birdie which which was an exception 19'.

 

- How do you split your practice time?

I used to work a lot on my full swing, but after 2 years of keeping good stats, I can tell you that the short game is were it’s at. After you learn to get off the tee box fairly decent, your quickest way to lower scores is via the short game highway. My practice works out to 70% Short game 30% full swing. Throw in bunker play into short game practice.

 

- Do you have some help when you plan your practice (PGA pro or other)?I’ve been self taught since starting golf (7years). I’ve only started using a pro over the last month. Mainly to get help moving to the next level. There is alot of things I never gave a thought to that he has helped me with.

 

 

-How is your method working so far?I’ve made it to being a solid 4 handicap in seven years but I hope to get better. I’ve spent A LOT of time and money practicing and playing. I’m by no means an exception, and I think a lot of golfers can achieve a high level of play with the right mindset and dedication.

 

 

 

Hole # Drive/Pos Gir /club /dist. Miss Putts/distance Up&Dwn/ dis. to grn Pnlty /Score