PRACTICE DOES NOT ALWAYS MAKE PERFECT

 

With every one’s time at a premium the four hours plus required for a round of golf can put a strain on personal resources, so it is important that when you do get on the course your game is in shape.Time spent practising can be beneficial provided the player uses the time to the best.

Stories abound in golf of players who have spent hours hitting hundreds of balls each achieving their own ambitions and goals.Ben Hogan ,Vijay Singh and even our own Scottish hero Paul Lawrie have the blisters and callouses to confirm their dedication.I recall one evening at Dalmahoy when i was Director of golf During the Glenmuir Assistants Matchplay Championship I was getting into my car in the dark and I heard the sound of balls being struck,upon investigation there was the last man standing on the practice ground Paul using the car park lighting to allow him to continue, Dalmahoy now has a floodlit range with all the accessories to allow players to continue even longer.The time spent practising should be entertaining and fun combined with the knowledge that you are doing work which will lower your scores and help you take the money in the friendly four ball with your chums. Practising can be categorised in many ways which will dictate your work priority,if you have a swing fault don't waste your time on personal analysis get some professional help and use the expert advice and guidance from the coach/tutor and take the short route to a cure.A little time post lesson to discussing your programme for a successful out come means the lesson content stays with you and the coach is always available to continue the dialogue. General swing maintenance is always beneficial, go through the bag use all your clubs with perhaps an emphasis on rhythm an tempo this is best achieved with the easier shorter clubs and is good for your short game.if you intend practising regularly begin with 20 minute sessions building up to a max of an hour.

Please don’t spend too long with the same club it’s boring and pointless because when you go on the course you very rarely play the same shot twice.

When you get your swing going take a score card to the practice ground and after a wee warm up try to play the first three holes on the course on the actual practice ground.You will be able to tell form each shot you hit where it will be on the respective hole and then club yourself on from there,during this exercise all flags are in the middle of the green, build up to trying eighteen holes and you will find you can play a round of golf in under an hour.

Just thinking about you swing is very helpful, next time you are relaxing in a chair try to make a swing with without moving and you w ill be surprised at how familiar you will eventually become with your best swing, also for those who perhaps can’t get to sleep tackle your insomnia by getting your mind to the first tee and see how far round the course you make it in an imaginary round.Remember practice does not always make perfect but perfect practice can make perfect