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Golf may be the most difficult sport on the face of the earth. I had to limit it
to the earth because the astronauts hit a few golf balls on the moon and do to a lack of
gravity, the ball flies a little further, therefor golf would be a little easier on the
moon. However, as we are confined to the gravity laden earth, golf is pretty tough.
To excel in any sport practice is a must. avoid the idea that practice makes
perfect, it doesn't. Perfect practice leads to perfection. If you practice
wrong your game will not progress. The best way to practice wrong is to go to the
driving range and hit your woods all day long. This will probably guarantee that you
become a poor golfer. In this section I will outline some practice ideas and goals
to help you become the best golfer that you can.
 | Develop a pre-shot routine: One of the reasons that
golf is so difficult is that it is the only major sport in which you practice on a surface
different that what you play. The driving range is flat. The course is not.
To make your practice more like the course, you must develop a pre-shot routine and
use it on the driving range as well as the course. A pre-shot routine is everything
you do before you hit the ball. The secret is to simply do the same thing every time
before you hit the ball. My pre-shot routine goes like this. |
- View the target and visualize the type of shot to be hit
- Calculate the yardage, select the proper shot.
- Stand behind the ball in line with the pin and visualize the shot.
- Approach the ball, take a relaxed practice swing.
- Set the club-face, take my grip, set my feet, inspect alignment.
- Relax and Swing.
I do this before every shot. You will develop your own routine, the important
part is to do it every time.
| 150 yards and in: As a young golfer it will take some
practice and time before you hit the ball 150 yards. Because of this you must
develop an iron clad short game. If you develop a good short game early on, you will
excel as you grow and develop. The most important part of the game is from 150 and
in, (putting, chipping, pitching, sand, etc.) This part of the game should occupy 75% of
your practice time. The best way to practice the short game is to test yourself and
the have a few friendly competitions with your friends. In high school golf, a group
of us would each put a brand new ball in a bucket. Each of us would chip the balls.
Whoever made the most chip shots would get to keep the balls. Avoid gambling
(we used to get the golf balls for free). Try to compete against each other for the
sake of competition. Make your practice fun. |
| Quality versus quantity: Most often, your practice time will
be limited. Focus most of your practice time on the short game. Use the
remainder of your time on the full swing. Limit the time you practice with the wood.
The woods are the hardest to hit and will do more harm than good to a younger
golfer. Perfect your short game and your iron play and then you can turn your focus
to the woods. |
   
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