Correct practice habits on the range lead to better rounds.

When I hear golfers say, “I can hit the ball really well on the range, but I can’t seem to take it to the course,” I usually ask questions about their practice habits: “How often do you practice?” and “What do you spend time doing?” The answers are very revealing. They say things like, “I hit over 200 balls a day!” or “I’m out there every day until dark!”

What you do during practice develops associations. It’s an opportunity to engrain either bad or good habits. If you are doing the old “scrape and hit” form of practice, while feeling increasingly frustrated, you have just engrained the habit of hitting mindlessly while feeling frustrated. That’s not exactly the formula for success on the golf course.

One of the keys to transferring good practice habits to the course is to view practice time as an opportunity to blend your mental and emotional skills with your mechanics. When asked how to practice for optimal performance, Michael Murphy, a human-performance expert and author of Golf in the Kingdom, said, “Focus on teaching them to get in the zone. You practice the swing mechanics with the mind mechanics. If you don’t do them together, the practice might make you worse.”

One way to establish an integrated practice approach is to incorporate intentionally those skills into your practice routines. I’ve written previous articles about the importance of pre-shot (May 2008) and post-shot routines (Fall 2007) for optimal performance. To master the mental and emotional skills, it makes sense to practice these skills just as much as you practice your swing mechanics.

Here are some suggestions for integrating mental, emotional and technical skills into your practice:
• Spend at least 50 percent of your practice time completing a pre-shot and post-shot routine for every shot.
• Have a specific practice intention, such as staying focused on the target.
• Adjust your practice routine to fit your personality. If you have a short attention span, take frequent breaks.
• Pay attention to how you are thinking and feeling about your shots. Make a habit of shifting from negative to neutral or positive.
• Practice feeling pressure or nervousness. Imagine yourself stepping up to the first tee during a tournament.
• Practice being 100-percent committed to your shot and swinging with confidence.

Another issue is that many golfers practice in ways that have little to do with actually playing golf. Unlike basketball, football, soccer, baseball and many other endeavors, golf is one sport where the players don’t practice on the actual playing field. How is hitting one tee shot after another simulating a round of golf? When actually playing golf, you rarely use the same club twice in a row, so why would you want to practice hitting the same club repeatedly?

To bring your practice-range swing to the course, you must simulate a round of golf during your practice time. This allows your mind and body the opportunity to rehearse for playing situations.

Here are some additional tips for creating good practice habits:
• Practice playing holes on the practice range. Imagine playing the first three holes on your home course. Start with your driver and then iron shots. Select different targets. Engage your brain in decision-making for each shot.
• Practice making up-and-down shots (a chip and one putt) by using only one ball. Set it up as a par two, and see what your score is for 18 shots.
• Practice putting with only one ball, and putt until you hole it.
• Play a round of golf with the intention of practicing a specific skill. For example, you might want to practice hitting high shots or draws. Select a specific focus for three holes and switch focus. Make notes about your observations and performance.

Of course, there is a time and place for mechanical practice, too. This is especially true if you are making significant swing changes because you need to spend time ingraining the muscle movements necessary to develop a habit. Be clear with yourself about the intention of your practice time, and structure it accordingly.

By  Denise McGuire, Ph.D.

Denise McGuire, Ph.D., founder of Get In the Zone, uses mind-body techniques to train golfers of all levels.  Contact her at denise@ getinthezone.net or 303-902-5008.

5/14/08