Lowerhandicaps.com Mental Game Instruction

Lowerhandicaps.com

Practice

When I talk with other players about their practice habits, I find that most often the player is practicing distance and direction. Two important elements for playing the game, but the wrong mind set for the practice facility. Many amateur players think that by practicing swinging the club, they should get better. Unfortunately they are wrong. Too many amateur players do not take the connection between set up and result seriously enough.

Players that focus on direction and distance are missing the point of practice. Players that measure the success of a practice session by distance and direction will not have long term success.

The primary goal of every practice session should be to improve and solidify the set up; stance, posture, alignment and grip. The second goal should be to move through and maintain the most optimal positions through out the swing. This is true for the full swing, pitching and chipping, and putting practice. The outcome or result of the swing is the last concern. Great golf shots stem from the set up, not the swing.

Players that take the time and focus their attention on improving their set ups first will build a more automated and consistent swing. It is all about basic fundamentals. Consistent swings come from consistent set ups. How could it be anything different?

If your focus is on results, then it is not on the set up. Feel is developed by working on your set up first. A player that has an inconsistent set up can never fully develop a feel for the swing. Every great player knows how a great golf shot feels. Without looking at the ball flight, they know instantly when they’ve hit the shot they wanted, just by the feel of the swing.

If you’ve been struggling with consistency, which is the real key to playing great golf, then you may need to shift your focus away from the results of a swing and start focusing on your set up.

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