Practice does not make Perfect

By Jean Harris CONTRIBUTOR

Golf is one of the only sports where you don’t practice on the field or court where you compete. Also, with most sports the dimensions are the same and there are lines on the court or field. In golf you also have more than one implement (up to 14) to hit the ball. Not like tennis, pickleball, basketball, etc. I play tennis and I don’t have to change racquets to hit a forehand, backhand or serve.

Practice should take place on days other then the day you play. If you are on the range prior to playing, it should be warm-up and not thinking everything your pro told you or what you watched on U-Tube.

Below are suggestions on how to practice:

· Practice using your pre-shot routine.

· Play shots to different targets with random clubs. Make sure you know the distances of these shots.

· Practice using the same club to different targets not just down the middle.

· Practice hitting to the same target with different clubs using different length swings.

· When practicing chipping and putting play a one-ball game. Chip and then putt the ball into the hole. See how many times you can get up and down.

· Practice hitting different ball flights: high, low, left to right, right to left.

· Practice trouble shots: uphill, downhill, out of divots, fairway bunkers.

· Work on your weaknesses, not your strengths. Therefore, you need to keep statis- tics during your round.

· Hit more wedges than drivers. A strong wedge game can help you save your round when your ball striking isn’t good.

· During putting practice ,work on distance control.

· Play holes on the range. Practice the first three holes on the range using the clubs you would hit on the first three holes of your course.

Finally, more isn’t always better. Hitting a jumbo bucket without having a game plan is not better than a small bucket going through some of the suggestions above. Quality is always better than quantity. Remember practice doesn’t make perfect. Start working on making your practice more perfect.

Dr. Jean Harris is an LPGA Master Professional and teaches at local golf courses. jean.golfdoctor.harris@gmail.com; golfdoctorjean.com