Without constant practice, you cannot expect your golf game to get better over time. Even with the help of lessons, instructional videos and other aids that you purchase, you cannot get better without consistent and efficient practice. You need to practice consistently because with every practice session, your body goes through a series of exercises that help develop muscle memory. Also, you need to practice efficiently because it is important that you learn to pace your energy through the different kinds of exercises.
Although this advice sounds simple enough, many tend to overlook it. It's tempting to go straight and tee-off as soon as you get to the golf course. Many golfers, even the pros are guilty of that too. This is simply because there are many golfers out there think that their score will improve as long as they spend enough time practicing at the practice range or even worst, on the course.
This could not be further from the truth. In order to play a better game of golf, it is vital that you hold regular and disciplined practice sessions, the way that you would treat your golf game.
Instead of thinking how boring practice sessions can get, do remember that it is with constant practice that you are able to develop better playing habits when you next play a round of golf. Also, it would help you to think of practice sessions as a fun part of learning and not look at is as a heavy burden or a chore .If you think practice sessions are fun, you would naturally play better and have more enjoyment in the game.
You practice sessions are generally divided into three parts. They are the:
- warming up stage
- fresh stage
- fatigued stage
In each of these stages, you will be doing different sets of activities, and when they are carried out in the right stages, they will effectively get you the results that you want and this can be seen when you are out playing golf with your friends.
The Warming Up Stage
Many people have the misconception that golf is an easy game that doesn't require any physical activities, as it only involves walking and swinging. Again, this is wrong. Even when you are swinging your golf clubs, you use your muscle groups to move and work in ways that you normally don't in your everyday routine.
This means that when you play golf you can expect to have your arms, torso, and lower back muscles to work hard. This shows that it is very important for you to first go through some stretching activities for warming up. You should start from the top of your head and work down towards your feet.
Remember that what you want is to get your muscles to move in full range and to achieve flexibility. Should you be unfamiliar with stretching activities, do consult your trainer or instructor at your club for some advice.
The Fresh Stage
Right after warming up, you could start practicing exercises that help build on a certain golfing skill which you would like to master. On the other hand you could work on parts of your game that you think needs the most work. These could include driving, chipping or putting.
The aim is of course to work on your techniques and skills while you're still fresh and flexible from a good stretching exercise during the warming up stage as your body will be able to respond in a more positive manner to whatever exercise that you are practicing.
Some people have the wrong idea about practice sessions. They think that golf practice means spending time on a golfing range. Why would you want to work on your driving, unless that is the area that you would most want to improve? If you think your putting needs serious practice, then by all means, work on your putting as soon as you've warmed up. (By the way, it has been noted that almost 60% of a golfer's strokes take place on the golf green. However, this is not considered by many golfers, which result in poor ineffective golfing habits).
The Fatigued Stage
Once you get a bit tired or breathless from all the earlier exercises, you can move on to other parts of your game that needs minor practice. As your body is already familiar with this facet of the game, you only need to reinforce and maintain this technique.
Should you require any correction to your technique, your already stressed body will not be too pressured in trying to master a particularly difficult skill. As stated in the example above, only after you have done enough practice on your putting should you move on to the driving range reinforce and maintain your drives.
Last but not least, take note of these suggestions and observations when you are practicing next.
In order to get continuous and consistent improvement, do remember that a good practice to play ratio is about 2:1. This means that you have to spend twice as much time at practice as to the amount of time spent playing.
On the other hand, remember to get sufficient rest in between your exercises and also in between the various stages. Even though it is considered as a work out, you should not exert yourself to the point of panting and gasping. That would not bring any good but will bring even more harm to you.
Your golf game should improve as your practice sessions get more disciplined and more organised. Remember to be consistent and to note the results of all your exercises so that you can improve your golf game one stroke at a time.
