I am often
talking to my players about developing their practice sessions more. Often,
they just turn up and beat balls, or they turn up and beat balls with a single
focus. Whilst this can be beneficial sometimes, you will stagnate eventually because you need to mix things up. This is not just for novelty purposes, each different
type of practice will teach you different skills.
talking to my players about developing their practice sessions more. Often,
they just turn up and beat balls, or they turn up and beat balls with a single
focus. Whilst this can be beneficial sometimes, you will stagnate eventually because you need to mix things up. This is not just for novelty purposes, each different
type of practice will teach you different skills.
“Different
types of practice?”, I hear you say. Yes, there are different ways to practice
which will develop you as a player in a unique way. Just like a strength
athlete sometimes needs to do some conditioning work to improve their strength
(even if it doesn’t directly relate to strength in itself), a golfer will need
to do training sessions with a certain mindset and goal in order to improve the
other skills they are looking to get better.
types of practice?”, I hear you say. Yes, there are different ways to practice
which will develop you as a player in a unique way. Just like a strength
athlete sometimes needs to do some conditioning work to improve their strength
(even if it doesn’t directly relate to strength in itself), a golfer will need
to do training sessions with a certain mindset and goal in order to improve the
other skills they are looking to get better.
So I will briefly
go through the different types of training sessions here. In future articles, I will
explain a more detailed view of each session.
go through the different types of training sessions here. In future articles, I will
explain a more detailed view of each session.
Warm up (click to see a more detailed description)
This is the
most basic practice session, and its purpose is to simply warm up the muscles
and joints, allow you to get a feeling for the rhythm of your swing for the day,
note shot patterns. I also tend to focus on strike, although you can pick a
single focus yourself.
most basic practice session, and its purpose is to simply warm up the muscles
and joints, allow you to get a feeling for the rhythm of your swing for the day,
note shot patterns. I also tend to focus on strike, although you can pick a
single focus yourself.
Don’t forget to do some light stretching
This is not
the time to make radical changes to your swing. Just note down the shot pattern
you are hitting and make small tweaks to it if necessary. I would complete a full body warm up, going through some compound
movements (like squats/twists) followed by easing into your shot hitting with
shorter clubs first – working your way up to the longer clubs.
the time to make radical changes to your swing. Just note down the shot pattern
you are hitting and make small tweaks to it if necessary. I would complete a full body warm up, going through some compound
movements (like squats/twists) followed by easing into your shot hitting with
shorter clubs first – working your way up to the longer clubs.
The session
should last about 10 minutes, and you should hit about 20-50 balls or so.
Simple
should last about 10 minutes, and you should hit about 20-50 balls or so.
Simple
Technical (click to see a more detailed description)
Some people
love this part, some people hate it. But it should be a part of almost everyone’s
plan if they are to see consistent improvement. Just don’t let it be the sole
focus of every session. These sessions are, self evidently, designed to improve
the technique of a player – whether that is club movement or body movement.
love this part, some people hate it. But it should be a part of almost everyone’s
plan if they are to see consistent improvement. Just don’t let it be the sole
focus of every session. These sessions are, self evidently, designed to improve
the technique of a player – whether that is club movement or body movement.
The goal of
a technical session should be almost entirely to change the movement pattern.
What I mean by this is, don’t mix your focuses by trying to change your swing
AND hit great shots at the same time. If great shots occur – great, but they
shouldn’t be the goal. In fact, I recommend taking away the result in some way
shape or form (hitting milk bottle caps instead of balls, or hitting into a
net).
a technical session should be almost entirely to change the movement pattern.
What I mean by this is, don’t mix your focuses by trying to change your swing
AND hit great shots at the same time. If great shots occur – great, but they
shouldn’t be the goal. In fact, I recommend taking away the result in some way
shape or form (hitting milk bottle caps instead of balls, or hitting into a
net).
The advantage
of these sessions is that technique can improve much more rapidly. The disadvantages
are that it can sometimes cause a lot of disturbance to a player’s playing
skills.
of these sessions is that technique can improve much more rapidly. The disadvantages
are that it can sometimes cause a lot of disturbance to a player’s playing
skills.
Experimental (click to see a more detailed description)
During these
sessions, the goal is to explore variants of ball flight and swing
shapes/movement patterns. This improves your co-ordination skills, and allows
you to learn new skills and push boundaries of learning.
sessions, the goal is to explore variants of ball flight and swing
shapes/movement patterns. This improves your co-ordination skills, and allows
you to learn new skills and push boundaries of learning.
Ever see
Phil Mickelson hit that flop shot over his head from the bunker? Did you ever
hear how good Seve was the bunker with a 3 iron? Ever see Tiger do his ball
volleying/hit trick, or Rory Mcilroy hit balls from his knees? These are no
coincidences that they are able to do them – they have practiced them.
Phil Mickelson hit that flop shot over his head from the bunker? Did you ever
hear how good Seve was the bunker with a 3 iron? Ever see Tiger do his ball
volleying/hit trick, or Rory Mcilroy hit balls from his knees? These are no
coincidences that they are able to do them – they have practiced them.
Your
experimentation doesn’t have to be so wild though – it can be as simple as
trying to hit the biggest fade you can, followed by the biggest draw, or
playing the ball from the front of your stance and see what happens, followed
by putting it way back in the stance. Have fun exploring the infinite variables
of golf. Even if you never use some of the things you practice during these
sessions, you learn a lot of transferable skills.
experimentation doesn’t have to be so wild though – it can be as simple as
trying to hit the biggest fade you can, followed by the biggest draw, or
playing the ball from the front of your stance and see what happens, followed
by putting it way back in the stance. Have fun exploring the infinite variables
of golf. Even if you never use some of the things you practice during these
sessions, you learn a lot of transferable skills.
These
sessions really foster creativity, and should be an important part of every
player’s practice regime at some point. Don’t be frightened that you will ‘mess
up your swing’ by doing this – there is a lot of research out there showing the
benefits of this type of variable practice on desired skills – it is more
likely to benefit you and aid you into becoming a complete player.
sessions really foster creativity, and should be an important part of every
player’s practice regime at some point. Don’t be frightened that you will ‘mess
up your swing’ by doing this – there is a lot of research out there showing the
benefits of this type of variable practice on desired skills – it is more
likely to benefit you and aid you into becoming a complete player.
Calibration
I don’t
need to tell you about this, you already do it. This is standing on the range
and hitting shots, using the knowledge you gained from the technical and experimental
sessions to develop a stock shot. This could be a 5 yard fade, or a 15 yard
draw. Players tend to try to calibrate straight shots, and this can be your
goal too, if you wish.
need to tell you about this, you already do it. This is standing on the range
and hitting shots, using the knowledge you gained from the technical and experimental
sessions to develop a stock shot. This could be a 5 yard fade, or a 15 yard
draw. Players tend to try to calibrate straight shots, and this can be your
goal too, if you wish.
Most people
spend way too much time in this area of practice though. Whilst I deem it an
important element, use it wisely and sparingly.
spend way too much time in this area of practice though. Whilst I deem it an
important element, use it wisely and sparingly.
The
advantages of these sessions are that they can build your confidence through
the Block Practice nature, and they can
also help with the consolidation of a skill/speed up learning of a new skill.
The disadvantage is that the skills learned in these sessions often struggle to
come out during play (maybe you’re the player who plays great on the range yet
can’t reproduce this on the course).
advantages of these sessions are that they can build your confidence through
the Block Practice nature, and they can
also help with the consolidation of a skill/speed up learning of a new skill.
The disadvantage is that the skills learned in these sessions often struggle to
come out during play (maybe you’re the player who plays great on the range yet
can’t reproduce this on the course).
Routine
Routine
work is basically calibration, but you are using a full, on course routine. You
can also do a little bit of experimental work with this -for example, trying to
hit a fade with your full routine preceding it, followed by a draw shot.
work is basically calibration, but you are using a full, on course routine. You
can also do a little bit of experimental work with this -for example, trying to
hit a fade with your full routine preceding it, followed by a draw shot.
The goals
of a routine session should be to build a solid routine which is consistent,
and to work on the best pre-shot preparation to allow yourself maximum chance of
controlling your ball flight. Thinking about technique directly should start to
be minimized here – although you could utilize your Golfer’s Toolbox
of a routine session should be to build a solid routine which is consistent,
and to work on the best pre-shot preparation to allow yourself maximum chance of
controlling your ball flight. Thinking about technique directly should start to
be minimized here – although you could utilize your Golfer’s Toolbox
Although
this type of practice tend to be more difficult (due to its Random Nature – see
ARTICLE ON RANDOM PRACTICE HERE) transference of skills to the course tends to
increase. It also tends to put more focus onto a neutral or external stimuli,
which has been shown in studies to help performance. This is attributed to the
increase in the brain’s ability to access the desired movement pattern. The
main disadvantage of this type of practice is that technique changes can be
slower, as you are not concentrating on your technique as much directly.
this type of practice tend to be more difficult (due to its Random Nature – see
ARTICLE ON RANDOM PRACTICE HERE) transference of skills to the course tends to
increase. It also tends to put more focus onto a neutral or external stimuli,
which has been shown in studies to help performance. This is attributed to the
increase in the brain’s ability to access the desired movement pattern. The
main disadvantage of this type of practice is that technique changes can be
slower, as you are not concentrating on your technique as much directly.
Performance
With a
performance session, you will utilize good feedback through certain
tasks/games/tests. The aim is to increase your score in a certain skill (such
as hitting an imaginary fairway on the range), whilst minimizing thoughts of
technique.
performance session, you will utilize good feedback through certain
tasks/games/tests. The aim is to increase your score in a certain skill (such
as hitting an imaginary fairway on the range), whilst minimizing thoughts of
technique.
Your full
routine should be used for this, and if possible, testing should be random in
nature (e.g. hit a drive followed by an iron), although block type practice is
also acceptable. These sessions are designed to improve the mindset of the
player and switches focus to improving playing ability over swing technique
directly.
routine should be used for this, and if possible, testing should be random in
nature (e.g. hit a drive followed by an iron), although block type practice is
also acceptable. These sessions are designed to improve the mindset of the
player and switches focus to improving playing ability over swing technique
directly.
These
sessions have the same advantages and disadvantages as the routine sessions,
although there is also the added benefit of putting even more focus on the external.
sessions have the same advantages and disadvantages as the routine sessions,
although there is also the added benefit of putting even more focus on the external.
Take home notes
So you can
see, there are different types of practice sessions available for you to try,
each with varying benefits. Whilst most people mix sessions, I prefer some dedicated time in each area. For example, don’t go to the range and try to work on your swing mechanics and performance at the same time – you will end up getting the worst of both worlds. If you are changing your swing, give 100% focus to making the moves you want to do. If your mind is too concerned with the result, you will just struggle to make any change in your swing. If I held a gun to your head and told you to do with the club/your body what you are trying to do, you would be able to do it for sure (barring physical limitations). Hold this mentality for your technical sessions (as an example).
see, there are different types of practice sessions available for you to try,
each with varying benefits. Whilst most people mix sessions, I prefer some dedicated time in each area. For example, don’t go to the range and try to work on your swing mechanics and performance at the same time – you will end up getting the worst of both worlds. If you are changing your swing, give 100% focus to making the moves you want to do. If your mind is too concerned with the result, you will just struggle to make any change in your swing. If I held a gun to your head and told you to do with the club/your body what you are trying to do, you would be able to do it for sure (barring physical limitations). Hold this mentality for your technical sessions (as an example).
I would recommend going out and trying each of
these sessions and seeing how you feel from them. In an ideal situation, we
would use periodization principles to design an ideal program for you to
develop all your skills.
Some
sessions would require more technical focus and a higher level of
concentration, which may have the undesired effect of being detrimental to your
performance. For this reason, periodization is vital if you are to
simultaneously improve your swing and your playing skills. This becomes even
more vital if you are a tournament player.
sessions would require more technical focus and a higher level of
concentration, which may have the undesired effect of being detrimental to your
performance. For this reason, periodization is vital if you are to
simultaneously improve your swing and your playing skills. This becomes even
more vital if you are a tournament player.
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For more information on how to design an optimal
training program for yourself, contact me at Adamyoung@yahoo.co.uk , and we can
discuss how to create a plan for your season.
training program for yourself, contact me at Adamyoung@yahoo.co.uk , and we can
discuss how to create a plan for your season.
jasper7
Adam I have a tendency to make a change and see some instant +ve feedback, but then as I continue to practise the change it all falls apart, often in the same session certainly the next time.
Some times forgetting or loosing the feel, as I like to feel my positions.
How do you recommend keeping the change.
also is the loss of the feeling, the fact its getting ingrained more and more?
On a side note, when it does fall apart, I still try and keep the change, even though shots are very frustrating. Because I've seen how the change improved the ball flight at the start.
admin
Hey Jasper,
I used to have similar things happening in my practice. You have to just have faith that it will all come together eventually. Read my article on the ups and downs of learning (https://www.adamyounggolf.com/2013/04/the-ups-and-downs-of-learning.html) to help you understand a little more.
Also, to see the bigger picture, read this link on delayed gratification (https://www.adamyounggolf.com/2012/08/delayed-gratification-and-long-term.html). All of these idea's have helped me grind through when the going gets tough – and eventually reap the rewards.