“There’s no TV until you’ve . . . ” practiced the trombone, fed the calves, done your homework, or a slew of other tasks I was responsible for growing up. Mom was no taskmaster, but rather a persistent and gentle coach reminding me what I needed to do. Most professional golfers have coaches for their swing, fitness, and mental game coach to achieve and maintain their edge. That’s a lot of “moms”.
Most of us admit we spend little or no time practicing. We gladly take a morning or afternoon to play 18-holes, but spend no time practicing. Yet, week after week we complain our scores aren’t improving. While it’s obvious I am not your mother or your coach, perhaps I can be a gentle persistent voice asking you two questions: “Do you really want to play better? Are you willing to make some sacrifices to achieve your goal?”
What about 15 minutes every day for one month? Would you be willing to start there? You may grow that amount later, but you need to start somewhere and stick with it for the next four weeks. Get one of those calendars that has a picture of a lovely golf hole. Picture yourself making a birdie. Objective clearly in mind?
Now, create a regimen for yourself that you will practice over the next 28 days and write it down within each square below the picture. Adjust along the way as necessary. After all, life is to be lived not followed. Here is a suggested routine:
- Day #1 – The first day starts off with fun. Play a round. Don’t worry about your score. Just count approach shots of 50 yards or more that stay on the green, pitches/chips that stopped within 8 feet, and putts made from inside 8 feet.
- Day #2 – Practice making 3 foot putts. Hit them from all sides of the hole. How many go in? Add 3 feet each week. At the USGA Women’s Open a couple years ago, I watched Stacy Kerr’s coach work with her in making 3 foot putts for over 30 minutes. Be sure to go through your complete pre-shot routine for each practice shot this month. The number of shots hit is less important than consistent effort and measured results.
- Day #3 – Make 15 yard chips. How many chips can you get to stop within 3 feet of the pin? Vary your shot height. Make good, consistent contact. Increase the distance by 5 yards each week.
- Day #4 – Try 15 yard chips and putt out each chip. How many up and downs can you do from 10 yards? Note: an “up and down” is getting the ball in the hole from off the green in two strokes.
- Day #5 – Pitch the ball 30 yards to a target. How many can you get to land within 8 feet? Add 10 yards next week.
- Day #6 – Get up and down from 30 yards by pitching on to the green and putt out. Do you get up and down fewer times than when you chipped?
- Day #7 – Make 100 yard approach shots to the green. How many times can you land on the green? Increase your distance each week by 20 yards.
Can you practice 15 minutes every day and stay with it? While it’s easy to over engineer the game, to get better you have to practice every day and and record your practice times, stats, and weekly scores. You will begin to see your scores improve quickly.
Let us know how you did. We’d love to hear from you.
