Practice Strategies of the pros

Here's a good article on some practice strategies. https://www.golf.com/instruction/2020/03/03/6-things-pro-golfers-practice-amateurs-never-do/?fbclid=IwAR3Hyxe3p6D6U5JN_oE_bddxxCR9BDsg3bca9DaJxTFUzqB3my-V18JSdOw

A couple of comments:

I highly agree with the concepts of using a pre-shot routine and setting up feedback. It still amazes me that some amateurs won't take 30 seconds to set up a quick station for dialing in mechanics, but instead rely on trying to recreate yesterday's "feel".

Wedges: While they are important for you and me, they are more important for pros. There is a greater chance for their wedge game to have a big impact on their scores. I'm working on some content organization that will be coming out soon (in the next month or so!) that will help explain this perspective. But for a pro, they will get more benefit out of hitting their 120-yard shot two feet closer than they would out of hitting their 200-yard shot 5-8 feet closer.

Practice with a purpose Smarties,

Tyler

I might be an anomaly. I love to practice. I would do it more except my job and other activities sometimes get in the way. Of course, I am lucky to have a great coach who inspires me to work on different parts of my swing....so I do.

I love the accomplished feeling when all the pieces of my swing come together and the ball has the flight and distance and direction that I want. Can I repeat that on the course? Maybe....but I know if I don't practice it, I'll never repeat it on the course.

Typically I spend 4 - 6 hours at the range per week. On the days I play I get to the range at least 1.5 hours in advance to warm up, find out how my swing is working and get focussed, before I go out and play. I don't know how people can just step out of the car onto the course and play, or expect to play well. If I do that, I play poorly and feel like I've wasted my time and money.

Cheers

A couple of thoughts from my own practice routine: 1) spend a third of my time on technique (block practice) usually with one club, depending on what I’m working on 2) the next third I try to hit shots (focus is on those I’m least confident with), 3) the last third I try to “play” holes in my mind (tee shots, approach shots, recovery shots, etc.) again with a focus on those that give me the most challenge. I always think about Harvey Penick’s advice “practice like you’re getting paid by the hour!”