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Research shows that adding pressure during practice can improve performance under pressure on the course. I suggest hitting a certain number of shots in a row within a defined zone, slightly better than my skill level, to challenge myself. This builds pressure and helps prepare for real-game scenarios. I share an example of a ball striker who used a similar approach with great results. I demonstrate the drill by aiming for a specific target area, and although I felt the pressure, I managed to hit a few shots in the zone. I also discuss how I can adjust my technique to improve my performance under pressure in future practice sessions. This approach enhances my ability to handle pressure on the course and reinforces a more automatic swing.
Tags: Practice Strategies, Mental Game
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This drill video is creating natural pressure on the driving range.
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So one of the challenges, um,
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between practicing on the driving range is going onto the course is oftentimes
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people feel more pressure on the course. Now,
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some research in basketball has shown that if you can get some pressure
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with your practice, even if it's not at the same level as uh,
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what you're feeling on the course, by elevating the pressure somewhat,
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it tends to have more of a carryover to the game or to the pressure situation.
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So the challenge is, when you're practicing, how can you apply some pressure?
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Um, that's where I like games that help you keep score, but, um,
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sometimes you're,
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you're in a rush or you didn't print off a sheet or you just kind of forgot some
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of the rules. I think, um,
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one of the easiest ways to inherently build some pressure is to try to do X
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number of shots in a row. Um,
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so you can give yourself different tolerances depending on your skill level.
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Um, but trying to hit sequential shots that are like,
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let's say in a particular zone,
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pick a zone that's a little bit better than your skill level or handicap level
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to force yourself to be a little bit better in practice than we need on the
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course. Um, that will naturally create some pressure. Um,
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so one of the best ball strikers that I ever, um,
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played with his main practice was he had to hit
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five good shots, whatever he determined that was,
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but he had to hit five good shots with each club before he could leave the
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range. Um,
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and I'd see him work through the clubs and he'd get stuck on one and he would,
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you know, stay there until he got it. Um, and that pressure of, okay,
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I've just hit four shots, I've gotta hit this one in order to move on.
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That's more similar to what we're gonna experience on the course.
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So we'll see if we can pass his game. Um, we've got, uh,
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we will pick as a rough starting point. I'd say, you know,
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three or four fingers.
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So I've got three fingers between those two flags that are out at about, um,
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one 60 or so. That's not, uh, not terrible for an eight iron,
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so we'll just aim in the middle of those. That's my field goal.
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My goal is to get five of them to finish inside
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that field goal.
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Now I'm gonna ice myself a little bit. Ideally when I'm doing this,
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I'm training for on the course,
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so I'm probably gonna use my full pre-shot routine,
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but for the sake of the video, I'm gonna,
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I'm rush through it a little bit and just do kind of a mini step in,
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just kind of like that.
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So a little thin, but made it in the goal. Um,
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now the challenge will be my brain wanting to fix the thin contact and,
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uh, I haven't looked at it on video today, so, um, not,
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I don't have a clear plan for fixing the thin contact,
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but that was one in the zone. Let's see if we can get a second one right here.
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That was, I'd call that a plus. A little better turf contact.
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Again,
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we're just doing kind of the mini walk in instead of the full pre-shot routine.
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Just to keep myself honest, see if we can go three.
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All right, three in a row. Pressure's starting to build.
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I don't wanna be here all day. I want to see if I can get through this game.
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I can feel my head wanting to jump ahead or my mind wanting to jump ahead and I
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have to stick to my pre-shot routine.
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You know, I, I,
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I had the feeling that I was talking a little bit too much on that miss,
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just left of the zone, so I would have to start over. Um,
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tough break without walking in.
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Can we make it four outta five just for saving a little bit of my
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pride. Yeah, so we got four out of five.
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Um, but the one where I was talking a little bit too much threw it off. Um,
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that kind of relates to the whole trash talking, uh,
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which means maybe I can rehearse my,
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or dial in my swing a little bit more to make it more automatic, less conscious.
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But, um, overall not too unhappy. Got with three, felt the pressure.
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Now I have an idea of what to expect when I get under pressure.
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It felt like I pulled just a little bit more with my upper body and pushed a
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little bit too much, um, with my lower body.
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So it felt like I kind of avoided my core.
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I can guarantee you the next time I practice,
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I'm gonna work on getting my core more involved to help clean that up.
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Hopefully I'll be able to get through five next time.
