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Steve Whidden, PGA Master Professional
Don’t
Practice
HAVE A RECITAL
Golf lessons
alone do not work. They are part of the puzzle to playing
better, but only part of the puzzle. Golf is a motor skill,
which means that the way that you swing a club, is formed by
an image in your brain. It also is a skill that requires knowledge,
feedback ad stimulation. Let me explain.
If
you are struggling with part of your game, go see your PGA Teaching
Professional for a lesson. But what I want you to leave with
is this: 1.) an understanding as to truly what is happening wrong
2) what the correct motion is 3) a drill (s) that you can practice
that give you instant feedback if you are doing it correctly
4) and finally and most importantly a practice/recital plan which
will break the practice into two parts. First, the implementation
of the skill through drills. Two, and more importantly a practice
recital on the range that simulates actually playing the game.
This is what deliberate practice is, and it is the fastest way
to long term success.
For
example, if you have trouble topping the ball. Find out why
you do it, how to fix it, drills to work on and a recital routine.
The 20 minute practice session may look something like this.
You
have been taught that the reason you top the ball is due to the
fact that your club head bottoms out too much behind the ball,
and is on its way up at impact. You learn that the proper way
is to hit the ball and then the grass after the ball. The drill
is to put a tee ½ inch in front of ball and work on hitting
the ball and knocking the tee out.
The practice/recital session
should be broken in half:
• Practice 10 minutes on
the drill
• Practice 10 minutes hitting
each range ball like you would on the golf course. Stand behind
the ball, pick out a target, take a practice swing, swing and
evaluate the divot. Now go to another target with another club.
Same routine. Your brain has just practiced the skill through
a drill for 10 minutes, now it needs real life recital to get
it to stick. And it will stick if you follow the plan.
About Steve:
Steve Whidden, 2010 Southwest Florida PGA Teacher of the Year,
whiddengolf.com
Dir. of Instruction, The Steve Whidden Golf Academy, Rosedale
Golf & Country Club,
5100 87th Street East , Bradenton, Florida 34211,~(941) 756-0004,
swhidden@pga.com |