If you find yourself spending hours on the range
working on your swing but not shooting lower scores
on the course, it may be time to change the way
you practice.
Players today are far too obsessed with the way
they swing the golf club. Are the mechanics of your
swing important? Of course they are, but you also
need to work on hitting shots. If you look at the
players winning majors, they can hit all the shots
— fades, draws, hooks, slices, high and low
shots.
I always ask my students which way they like to
hit their shots and am amazed at how many can’t
do what they say they can. Next time you head to
the range, try to work on hitting shots and leave
the swing thoughts at home.
10-ball drill
Start with a mid-iron and try to hit your main shot
shape 10 times in a row. Let’s say you like
to play a draw. Pick out a target and see if you
can start all 10 balls right of your target (left
of your target if you are hitting a fade). I see
so many players who say they like to play a draw,
yet they can never start the ball right of their
target and draw it back.
This drill will help you figure out if you can
consistently hit the shape you are trying to hit.
If you can’t hit your shape with 10 balls
in a row, start with five balls.
Also, you can try to hit five balls with a fade
and five balls with a draw. It is very important
that you can identify which shot shape you can and
can’t hit. This drill may sound easy, but
you may be surprised at how difficult it can be.
Target Golf
If you want to lower your scores, you need to practice
hitting balls to different targets. Pick out a target
on the range where you want your ball to land. Then,
pick out a very small, specific target where you
want your ball to start. The idea behind this is
to see if you can start your ball at a very specific
spot. It is easy to get too zoned into where you
want your ball to land. You need to be able to start
your ball at a specific area on each and every shot.
So stand behind your ball and focus on where you
want the ball to start. Make one practice swing
while thinking only about your small target. Keep
out all the mechanical thoughts about your swing
and focus only on your target. Then, take your stance
and hit your shot.
The only thing that matters is whether your ball
started at your small, specific target. Don’t
worry about where the shot ended up. The most important
thing is for you to be able to start your ball where
you are looking.
You can spend hours trying to get your swing into
the right positions, but these drills will show
you if you can hit shots when it counts. I watched
Greg Norman warm up once at a major tournament.
He went through all the shots in his arsenal during
his warm-up — fades, draws, hooks, slices,
high and low balls. It was and still is one of the
most impressive things I have ever seen. He could
hit all the shots well, which was a major part of
what made him great. If you want to achieve greatness
with your game, use these practice techniques to
help you develop the ability to hit all kinds of
shots along the way.
