We all know the tired old clich? ?When you fail to plan, you plan to fail?. Tired and clich?d it may be but, when applied to golf, its 100% on the button.Most players, regardless of their ability level seem to show an almost schizophrenic attitude to planning their golf. For example, did you plan your last golf vacation, or did you just turn up at the airport with your clubs and hope that there might be a seat available on a plane going somewhere where the golf may be good.Dumb question, I know ? of course, you planned it down to the very last, most minute detail ? heck, I bet you knew exactly how many pairs of socks you were going to take weeks in advance!But, it?s a fact that most golfers are guilty of wasting their practice time. How many times have you been at a driving range and witnessed stall after stall filled with tired looking golfers endlessly smacking balls into the middle distance? Most have selected the large bucket and think only of launching all those little pellets with the big stick. Most of these people would have been better off if they had just stayed home and mowed the lawn. Why? Because they are practicing without a plan or a purpose. PLAN YOUR GOLF PRACTICE The first step in improving your golf is learning more about the swing. If you do not want to take lessons, there is a wealth of information available in books, magazines and (easiest of all) on the web. Find some information related to a part of your game you are struggling with. You?ll likely find many articles related to any and every golf sin you could possibly commit. Focus on the cause and effect. Try to understand not only what you need to do to improve, but the causes of your problem. There are likely to be multiple possible causes and solutions. HIT THE DRIVING RANGE? NOT YET Instead of running to hit that next large bucket, take those golf tips you learned and apply them in front of a full-length mirror. This is especially effective if you are working on your stance or setup. You can easily compare your body position with those of the pros in the magazines. Take your backswing in slow motion, stopping at various points to again compare your position with the pro. At the same time, realize that everyone has a different shape and physique, and it may be totally impossible to exactly ?mirror? the expert?s recommendation. Don?t beat yourself up on this ? do the best that you can, and just concentrate on using this exercise to help you to picture and feel a good golf swing. SMALL BUCKET PLEASE When you finally get to the range, your mind is no doubt full of energy and excitement as you prepare to apply your new thoughts. That is good. But, remember that it is quality golf practice, not quantity, which counts. Get the small bucket and take your time. Rest between shots. Resolve in your mind to think about what you are working on and exactly what it is that you want to achieve before each shot. Apply one swing thought before each practice shot. Too many thoughts will result in ?paralysis of analysis?. After each shot, reflect on not only the result, but how the swing felt. What did you do wrong? What did you do right? PRACTICE WITH A FRIEND You can triple the effectiveness of your golf practice if you bring a friend with you. Buy one large bucket and share a stall. Take turns hitting a few shots each. Tell your friend what you are working on and ask him to describe how it looks. Watch one another from the side and behind to get different angles. Ask your partner to focus on different elements of the swing: the grip, setup, plane, top of back swing, lower body position, shoulder turn, etc. One tip here ? don?t take a friend who is either too critical or not critical enough ? neither of these will really help you. Make sure that it is someone whose views and ideas you value, so that you listen to them, even when they are applying what is intended to be ?constructive criticism?.IMPROVEMENT TAKES TIME Remember to keep focused on improving your weaknesses. It makes little sense to spend 75% of your golf practice time working on your strong points. Don?t get impatient. Realize that improvement takes time! Nobody goes from a twenty-handicap down to a single-digit overnight. However, if you apply these tips, you?ll be building your knowledge of the game as you practice. In golf, of course, practice can never make perfect, but simply by applying your golf vacation levels of planning and preparation to all aspects of your game, especially practice, this will inevitably improve your game in the long run. Steve is an ex-pat business man and online marketing consultant based in Malaysia.
Category : General Lifestyle: Pastimes
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