How to Practice
by Bill Patton

Every golfer who wants to excel at the game will devote significant time to practice.  But even extensive practice can be a fruitless endeavor if the player does not think through what he is trying to accomplish.  Simply concentrating on the kinds of shots one likes the best will not necessarily improve a player’s game.  Instead, like everything else in golf, one must let the game itself be the player’s guide.

In this case, we will look at the scorecard to guide us in how we should practice.  A typical scorecard reveals the following types of holes:

We can take this analysis one step further by looking at the types of shots required to shoot par on a course designed this way.

Regardless of length of the hole, you are expected to take two putts.  In this case, we add in chips, pitches and bunker play, because no one, not even the pros, hits every green in regulation.  Many players do not realize that fully half the game of golf is played on or around the green.  But that is the case, and dictates that a player should devote at least half his total practice to that aspect of the game. 

Keep track of how many greens you hit in regulation.  Adjust the percentage of time you devote to each aspect of the short game accordingly.  Practice most the kinds of shots you find yourself playing the most.

Every hole, even the par 3’s, will require that you hit an iron to the green.   Remember that the closer to the pin you can place your iron shots, the more likely you are to score well.  The adage is, “you drive for show, you putt for dough.”  But analysis by Dave Peltz has shown that the best putters on the pro tours are not the most frequent winners.  Putting, he found, is really a matter of statistics.  The reason is obvious:  an average foursome will take 600 steps on any given green.  The result is a green that is riddled with bumps and humps and spike-marks, none of which can be repaired.    Though this kind of damage may seem minor, it can throw even the most purely stroked putt fatally off line.  In the last analysis, it is simple statistics that rule:  the closer you are to the hole, the more likely you are to hole the putt.  Beyond about 8 feet, your chances drop below 50-50.

Therefore, the closer to the pin you can place your iron shots, the more likely you are to hole the putt and score well.  And Peltz indeed found that the most consistent winners on tour were those players who were most adept at putting their iron shots closest to the pin.  (See Dave Peltz, The Short Game)

Finally, learn to put your drives in the fairway.  The worst way to start a hole is from the rough or the woods or out of bounds.  Put your drives in play, even if you have to sacrifice some distance to do it.

Here are some additional tips you should add to your practice routine.

Always aim for a target.  Make that target as small as possible.  Aim at a specific blade of grass when you are putting.  Instead of just hitting a five iron, aim at the left edge of the 150 yard sign.  Try to hit the 250 sign with your drives.  And use this same targeting technique when you play a round.

After you’ve made a shot, look to see how close you came to hitting your target.  Keep giving yourself feedback and you will automatically begin to adjust.

After you’ve made a shot, look to see how far you have hit it.  Get a feel for how far you hit specific clubs.  Forget about how far you are supposed to hit them, or how far the pros hit them.  This is called “learning the value of the club” and it is critical if you are to select clubs properly.

Take your time on the practice tee.  Be aware of what you are doing and how well you are doing it.  Simply cranking out shot after shot unthinkingly only grooves ingrained habits.  No learning takes place when you practice thoughtlessly.

In conclusion, the game of golf is played on a course, and the course itself will dictate what types of shots you will have to execute well if you are to score well.  Attentive practice will teach you to play those shots well, and your game is bound to improve.