Putting the work in

[leekgolf]

We often hear people need to put the work in, especially when making a change. I know your pros typically put in long days between training and practicing. 
At the hobbyist level, what is putting the work in? When making a change, what’s a good practice routine? How long or how many swings or balls per session? How often? Mainly block practice or other types as well?

 

what does putting the work in look like?

[scooterhd2]

This is where golf is a pain the butt. Going to the range twice a week, seems like putting in the work. If you go bowling twice a week, you will get better at bowling. You'll see your scores trend up. If you play darts twice a week, you will get better at darts. But the range is not golf. There is no pressure on shots or scoring. There are plenty of balls to work with.  Errant shots dont matter. For good or bad there is freedom to change grip, ball position, try to swing harder, what happens if I do this, okay now step on it, now lay it off more, use the wrists to shallow, etc, etc. And its quite possible that you learn nothing after hitting 120 balls. Anything bowling, darts, and just about anything else, you have to learn how to practice golf. Or play a lot. 

[Scottbox]

Correct- swing changes have nothing to do with playing golf. Which is why you should separate the two as much as possible. In many ways, you're better off making changes in a milieu that where you don't see the results. During the pandemic, working with Monte, I practiced while hitting foam balls into a net and worked on my posture and setup in my bedroom mirror. Not having the distraction of seeing where the ball goes was a really effective and efficient way of changing my motor patterns. 

[sprcoop]

I have suggested these guys before but it seems appropriate.  it takes discipline but I feel it is helping me take the range to the course.  You need to find out what you need to work on and these processes get the changes to stick and help take them to the course.

 

https://www.youtube.com/c/GameLikeTraining

 

There is a lot to go through but this kind of explains the theory.

 

 

 

[MelloYello]

(1)

Look at your schedule and try to imagine a routine that you could stick to from which you could build healthy expectations. It's no good trying to set expectations first and then trying to casually fit in practice where you can. That's just rewarding fantasy and playing into the frustration trap.

 

Be realistic about when you can practice, what that practice will be and what your weekly routine can be. Don't worry so much about the length of any particular session. It's more about how many times you can repeat that session. Can you do it daily? Can you find a way to be productive 2x a day? Can you work on small things while you're home? The more you can extend your plan/routine, the more options you'll have to make yourself better. 

 

(2) 

Most instructors will tell you that there are various kinds of practice: block, drill, creative, challenge, competitions/games, etc. And they'll advise you mix it up. When it comes to making swing changes, try and be as disciplined as possible. The advice from @Scottbox above is great. Try to isolate the technical stuff without getting caught up with outcomes. The more you can compartmentalize it, the better. 

 

If you're working on a new swing mechanic or feel, try and move the club in that pattern as often as possible. Making some swings at home is useful if you can't make it to a hitting bay or range. You've got to get yourself comfortable as quickly as possible so you can move onto hitting at targets and varying up the practice as described above. 

 

But again, if you're focusing on something mechanical, stick to that religiously and not the outcome (ball-flight). Engrain the new pattern first and leave the fine-tuning for later. 

 

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Edited April 29, 2022 by MelloYello

[Krt22]

33 minutes ago, Scottbox said:

Correct- swing changes have nothing to do with playing golf. Which is why you should separate the two as much as possible. In many ways, you're better off making changes in a milieu that where you don't see the results. During the pandemic, working with Monte, I practiced while hitting foam balls into a net and worked on my posture and setup in my bedroom mirror. Not having the distraction of seeing where the ball goes was a really effective and efficient way of changing my motor patterns. 

Bingo. The work progression is making the movement change, figuring out how to hit it from the new position, then trying to bring it to the course (leisure 9). Humans are terrible at multitasking

[IcemanYVR]

I went through a “swing change” this past winter. I do a lot of slow motion feel work in front of a mirror at home l. It really helps to ingrain the “feel”, without the temptation to hit balls. 15 minutes every day or so is all it takes. 
 

At the range, I try and stay focussed, sometimes I will just bring my 8 iron (and putter) so I can focus on a couple of drills. I won’t usually hit more than 60 balls as I my back gets grumpy and then everything goes to crap. This is only for a legit swing practice session. I will also go sometimes to hit other clubs as well, but then it’s more of a learning to trust.

[Shushwap]

Have a plan when u go to the range.. don't just show up and bang through a large bucket of balls and feel u put in the work...

As iceman stated I never take my bag with me.. I take the clubs I need for the days plan 

As in wedges and hit a bucket working on feels.. for me I'm really bad for the stall and flip as I have a  bad back...

My current range sessions consist of nice and easy wedge shots.. focusing on ball contact and rotation..

If I feel I'm  rushing through the bucket..I take a break and walk away for a min 

It's not a race to get through the bucket as fast as u can.. contrary to what u may see at your local range 

Onto putting I hate practicing my putting.. I try to put in 15 min a few days  a week.. working on certain drills..I'm really slacking on this so far this year

My current drill is to put two tees 18 inches apart and I work on not leaving anything short of the first tee.. I start with 5 feet and go up from there

Remember to always have a plan if u are going to the range or putting green 

[leekgolf]

It’s interesting to see each of your approach to practice. Now, how do you define putting the work in?

 

As an example, I met a well known golf mental coach a few years ago and he described what putting the work in is for his tour pros and clients who aspire to make the tour. Here’s one of his tour students daily schedule when it isn’t a tournament day:

 

Up at 5 am. Go for a 50 mile bike ride.

 

7:30 breakfast 

 

8:00 hit the gym for a workout. 
 

10:00 swing technique work -2 hours 

 

12:00 lunch

 

1:00 putting and short game 

 

2:00 practice round

 

6:00 work on any areas that need addressed based on recent play

 

7:00 dinner

 

after dinner work on strategy for upcoming tournaments. 
 

go to bed- the next morning get up and do it again. 
 

He talked about what he tells guys trying to get a spot on tour. He said he tells them that’s what a player ranked around 70-80 on the money list does. If you want to get a spot, you have to outwork him. 
 

I realize as hobbyists most of us aren’t going to make that commitment to that level of effort. 
 

As a hobbyist, what level of effort do we need to make to reach our goals?

 

a single digit who wants to get to scratch?

 

a mid handicap player who wants to get to single digits. 
 

a 90s shooter to get in the 80s?

 

what does doing the work mean?

 

 

 

 

[wagolfer7]

8 minutes ago, leekgolf said:

As a hobbyist, what level of effort do we need to make to reach our goals?

 

a single digit who wants to get to scratch?

 

a mid handicap player who wants to get to single digits. 
 

a 90s shooter to get in the 80s?

 

what does doing the work mean?

 

 

 

 

There is no answer to this question.  It's all situational and different for each individual.  

 

I've seen a 30 get to a 10 by playing twice a week and no practice. 

 

I've seen a 22 go to an 8 by taking a ton of lessons and practicing 3-4 times a week.  

 

I've seen a 5 go to a 12 by taking lessons and practicing 3-4 times a week. 

 

Your natural faults and natural abilities play into this.  

 

The common theme amongst players that go through a big improvement... they usually practice or play more than they typically did before the improvement. 

 

There's some absolute killer moves in golf that can make things really hard. If you have one of those or more, it's hard to see improvement even with practice,  if those issues aren't addressed. 

 

Not to mention the ability to focus. Mental ability plays into this as well. All different for each individual.  

 

Put in as much time that your enjoying yourself.  When practice feels like a chore, it's probably not worth it for someone not looking to make a career out of it.