We have all heard the saying that practice makes perfect. In the game of golf, we know that perfect practice actually makes permanent, not necessarily perfect. I have been fortunate to coach and teach many players, especially juniors that are dedicated to getting better at the game of golf, as well as compete better at many levels. Many of these players are willing to practice and commit to a formula of training that I offer which is based on my experience as a player and a teacher. I have also had the experience of working with great teachers and coaches like Dr. Rick Jensen, who I credit helping me to understand the concept of how to get better and how to help my students get better.

So how does one practice getting better and develop the ability to transfer that hard work to better scores on the golf course? The game of golf is a game of score. A player has to learn how to score just as they need to learn to hit a golf ball. There are several components that one has to learn when it comes to scoring. First is ball control. Ball control is when a player has a pretty good idea of where their shots are going to start and where they may end up.

For instance, when you are practicing your swing on the range, you should have a specific target with distance in mind that you are hitting to. If you have target greens and there is one that is 100 yards, take 10 balls and hit your “100 yard” club to that green and count how many times you hit that green. If you start out making only 3 on that green, then believe it or not you probably will only hit 3 out of 10 shots onto a green on the golf course from 100 yards. Do the same with another distance, repeat the process for as many distances that you have on your range. You should then make it a goal to hit that target at least one more time each day you practice. Your goal should be to make at least 7 or 8 out of 10. Keep in mind as the shots get longer it will be more difficult).

I suggest to my players that they practice distances that they have most often on the golf course. This takes some time to figure out, but again it’s best to practice what you need to score better. You can also find two points on the range and hit tee shots. The next time you practice, hit 14 tee shots and see how many drives you hit between two points you have selected. Your goal should be to hit 14 out of 14. If you can do that, you can build skill, ball control, as well as confidence. If you become consistent on the range, you free yourself up to trust your mechanics on the fairways and greens while playing a round.

The next piece to scoring well is your short game. Short game practice consists of pitching, chipping and sand play. When you are practicing these shots, an easy drill that I use often with my students is the 11-ball drill. For example, chip, pitch or hit sand shots with 11 balls to a hole or target on the green. Then remove the 5 closest to the hole and the 5 furthest from the hole. The last ball left is your average. If your ball is 5 feet away, that is roughly your average. As you are doing this drill, observe the dispersion of balls. You want to practice enough to get your average better and your variance smaller. You can do this with all short shots. Keep track of your progress and see if you get better. If you know your average, you will be able to execute with confidence as you play and hopefully give yourself more up and down opportunities.

Finally, putting, the most important element to scoring. If you know where your average chip, pitch or sand shot will land on the green, you can practice putts from those distances. If you average all those shots together and they are 10 feet from the hole, practice from that distance and see how many putts out of 10 you can make. As your short game gets better, your putting should get better as well. There are many putting drills I use with my students. Try the 3-foot drill next time you are practicing your putting. Putt from 3 feet and see how many you can make in a row without a miss. If on day one, you make 10, then your goal is to make at least 11 the next day. Set a goal and try to achieve it.

These are a few of the ways I instruct my players to have specific goals when practicing. I recommend keeping track of your progress while you practice, it will allow you to also measure your progress on the course. Remember practice with a purpose to score better!