By Dr. Rick Jensen and Jackie Cannizzo

How many golfers do you know that have taken many lessons, read numerous books, been to several golf schools, and yet you see very little improvement in their game over time? In the game of golf, increased knowledge does not necessarily result in improvement. For many players, access to too much knowledge can be a dangerous thing and may even inhibit progress. The disease of “information overload” is all too prevalent in the game of golf, and yes, it is contagious! Have you been infected?

Take the following self-assessment.

• Do you find yourself working on a different swing key each time you play or hit balls on the range?
• Do you read instruction articles in magazines or watch the golf channel for tips?
• Do you take advice from any of your friends about your swing?
• Do you spend more time tinkering and over thinking than you do practicing one specific drill?
• Do you have a plan when you are practicing or just hitting balls?

If you answered, “yes” to many of the above questions, you may be infected with “information overload.” Don’t worry - the disease is treatable. Your prescription would read, “Practice like the Pros.” Touring pros have the ability to get the most out of their practice time by always practicing with a purpose, obtaining regular instruction and feedback from their pro, and repeating the same motion thousands of times. It is not uncommon for a touring pro to hit hundreds of balls in a row focusing only on one swing key.

You may have heard the phrase “Practice doesn’t make perfect - perfect practice makes perfect.” So just what is “perfect practice?” Perfect practice can only be accomplished when you know exactly what it is that you are trying to achieve. It means that when you go to the range, you have a plan and know specifically what skills you are there to develop. When you get to the range, you must know ahead of time the drills, exercises, and practice strategies that you will be executing during that practice session.

Unfortunately, many golfers get to the range without a plan; instead, they begin hitting balls and then do a quick-and-dirty assessment of what they may need to work on at that time. Rather than attempting to identify problems in your swing each time you get to the range, you should instead refer to your pre-established practice goals to determine what drills you will be doing on that day.

Often, golfers spend practice time socializing with their friends or partaking in non-productive activities that may be enjoyable but do not relate to their practice goals. These golfers often feel like they are putting the time in yet not seeing any improvement. Do you waste time socializing during practice? Do you spend time trying new skills that are not part of your intended plan for progress? Do you spend time helping others when you should be working on your own game?

Ask yourself “What percentage of my practice time is productive?” Perfect practice includes your ability to make sure that your practice time is focused in a specific direction. This disciplined approach to training will allow you to achieve maximum skill development - your ultimate training goal. Even if you can’t practice “as much as” the pros, you can “practice like the pros.” Make the most of your practice time and enjoy the fruits of your labor.

Dr. Rick Jensen is President of the Performance Enhancement Center in Boca Raton and the Director of Sport Psychology at The Academy of Golf at PGA National Resort & Spa. He works extensively with touring pros on the PGA, Senior PGA, LPGA, and Nike tours. Dr. Jensen teaches the “golf essentials” - what every golfer must do to improve. He can be reached at 561-852-3603.

Jackie Cannizzo is the Director of Instruction at the Country Club of Roswell. She coaches many juniors in the area and was named the Georgia PGA Junior Golf Leader numerous times.