| Practice is important in any sport and golf is no | | | | do not get locked into hitting only your seven iron on |
| exception. To really improve your game you must | | | | the practice range even if it is your seven iron that |
| spend time fine tuning your swing. But many golfers | | | | needs the work. For example, to work on your |
| simply "hit balls" on the practice range without | | | | seven iron try hitting your seven a few times, then |
| checking to see if they are improving. Here are some | | | | hit a 3-wood a couple of times, then hit a four-iron, |
| tips to help measure the effectiveness of your | | | | then a wedge, then back to the seven for a few |
| practice sessions on the driving range. | | | | shots. This will help you practice your set-up routine |
| First, you must identify your objective on the range. | | | | for various shots since usually you address the ball |
| Some people are trying to fix a slice or a hook while | | | | and take your stance slightly differently for woods, |
| others are trying to add distance to their shots. If | | | | low irons and high irons respectively. |
| you do not know what your objective is you will not | | | | Fourth, do not be in a hurry. Take a break for a |
| know if you have achieved it. You may not have a | | | | minute or two after hitting a dozen balls or so. If you |
| noticeable flaw to correct but you need to train your | | | | exhaust yourself you may begin making poor swings |
| muscles so you can make good shots consistently. | | | | due to your tiring out that would almost never |
| So hitting consistently is your objective in that case. | | | | happen in a round of golf because on the course |
| Just make sure you have a clear idea of your | | | | there is almost always a few minutes between shots |
| purpose. | | | | that require a full swing. |
| Second, it does not matter too much if you quit | | | | Finally, take time at home some evening to write |
| slicing or hooking the ball, or if you add 30 yards to | | | | down on an index card the swing keys that help you |
| your drive if your shots are spraying to the left or | | | | prepare for taking a golf shot. Most people will have |
| right. You may have eliminated the slice in your ball | | | | a list of five to eight things. Go through your set-up |
| flight, but did the ball actually go towards your | | | | routine in your mind and jot down, in order, what you |
| target? I have heard people "oooh" and "ahhh" over | | | | do to check your alignment, grip, stance, weight |
| their practice shots even though one went well to | | | | distribution, etc... and take that card with you to the |
| the left of what appeared to be their target line and | | | | practice range. Then read it over before EVERY |
| the next went just as far to the right. Make sure | | | | practice shot for the first ten or fifteen shots. Train |
| you identify a target and gauge if you are hitting the | | | | your mind to go through that list so it becomes a |
| ball within a few yards on either side of that target | | | | habit when you are playing a round of golf. |
| until the balls rolls to a stop. | | | | Hopefully you will develop your own list of golf tips |
| Third, always hit a variety of clubs in a random order | | | | from your time spent on the practice range and you |
| on the range. This will better reflect how a real round | | | | will graduate from just "hitting balls" to actually tuning |
| of golf is played. You never hit your seven iron | | | | your swing by having a yard stick by which to |
| fifteen times in a row on a normal round of golf so | | | | measure your results on the practice range. |