Practicing with an aim
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1. Practising without a specific aim is - literally - aimless. All too many of us go on to the practice range and simply whack balls off into the distance, often to the left or right, without picking out a specific target for each and every shot. It is simply pointless.
Golf, particularly in a strokeplay competition or in a matchplay situation, has its share of pressures. Make sure you use your practice sessions to achieve and repeat particular targets, putting yourself under a pressure to carry out your aims. That way you'll be ready to stay rock steady out on the course.
2. Your brain really is the 15th club in your bag. Learn to control your emotions under pressure and you'll be the one picking up a trophy or shaking hands with a smile on the 16th green. If you can stay patient and think your way around the course, keeping yourself under control when you make those irritating mistakes, you're more likely to be able to come back and win in the end.
Hole a few short putts
for confidence
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3. Warm up before you play. There are far too many of us who, through daily life pressures, end up racing to the golf course, pulling on our shoes in the car park, dragging the golf bag to the first tee, then take a couple of practice swings with the driver. We then wonder why we either top it 50 yards or carve it into the rough!
If you can get to the course 15 minutes earlier, indulge in half a dozen shots in the practice net, hit a couple of chips then hole a few short putts on the practice green, it will do wonders for your confidence.
4. Make the most of the way you are playing TODAY. Everyone wants to hit a gentle draw or enjoy the comfort of that reassuring fade that rarely gets you into trouble. But some days your swing won't behave itself.
If you normally draw the ball but you start hitting a fade, go with it - and vice versa. A competition or match is not the place to start messing around with your swing. The golf range is the place for that.
One-inch putts counts just
as much as a 300-yard drive
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5. Remember that a one-inch putt counts just as much as a 300-yard drive. Advertising tends to centre on clubs which will help you blast the ball off into the distance, but it's chipping and putting that will really get your score - and your handicap - down.
Above all, don't forget to enjoy it!
