Regardless of what you may be working on in your swing, it is imperative to understand when to train your swing and game and when to perform on the golf course. Being able to switch mindsets and understand where to place your attention when training your technique and playing on the course will dramatically improve your scores.

Training Your Technique

To start, go to the driving range with a plan. Rather than hitting countless seven irons with no structure in mind, decide where you are going to place your attention on and what your intent is when practicing. If training a new technique, be mindful of your body and club with each swing. This usually should be done slowly. Remember you have to learn a new movement slowly, before fast. This requires discipline and understanding contact may not be ideal when so thoughtful.

On top of slow, training the “technique based swings”, practice hitting different ball-flight shots. (This will be discussed more on performance). If you normally slice the ball from left to right, place an alignment stick five yards in front of you and learn to hit golf balls right to left, drawing the ball around the stick. This will develop shaft and face awareness.

You can also simply place your attention on good contact. With each shot, note where on the clubhead the ball is struck. Practice off-speed shots making contact on the center, heel and toe of the face. Research shows intentionally practicing hitting the ball off center will actually facilitate center contact.

With most golfers having limited time to practice, don’t undervalue the importance of practicing at home. Simply grab a club and train your swing inside or outside your home. This is a great opportunity to slow down the swing, programming the brain with the new movement. If you have a mirror, practice looking into the mirror face-on to get feedback on how your body is moving. If you are outside and the sun is out, simply stand with your shadow directly in front of you at 12 o’clock, noting the shape of the shadow (your body) as you swing.

Learning to Perform

When on the golf course, it is a time to shoot the lowest score possible. This sounds like an obvious statement, although it is a simple concept that is often overlooked. The work you have done on your swing on the driving range and at home will morph into your swing on the golf course. This is also a time to focus more on the ball flight, not what your swing looks like.

“Ask what is wrong with your golf shot, not your golf swing“ – Karl Morris, The Mind Factor. This is a powerful and very effective question you can ask yourself on the golf course. Your post-shot routine is just as important as the pre-shot routine. Paying attention to what your ball is doing will give you a clear understanding of where to place your mind on each shot. Being able to adapt on the golf course with what you have that day and what to slightly change is critical to playing great golf.

Rather than trying to create the swing to create the shot on the golf course, which can lead to frustration, let the shot create the swing. In other words, ask yourself, “What does this shot feel like?” in order to get the ball from point A to point B. This is inclusive to the individual, and where practicing shaping the ball in your practice session plays dividends, so you can adapt on the course. This question may develop a certain feel or simple technical thought that has been developed with your coach.

Lastly, don’t underestimate the power of your attitude. Remember that having the chance to be on a golf course playing this great game is a privilege. Embrace the fact that Golf will never be mastered, and there is always a learning curve, even for the best players in the world. Embracing this challenge will make your good shots better and your bad shots not as bad.

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