Hit LESS Practice Balls and Play Better Golf

Practice Less and Play Better Golf

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Rick delivers straight talking, easy to follow, honest, professional, calculated advice to all of his viewers from beginner to tour pro. This tried and tested method of coaching has helped many golfers achieve their personal goals and beyond.

[JahSun]

I'm going to watch this video at least once a week. Please do more like this!!! I love how you are vocalizing your thoughts and the text was cool how it quoted what you were saying above your head. It's so helpful to hear what you are thinking each step of the way as you set up your shots. I've watched probably 30 of your videos (love you and Finch) but this video is in a league of its own. Please, MORE LIKE THIS lol your insight on the course hearing your thoughts is priceless.

[printerschamp]

This is a good video that more people should see. This is exactly how I started practicing last year. I have a net in my garage to warm up and work on mechanics. At the range I get a medium or small bucket and treat every ball as a game ball in play. Do my routine before every shot. My game has improved.

[URAZKIVANER]

Correct me if I am wrong but I believe if you are a beginner or an average golfer who is trying to establish a steady technic so that those swings could become like a second nature to you, you have to do a lot of repetitions of the same specific shot . That is the only way to achieve a steady muscle memory state where you don't even need to think about your posture, your grip, wrists and etc... I believe this video and the advice Rick gives applies to to the people who are already established golfers. Our minds can not learn multiple different shots at the same time so you have to practice them specifically . I am a jazz piano teacher and this is like me saying to one of my students "dont worry just play a different song now" after he could not play the song that he was supposed to. That would add another unfinished, not established song to his repertuar .
I definitely understand your point but not all of us have indoor simulators where we could practice our shots like you guys ;)
IMHO "Practice Ranges" should be used as a shot practicing spot which requires repetition of the same shots to be able to be learned and maintained in the muscle memory system. What you are explaining here almost sounds like a warm up routine before a round of golf ;)

[joshmartins]

So true!! I try to envision par 3..par 4..par 5 scenarios when I'm at the range. I'm there an 1 1/2 sometimes.

[derekshorrock]

My playing partner and I go to golf range and play our course in our heads so hit say driver on first hole if we hit it well it leaves a wedge so we would hit a wedge next to a flag if we hit it badly we think where would that be on the course right we need 7 iron with a little draw to avoid bunker and try to hit that next, we give ourselves 2 putts on every hole and keep score since we starting doing this we have definitely improved

[stevecaunce]

One of the best tips I have had. Tried this at the range with my son. Usually hit 100 each in an hour but shared a bay and hit 50 each in an hour varying shots and not hitting the same club twice!! we each hit about 4/5 bad shots only! Great routine that we will be continuing! Thanks, keep em coming.

[PowerToMario]

Began adopting this mindset toward practice a couple days ago and already see so much improvement.

I've started to go through my home club's course book and pretend to play a round of 18. Taking my time as I would on the course. And though my drives are terrible (that's another endeavor entirely), my hybrids, irons and wedges have gone mostly where I want them to go!

This video is golden.

[GrantReynoldsgtr]

Rick,

Thanks so much for this. I’ve recently dropped to a 4, and my progress had stalled significantly. Not getting worse, but not getting better. After watching this, I started taking this mentality to the range in every session. No more than 50 balls, and absolute routine and purpose between every shot.

After a month, I dropped to a 2. FIR and GIR increased dramatically. Thank you so much for stating what others have said in a much more easily digestible way. Cheers!

[neilb]

Good advice Rick. I like to play the course in my mind as a practice session, choosing my next club based on how well I hit the last. I find this a great way to vary my practice sessions.

[jlue]

I love your videos! I often fall into the mindset of beating balls instead of practicing with a purpose. I really want to take my golf game to the next level this year, I am going to try this on all three phases of my game. On the range, chipping area and putting green. My New Years resolution is to become a bogey golfer and enjoy the game more. Quality over quantity when is comes to practice!

[KHLthend]

Thank you for making this video! This also applies to my main game of bowling. Practice is when you really think and work on things. 

[Rouge]

Great tip.

On days where I just want to hit shots (and not work on a new technique), I like to "play" a course on the range. I just go by my old scorecards that I keep in my bag and play shots as if I were on the course. It's gotten much better recently, as I bought a Voice Caddy SC100 portable launch monitor that I bring out to the range. I can hit my "tee shot", get my yardages, and play the next shot appropriately. My handicap has dropped drastically since I started praticing this way, because I am simulating the courses I play most often.

[JahSun]

Thank you RIck, SO MUCH for THIS video in particular. I live 1 minute from an amazing golf course and just recently starting playing 2 months ago. They have a deal $40 per month for one large bucket of balls every day. I went 28 days last month and about 6 days per week this month. My swing started getting better and better and then worse and worse lol. This video is a God send, again, I APPRECIATE YOU RICK!!!

[vivekvijay]

Learning Golf by Playing with Irons at the driving range. I must say your video is very helpful. Every time I hit a bad shot, my mind says I quickly need to correct that and play another shot, until I get it right and it gets very tiring.

[eyevincast]

Thank you rick. What a simple thing to ask, How does one practice? That’s been my trouble and frankly you really simplified it. Take my time get some feed back and change it up a bit.
Not everyone is a pro or has the desire to be a pro but I feel that you make the game of golf more enjoyable and to me that is the whole point. Let golf be fun and enjoyable and simplify one’s technique and learn from it.
thank you rick.

[humdrummed]

I agree 100%. Take your time. I used to play holes at practice. Hit driver to a point in the range, not at a flag. Then hit a club as if you were hitting into a green, this time aim at a flag. Mix it up, short holes, long holes and par 5's. Use all the clubs. Take it one more step and hit to the same targets a second time around.

[emilymary]

Good video Rick, slower practice allows you to think about the shots you're hitting, think about your swing, and to focus more on what you're trying to achieve, when I was younger, I was guilty of bad practice habits like hitting ball after ball, and not really thinking about my set up, my alignment, my swing, and thinking back on it now, I realise that I was probably more likely to have been practising those bad habits and carrying them out on to the golf course when I was playing, as my alignment was something I really struggled with back then, we are so lucky these days to have such a wealth of resources with videos like this, and others to help hone our golfing skills, back in the olden days ☺, when I started playing there were only books to read and the occasional lesson, we still have those ☺, but today we have so many other ways to learn about this marvellous game that we all love, thank you for helping with that Rick

[mrsully]

Thanks Rick. When I go to the driving range I hit 90-120 golf balls. I see my self getting better but mostly worst if that makes any sense. Only started golfing about six months ago. Coming from playing basketball, where putting up hundreds of shots makes you better. Golf is a different game I love it.
Will definitely take your advice next time I go to the driving range.

[davidstucky]

This kind of goes along with what you're saying Rick, but what I like to do is think about a course I've played or plan on playing again soon and hit shots just like I would if I was there.  If first hole is a short par 4, hit a long iron or fairway wood.  If you hook your shot and a similar shot on the course would leave you with an odd angle into a flag with very little green to work with, I'd hit a high pitching wedge or whatever shot is required.  I go through the front or back 9 of a course when I practice (leaving out putts obviously).  I take my time in between shot and really think about them like I would if the shot mattered.  This has really helped me.  Great video again... Cheers!

[theolsons]

Love it ... i have been doing mixed sessions lately ... spending 1/2 my time working on something specific (more of a draw with my driver, for example) and i will hit about 100 balls on that specific thought. Still taking my time, like on the course with each shot ... aiming, aligning, practicing, etc. Then the other 1/2 is mixing things up. different targets, shaping shots, switching clubs, etc. I have seen a huge improvement in even the last couple of months with this. i have cut my handicap in half ... 12 down to a 6.7. What about doing a video like this for short game (chipping, pitching, etc) and/or putting.  keep the videos coming!!!