Improving your golf game requires more than just hitting golf balls. It requires practice with purpose.
Practice with purpose means having a clear objective. Whether you are hitting full shots, short game shots or putting.
Many people just hit balls at the range with no specific purpose. Not even when warming up before a round.
It’s never very hard to find space on the practice green.
Here is the usual example
I remember a day when I was at a driving range in Florida. I was just minding my business. Then a grandfather and grandson started to use the tee right next to me. I said “Hello” and just kept to myself.
The youngster hit a whole bucket of balls with a driver. Gramps gave him some cash and he came back with another bucket to hit with his driver.
Finally I said, “It’s a great idea to practice with purpose” especially at that age.
So Gramps said, “Try and hit that flag out there to his grandson.” He never switched clubs.
I didn’t say a word.
When I was younger
I wish someone had said to me at a young age, “practice your short game and putting more.” I did practice 1000s of shots from 100 yards to a small circle. I never had lessons.
So my whole early golf life, including playing on the golf team in high school, I relied on hitting approach shots close. I was pretty good, but not great at short game or putting.
I did improve, but only because I played a ton of golf weekly and went to the range later in life.
My advice is to go to a PGA professional for assistance and lessons. It can make a real difference.
How much to pro golfers practice?
The best golfers in the world practice a lot. The also work out a lot. Their golf day could last 12 hours or more.
Example: 1) Get up and work out, 2) two hour range session – hit full swing shots and work on short game, 3) Play 9 holes, then after lunch… 4) two hour range session, 5) play another 9 holes, 6) one hour on the practice green and then 7) finish with another work out.
Most of us don’t have that much time
An example of what I think is reasonable practice would be spending 65 percent of our practice time on putting and short game. It’s where you can pick up the most strokes.
Spend 35 percent of your time on the range hitting various shots.
In all cases, practice hitting shots you know you will need to use in play.
I believe you need to play twice a week and practice for a least an hour a week just to stay tuned up. Improvement requires more time.
As a retiree, it takes me a couple days to recuperate. So I could most likely play 3 days a week and practice 2 days at the most. That’s assuming golf is my main focus.
I’ve made significant improvement in strokes gained putting and my scores are lower.
This year I want to dial in my swing to improve my approach shots and then really work on pitching and chipping.
Short game test
Check out this Dave Pelz short game and putting practice test. It may be a two day session.
I’ve always felt if I could do it once a month along with regular play and practice it would really help.