How to Un-stagnate Your Game

By Ethan Danish
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Look up the word insane in the dictionary. It’s defined as doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. We can only do what we know. I guess that makes us all a little insane because it’s easier to practise what we’re good at than it is to develop a plan for improving our weaknesses. The obstacle is identifying the problems and then, knowing how to fix them.

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The Teaching Pro

Golf professionals are trained to look for both the good and the bad in your game. When we go to work with you, we study everything through a series of drills. Then we devise a plan. Everybody is different. What causes you to slice the ball may be a little different from the next person. As a result, the fix for your problem will also vary. That’s why we identify your strengths and weaknesses and customize your program.

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Warming up

In my experience watching members and guests on the practise range, most of you warm up with driver. You might hit as many as 40 with the big stick then switch to an iron for another 10 before moving to the putting green to try a handful before your tee time. If this is you, your routine is less than ideal. The majority of golf is played from 100 yards to the pin.
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As a teaching professional, I’d prefer to see a progression such as 15 wedges, a handful of 7 irons, a few 3 irons and maybe 10 drivers. Then, off to the practise green where I recommend you spend the same amount of time with the putter in your hands, working through a variety of lengths before you go to the first tee.

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Learn to judge the speed of the green

Place three balls down at a distance of 10 – 15 feet. Hit the first one at random speed and watch the roll and the stopping point carefully. Try to hit the second one two feet past the hole. With the third, try to come up short by two feet. Now repeat the drill from different distances. Learning to control the speed of your putts will help to lower your scores.

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Time and effort

Always remember there’s a big difference between warming up your body prior to a round and going to the range to practise your drills and work on your weaknesses. Practise is all about training your muscles and your mind through repetition. Warming up not only lessens the chance of injury, it puts your head into the game you’re about to play.

When a golfer at any skill level puts in the time and commits to a process, I guarantee they’ll improve. It’s hard to break old habits. For example, if  you can’t consistently get out of a bunker in one shot, ask yourself what it’s worth to you to lose the fear of the trap and instead be able to play your sand shot close to the hole every time? When you learn the right technique and practise….but then you knew that, right? See you on the range.