Details on How to Train

Read all Details from the video on how to train

Watching tour players, you realize that they are experts at controlling the ball, no matter what kind of swing they apply.

A lot of Golf players that I trained over the years, have achieved very good results with an approach that uses development of skills that can actually help them to play better.

STOP TRYING TO SWING LIKE TIGER WOODS

or

SOMEONE ELSE

If you look at different Tour Players you see a high variety of technique but their skill level is always very very high.

So this approach purely focuses on improving your skills. A technique can be very different but a skill is similar for all players.

Every player uses different techniques, but their skill of hitting all shots is obviously very high.

Create your own way of striking the golf ball like a PRO.

Skip your old training routines and switch towards an effective, skill accelerating method that works.

It is always a four step process.

Identify which skill, in what area needs the most improvement. For example, determine with a Driver if you want to train for Distance or Direction. In case you select Direction you could improve your skill to control your club face.

High volumes of repetitions or block practice. This is good to get a first feeling for a new skill. Usually you have already tried this, but then stopped, without going to Random Practice.

Multiple research has shown that practicing in a random mode, leads to higher results in actually achieving the desired skill. For example, if you want to hit the middle of the clubface. Intentionally train to hit the toe part and the heel part. In the end you will be better to hit the center of the clubface as well.

There are two ways of training how to play. Either play with the new skills on the golf course or try to practice under playing conditions. For example, train with a partner, one player has the goal of hitting a certain shot curve, the other player has the goal of hitting certain parts on the clubface. You both get points for achieving your individual goals. Although you train different things, you can actually practice together and add some pressure to the training.

Why Block Practice fails

Usually people only use block practice and then go directly to the course. The only challenge is that on the course you have to hit multiple different shots, although you have only been practicing one simple scenario.

People are usually practicing to hit their Driver straight. Having both, many technical and swing thoughts in their mind. So they practice over and over again to hit their drive straight. Then on the golf course at the first tee, they see water on the right side and have no idea how to prevent the ball from going right.

Random Practice and Play

We will use a lot of principles from motor learning, differential and random practice. With this approach you will know what to do in order to prevent that the ball is going right.

How much time should you spend on the different areas? I would spend a minimum amount of time on block practice and a lot of time with random practice and playing games. You have to train in a way that you are prepared to play on the course, because this is what you are actually practicing for.

 Where is the biggest improvement potential?

Statistically you can save the most number of shots in training your long game.

I would always pick one area in the long game with one specific skill and one area in the short game with one specific skill.

For example:

 Iron shots and the ability to control your direction

Putting and focus to improve at long putts

Keep it short and simple, a 60 minute training session in 20min/20min/20min:

  1. 20 Minutes Iron training with focus on the skill of improving your clubface awareness.
  2. 20 Minutes Putt training with focus on the skill of feeling and rhythm for long putts.
  3. 20 Minutes Iron training with focus on the skill of improving your clubface awareness.

Ideally you play a round after three training sessions and focus on these specific skills, score doesn’t matter.

Only if you allow mistakes and practice to the edge of your abilities you can really improve.

You should repeat this process for 2 to 4 weeks depending on your training frequency. Only after you have increased your skill for this specific task you move on to the next area.

Let’s increase your skill level to strike the ball like a PRO. In the training sections you will find more details on how to improve specific skills that help you to play better.

After you have understood how to train, let’s evaluate what to train.

Learn more about the training concept