How to Practice Smart

Video Transcript

It does not look like much, but that is actually one of the secrets to practicing. If you understand what you are trying to do with your new tip or lesson that you're working on, the real key that I see as an instructor that gets missed is, as you are practicing, are you actually doing what you think you are doing? As a coach or instructor standing there and helping a student confirm, yes or no, that is it or that isn't it, to create that new feeling is absolutely essential. When the coach or instructor is not there, can the student maintain that feeling and confirm as the balls are being hit that the new feeling is actually in there? It sounds very simple, but it takes a lot of discipline. I have actually some of the great players in the world work on this drill. Take a full swing with no speed. If I take the speed out of my swing, I have much more time to feel the positions in my swing. If, for example, I am working on a swing that comes a little more from the inside, I have time on my downswing to feel that motion. So as I incorporate it into my practicing and my practice swinging, I am going to go at a slow speed so that I am absolutely sure that I did it. This way the time I spend practicing I know what the results are and I am actually able to, over a period of days, change an old habit. So as you're practicing, practice smart. It's not necessarily the quantity of your practice as it is the quality. And in this day and time, when we're all busy doing other things, a motor skill as complex as golf takes time in order to execute the way we would like to. Practicing wisely and using your time well, to me, is one of the secrets to improving. So the two drills would be short swings and swings at slow speed where I can confirm when the coach isn't there that I am actually making the movements to improve my swing that I think I am. Practice smart.

Paul Marchand
Shadow Hawk Golf Club
12900 FM 1464
Richmond, TX 77469

Paul Marchand is an instructor to Fred Couples and was Assistant Captain to the U.S. 2000 President's Cup Team. He is also listed as one of Golf Magazine's Top 100 Teachers.

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