“I practice and play every day and I don’t get any better”
is a statement that I have heard many times in the past from tour pros to
weekend warriors. They are frustrated and disappointed, and they should be!
First, because what they call practice isn’t PRACTICE and second, what they
think of as playing is really just recreation.
“The intensity of playing competitive golf is
completely different than just horsing around playing 18 holes and practicing.”
Nick Faldo
First, practice has a definition, which is: “performing an
activity or skill repeatedly so as to improve or maintain proficiency in
it.” So, practice is repetition. I use a system labeled as “Deliberate Practice,”
which is based upon the definition that Ben Hogan used in his practice. You can
learn about deliberate practice from my website: edmyersgolf.com.
What’s a skill? “An ability and capacity acquired through
deliberate, systematic, and sustained effort to smoothly and adaptively
carryout a complex activity.”
Second, for the sake of discussion, there are 32 specific,
measurable and definable skills associated with playing great golf. So, all
that is required is sustained effort to improve all 32 skills. I would suggest that
those skills that have demonstrated substandard results be improved quickly.
Now, for the bombshell. If you are practicing perfectly there
isn’t any way to insert, replicate or create pressure in practice. You can
insert stupid, ineffective and worthless, not to mention damaging, but you can’t
add intensity. Practicing then, by definition, isn’t preparation for playing
competitive golf.
So, if it isn’t practice that prepares you for success, what
does? Preparation to be effective consists of three major areas: Remedial, Practice and Training.
Remedial is learning and/or making changes to the golf swing, setup, stance or grip etc. They are specific activities usually preformed statically, independently or in slow motion.
Practice you have already learn about above.
Training consists of Drills and Rehearsals. Drills are game application
of skills where pressure and accountability are introduced. My book, Hogan’sGhost, details these activities and my basic scoring program provides a
workbook featuring 40 hours of instruction and drills. Drills, like practice,
are conducted mostly on the range or practice area.
Rehearsals are conducted on the course. By “controlling the
circumstances” pressure, stress and intensity can be introduced through the
round. There is no “horsing around.” Stress is normally introduced by
uncertainty. Stress alters blood chemistry. Stress is a killer. I have
developed a program for both amateurs and professionals. Give me a call at (901)
258-9612 to discuss your suitability.
“I did my interviews afterwards and I said it
didn’t affect me at all,” Lowry said. “But when I look back on it, it did.”
My book “Hogan’s Ghost” is available thru Amazon.com.
https://lnkd.in/b5xh8us. You can see what I do at http://edmyersgolf.com. #hogan'sghost.
