THE LONG GAME
By Jon Sherman
Golfers who care about their game usually put in the time on the practice range. They hit a bucket or two, and at some point, they usually find a groove and hit better shots. Eventually, something clicks, and they walk away more confident.
Then they go to the course, and somehow that player is nowhere to be found. It’s probably one of the most frustrating parts of golf.
If that sounds familiar, the issue probably isn’t how much you are practicing; it’s how you’re practicing. Most golfers default to methods that feel productive, but don’t build skills that transfer to the course.
For 20 years, I was caught in the same loop. I’d like to share some “out of the box” practice concepts that helped me and that I know can help you.
My golden rule of practice is to explore the opposite of your faults. I call it my “fight fire with fire” method, and it really neutralizes any excessive issues in your ball flight. By exploring the opposite of your tendencies, you begin to solve your core issues.
I’ll give a few examples to illustrate.
For years, I struggled with an excessive draw that would often turn into a hook. Instead of hopping on YouTube to find 20 different ways to fix it, I did something much simpler (and effective). I practiced trying to hit a slice.
What this really did was take my excessive in-to-out swing path and bring it to more functional territory. And for all you slicers, trying to hit the draw will do the same.
You can apply this to any ball flight or impact condition.
Are you struggling with a big block to the right? Work on closing your clubface and intentionally starting the ball to the left of your target. Striking it on the heel of the club? Spray the clubface with Dr. Scholl’s and try making contact with the toe.
Or maybe you are hitting your irons too high. Start with a wedge or short iron, exaggerate some forward shaft lean, and start the ball on a lower trajectory.
Most golfers default to what’s called blocked practice. This is where you hit the same club to the same target over and over again.
While it does have plenty of benefits, many studies have shown that randomizing your practice helps with long-term skill retention, adaptability, and performance under pressure.
Quite often, golfers who engage in blocked practice fall into a pattern that I call “Zombie Range Sessions.” They’re not very engaged with their shot intention or target and are simply raking and hitting. Eventually, they settle into a groove and hit a bunch of good shots but then get frustrated when that performance doesn’t transfer to the golf course. The reason it doesn’t transfer is that they’re not engaged or challenged enough.
This is an easy fix. Devote some of your practice time to randomizing your target and club selection. Hit a 7-iron, then a wedge, then your driver. More importantly, take some time to reset. Go through your routine as you would on the course and align with your target. It will help you focus more on the task and stay more engaged.
As adults, we’re so used to doing things “in the box” that we forget what it’s like to be childlike and playful. A great way to break up the monotony of your practice sessions and build longer-lasting skills is to experiment.
What does that look like? Well, there are no limits or rules. You can try to hit your driver to a 100-yard target. Take your highest-lofted wedge and try to hit it as low as possible or as high as possible. Can you hit different shot shapes and trajectories with your 7-iron (think low hook or medium-height fade)?
To be clear, this type of practice isn’t preparing you to go on the course, choosing between 5-10 different shot types. In fact, I’d encourage you to do the opposite and stick with your stock swing most of the time while playing. However, this practice will enhance your ability to get out of trouble. Not enough players practice low punch shots, for example, which come in handy for those errant tee shots in the trees.
What experimental practice does is build more clubface awareness and the ability to manipulate things like your club path or delivered loft. These skills strengthen your stock shots. More importantly, when your swing feels off, you will have an enhanced ability to make on-course adjustments.
Golfers don’t respect the difference between the practice range and the course enough. It’s one of the reasons why my inbox has been filled with the same complaint for over a decade: “Why can’t I hit it on the course as I do on the range?” Even the PGA Tour player I coach, who has won multiple times and played in the Presidents Cup, falls victim to this trap at times.
Practice and playing are two completely different environments, and you’ll never fully bridge the gap. But anything you can do to add meaning and pressure to each shot on the range can help tremendously.
You want to feel the weight of your expectations, so that it can hopefully focus you more as you would on the course. A great way to do this is with performance games.
For example, when I practice on a simulator, my game of choice is a 20-shot combine that forces me to hit almost every club in my bag, and each shot counts toward my score. I’m competitive and want to beat my best score and the leaderboard of golfers worldwide. As I progress through the game, I can feel the pressure building until those final three shots. That is meaningful practice.
There are plenty of resources these days, whether it’s through simulator software or researching some of the most popular performance games that have existed for decades. You just have to find a few that resonate with you and add them to your practice.
Try adding some of the methods I’ve discussed to your next few sessions. You don’t have to do all of them at once, but you’ll likely be surprised at the progress you’ll see versus doing more conventional methods all the time.
Jon Sherman is the author of the bestselling book The Four Foundations of Golf. He also co-hosts the Sweet Spot podcast and coaches on the PGA Tour. As a “player-coach,” he offers perspective on topics beyond the golf swing, including expectation management, strategy, practice, and the mental game. Jon is also a regular competitor in MGA tournaments.
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