Make this year your practice year.

Make this year your practice year.

Hi, I’m Mel Sole, Director of Instruction at the Mel Sole Golf School, headquartered at Pawleys Plantation Golf and Country Club in Pawleys Island, SC.  We conduct 1, 2 and 3-day golf schools, hourly golf lessons, and senior golf schools—any golf instruction program your heart desires. Give us a call at 800-624-4653 or 843-237-4993.  We will be happy to book a commuter school or a package that contains accommodations, golf, and golf school.

Monthly Golf Tips by the Mel Sole Golf School.

Comments from my students over the years made me decide to write this article. I think some students have a misconception of what practice is. So let me be obvious on this issue.  Without good practice, you cannot improve—period!

The story.

I recently played a round of golf with a member of  Pawleys Plantation. He is an orthopedic surgeon and had been to golf school about 3 months prior.

On the second tee, he said, "You know, Mel, my golf has not really improved since I took your school a few months back."  "Oh, I'm sorry to hear that," I replied. Let me ask you, how much practice have you done since that school?" 

He replied, "None, I'm afraid, I just don't have the time."

"Well, let me give you an example that you can relate to.  Let's say I come to you for a rotator cuff operation, and after the operation, you say, "Mel, here's some tablets you need to take to avoid infection.  Here are some exercises you need to do to get your range of motion back in your shoulder." So I go home, throw the pills in the garbage can and don't do the exercises. 

I come back to you a month later and say, "My shoulder is no better than before the operation."  Does that make you a bad surgeon?" A light came on in his eyes, and he said, "Oh, now I understand, you spend money and time having me do the operation, and it would be silly not to do the follow-up exercises. The same applies to my golf. I have wasted my money by not practicing. I'm going to start tomorrow!"

Further Misconceptions.

Having said that, let me say that it is a misconception that you have to stand for hours and hours on the range beating balls. I've seen people do that and not improve.

A solid understanding of what you need to work on is imperative. If you have been to our golf school, you have left here with a good understanding of how to practice (the 48 ball drill) and what you need to practice regarding your swing in particular.

High handicappers.

If you are a high handicapper, spend a lot of time at home swinging the club and trying to get into the positions that your instructor has taught you. Many times students get frustrated at the range because they cannot get a particular move down. Often, inflexibility in your muscles doesn't allow you to get into those positions.  That is where swinging the club at home is a huge help. This stretches your muscles every day. Then, when you have time to go to the range, your body can accommodate the correct moves.  And practice starts being fun. Of course, when it starts becoming fun, you will want to go and practice more—you see where I'm going with this!

Watch the video you received from the golf school regularly, particularly in the beginning.  It would help if you reminded yourself what it is you should be doing. Nothing is more frustrating than spending hours working on the range only to find out that you've been working on the wrong thing.

Work on quality and not quantity when on the range.

Take several practice swings between each shot and try and feel the correct positions. The practice swing is always slightly better than the swing with the ball present.  So why hit the ball incorrectly with every swing?  By taking practice swings in between each shot, you will see your rate of improvement increase dramatically!

Make this year your practice year. Swing a club at home regularly.  And go to the range at least once a week. You'll be glad you did.

Source: Mel Sole Golf School.

Thanks for reading - Make this year your practice year.  Let's hope you do!

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