By Ken Martin, Director of Golf Instruction

Moe Norman has been heard more than once to say "the longest walk in golf is from the driving range to the first tee...good players take their swings with them, bad players don't". So how do you take your swing with you? Well, swings begin with thoughts. Often times golfers practice swing mechanics like "keep your head down" or "shift your weight" while warming up on the driving range. Ball after ball is struck and eventually a swing rhythm emerges and the balls seemingly go generally straight and things feel right. Normally, the player is standing to the side of a pile of range balls and hits one then rakes another one over, puts it on a good lie, hits it then rakes another and hits it and this process continues until the balls are gone and its time to go to the tee. On the tee, thoughts change.  Now there is one ball, sometimes a target and relatively no process for orientation to that target as was stumbled into on the driving range.

Sometimes you are playing with an unfamiliar group and maybe even the round has some "meaning" attached to it, like a wager or a club event. Now, all of the sudden your mind begins to focus on the outcome of the shot, will it find the fairway, what will they think of your swing, what if you hit it in that lake, out of bounds or (gulp) miss it? Stress mounts creating tension and now it's your turn to play! The search for what was working so well on the driving range begins during your setup and by the time your backswing begins a total blackout occurs. If the ball is struck well you feel complete relief, if not, the round begins as a fishing expedition, there must be a good shot in there somewhere...what happened to all those nice shots on the range? Ah golf, what a game!

The solution is to practice with a purpose, the same purpose you are faced with on the course. Usually, it will only take about 15 swings on the range to warm up the golfing muscles and it is best to focus attention on solid contact; not "how to swing". Imagining you are driving a nail right through the back of the ball is a nice way to replace mechanical swing thoughts. Once warmed up, roll a ball into a good lie and go back to your bag to change clubs. You are now going to practice with purpose. For the next shot, pick a definite target and go through your full aim and alignment routine, the one you will be using on the course. Then strike the shot with your intent once again on solid contact. Then, roll another ball into a good lie and go back to your bag and change clubs. As before, pick a definite target for this shot, a different one this time, go through your full aim and alignment routine and strike that shot with your intent on solid contact. Follow this procedure for another 10 to 15 shots, changing clubs each time. You can use the clubs you know you will need as you play the first 3 or 4 holes on the course if it's a familiar one. If not, vary clubs as though you were playing your home course.

Make certain that the last couple of shots you hit are with the club you will be using on the first tee. This routine of practicing how you will be playing will give you the orientation you need for a successful first shot and will set the stage for proper mental preparation for all the shots that follow as you go around the course. Moe also often said "good thinking, good golf...bad thinking, bad golf". The above warm-up routine is an example of  "good thinking".

Give it a try on your next outing and enjoy the experience!

Ken

Ken Martin was certified in February 1995 and is a PGA member.  Ken teaches in West Palm Beach, Florida. Ken's personal motto on the golf course is: "Experience and Enjoy".