Practice all areas of your game
The area that most correlates to lower scores in golf is the short game. How you play inside of 100 yards will significantly affect your final score. Short shots around greens save pars, longer wedge shots make birdies. You can’t practice these enough! Ideally you would spend approximately 60% of your time working on your short game and 40% of your time working on your long game. Make a list of each area of your game in your diary. Tick and date the area each time you practice it. You will soon get a feel for the areas you are favouring and those you are neglecting!
Complete short, sharp, focused sessions
Break your practice sessions down into short, sharp, focused sessions e.g. for 20-30 minutes as opposed to raking and bashing hundreds of balls in one long session. I would want to know that the last shot you play at the end of your practice session is as good quality as the first one you played at the beginning of the session.
Switch between Training Mode and Trusting Mode
Alternate between Training Mode sessions (e.g. work on mechanics and technique, consciously think about the swing/technical changes you want to make, feeling the new position, use mirrors and video feedback) and Trusting Mode sessions (e.g. use scoring and target sheets to re-create pressure and intensity (see the example drill), use your pre-shot routine, complete challenges against yourself and with others, place (small!) bets with friends, work with sequences of club (rather than driver, driver, driver, driver, driver – a sequence you are unlikely to use in competition).
In general, during the winter it is recommended that you aim to spend two thirds of your practice time working in Training Mode and one third of your time in Trusting Mode. During competition periods aim to spend one third of your time in Training Mode and at least two thirds of your practice time working in Trusting Mode.
