The Three Thirds
Many find practice boring and struggle to have the motivation to practice for an extended period of time.
Here is a way of splitting your practice to maximise your time and enjoying your practice:
Split your practice into 3 thirds: 1/3rd block practice, 1/3rd randomised practice, 1/3rd performance practice.
Block practice is a great way to practice technique and make technical changes by hitting the same shot to the same target. e.g. pitch shot with a sand wedge from 20 with same trajectory.
Randomised practice is a great way to practice from different lies and learn how to adjust to the situation in front of you. e.g. drop 10 balls around the green in different lies (good/bad) and try and hit it as close as you can
Performance practice is getting you ready for the course and testing your game under pressure to simulate real course scenarios. e.g. Par 18 - 9 different locations and lies, try and get the ball up and down in the least amount of shots. Par is 18 (professional level).
A great scenario for when you practice would be as follows:
1 hour practice:
20 minutes on block practice - practice your technique and work on areas needed from your last lesson
20 minutes randomised practice - 10 balls around the top short game area working on contact from different lies and learning to read the lies and play different shots
20 minutes performance practice - skills test. Par 18 on the top short game area. Go through full routine with every shot to try and shoot the lowest score.
Score
15-21 - Pro level
21-23 - 0 - 10 handicap
24-26 - 10-20 handicap
26+ - 20+ handicap
Record your scores and re-test once a month
THSG