How To Transfer Your Golf Swing From The Range To The Course

I just shake my head when watching "machine gun golfers." They mindlessly bang out buckets of balls believing they are creating muscle memory. Perfect practice sessions include complete pre shot and post shot routines. Hence, you should only be able to hit, at the most, two balls per minute.

Many golfers still mistakenly believe that if they regularly practice newfound skills they will automatically transfer onto the course. LEARNING HOW TO SWING AND LEARNING HOW TO PLAY ARE TWO SEPARATE PROCESSES.

If there is a weakness I see in most teaching pros, they don’t spend enough lesson time on the issue of transference from the range to the course. The fact is, a golf instructor wirth his salt will take their student onto the course where real learning takes place.

Granted, this is a fairly sophisticated psychological concept, but the issue has to be covered about the strategies and tactics of bringing one's game onto the course. Good teachers always address this issue at the end of each lesson.

Pretend certain range shots are like those specific ones you will encounter during a round. It is true, "If you want to play like you practice, then practice like you want to play." Spend time reflecting on this maxim.

Before a round of golf and you are on the range and you have warmed up, hit the club you would normally hit on the first hole. Visualize the first hole and how it looks while you are on the range...the fairway, any trees or bunkers. Then go through your pre shot as if you are on the course. Pick out a spot on the range where you want the ball to end up.

This programs your subconscious to get into “scoring mode” rather than mindlessly beating balls and thinking you are ready for the course. After you hit your first shot, imagine what your second shot would be and then hit that shot.

If it is a chip onto the green, do that. By the time you reach the first hole you will feel like you have already played it and you will feel more confident.

The club you use to hit the last ball on the range should be the club you will use on the first hole. This will keep the shot fresh in your mind as you head for the first tee.

I recommend having a few extra balls in case your “last shot” is not a good one...you want to end your practice on a good note...this will add volumes to your confidence on the first tee. This is so incredibly powerful in getting you off to a good start that I cannot emphasize it enough.

You see, your preparation for your golf round is crucial in getting your mind set for achieving your potential out on the course. Watch the pros practice before a tournament...they are constantly practicing shots they expect to see on the course.

So if you're the kind of person who wants to break free from mindlessly banging balls on the range and finally achieve great results on the golf course, this proven method will set your golf game free!

Hit 'em Long & Straight!

John Lynch