Been practicing hard but not showing the benefits of all that practice when you get to competition? This is extremely common and it occurs with players of all levels, from Tour players to high handicappers. Frustrating isn’t it!

How would you like to ensure that your efforts in practice are transferred to the golf course, especially in competition? Of course that is what every golfer wants.

One way to ensure value from your practice sessions is to avoid making the errors outlined below by first being aware of them and following the advice

Problem #1 Practicing without a purpose

Solution: Be intentional when you are going to practice.
This is probably the most common area of error. Players may have a vague idea of what they need to practice, or no idea of the parts of their game which let them down. Alternatively they try to practice a little bit of everything.

Most players are time poor when it comes to practicing; a couple of hours after school or work never seems enough. At the other end of the scale are players who have decided to dedicate themselves to the game and are spending quite a few hours at the golf course each day yet still struggle to improve.

Those who only have a limited time need to target their practice time to get the most from it. Those who have a number of hours each day need to be aware that the habits they develop in training will transfer to the course. This is especially important when training habits become a bit sloppy due to boredom and lack of focus.

Regardless of how much – or how little – time is available, you need to have a strong intention for what you want to gain from the session. Have this intention in mind constantly during the time you are training.For example if you are working on a particular point of technique, then stay with the thought throughout the session, rather than wavering and trying something else. It is fine to use different drills, as long as the primary outcome of the session doesn’t change. If your intention is to complete three different competitive drills, then do so with full commitment to both completing them and doing so with complete attention to the task; as if you were in competition.

Being intentional brings a laser-like focus to the session. Because you are so intimately involved with what you are doing, it will enable you to more easily transfer your learnings to the course.

When you are intentional, describe your focus on practice?

Source Peter Knight