Practice Like a Major Champion With These Two Tips
By Brendon Elliott, PGA
Published on
We've seen some great performances in Major Championships over the last few weeks. And as a PGA Coach, it's my job to translate those into ways you can improve your own game.
This week I started to think about two things that all golfers can use as they practice in order to get the most out of that critical time in the development of their game: feel vs. real and slow motion practice.
Let me explain.
Feel vs. Real
When it comes to golf practice, there is often a distinction between "feel" and "real." Feel refers to the sensation or perception of what you think you are doing in your swing, while real refers to the actual physical movements and positions occurring. It's important to find a balance between the two to improve your game. For instance, you can practice with your eyes closed to focus on the 'feel' of your swing, and then review a video of your swing to see the 'real' movements and positions.
Many golfers rely heavily on 'feel' when practicing, using their intuition and perceived sensations to make adjustments to their swing. While this can be beneficial to some extent, it's also important to ground these feelings in reality. This is where video analysis and feedback from a PGA Coach can be incredibly valuable. By seeing your swing's real movements and positions, you can compare them to your feelings and unlock a world of potential for improvement, making more informed adjustments.
On the other hand, focusing solely on the 'real' physical aspects of your swing can lead to overthinking and mechanical, robotic movements. This is where cultivating a sense of 'feel' can be beneficial. It's a natural part of the game. Developing an awareness of your body and the club's movements can help you make more natural, fluid swings, putting you at ease on the course.
In essence, the power of finding a balance between 'feel' and 'real' in golf practice lies in your hands. It's about using your instincts and perceptions to guide your adjustments while also verifying and grounding them in the actual physical mechanics of your swing. This balanced approach can empower you, leading to more effective and efficient practice sessions, and ultimately improving your performance on the course.
Slow motion practice
This can be an incredibly effective tool for improving your swing. By breaking down your swing into slow, deliberate movements, you can focus on the finer details of your technique and make precise adjustments. This method allows you to pay attention to your body positioning, club movement, and overall rhythm in a way that's not always possible at full speed.
Practicing in slow motion also helps develop muscle memory and promotes a more consistent and controlled swing. It allows you to feel the sequence of movements and understand the nuances of your swing better. This heightened awareness can lead to improved timing, coordination and, ultimately, better performance on the course.
Slow motion practice combined with video analysis provides incredibly valuable feedback, too. Recording your slow-motion swings allows you to review and analyze your technique in detail, identifying areas for improvement and tracking your progress over time.
Overall, incorporating slow motion practice into your golf training regimen can be a game-changer, helping you refine your skills and elevate your performance on the course.
Brendon Elliott is considered by his peers in the industry as one of the top youth golf coaches in the world. He is a multiple local, state, regional, national, and world award-winning instructor who focuses on junior golfers ages 3-18. With numerous appearances on Golf Channel's Morning Drive, local TV, nationwide radio, and countless publications, Elliott is one of the foremost experts in the youth golf arena.
His Little Linksters organization is recognized as an example for introducing children as young as three to the game as well as how to help introduce youth with disabilities to our golf.
Elliott has been recommended by industry titans such as Nicklaus, Player, Floyd, Sorenstam, Speith, and more. Among his numerous accolades, Elliott was named the PGA of America's 2017 PGA National Youth Player Development Award Winner in 2017.
Additionally, Elliott is a very busy freelance golf writer who works for various golf media outlets, including PGA.com, Golf.com, and many more. You can catch his three weekly columns on both GolfWRX.com and rg.org/news/golf.
The PGA of America is one of the world's largest sports organizations, composed of PGA of America Golf Professionals who work daily to grow interest and participation in the game of golf.
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