What is Smart Practice?
In the “Wilfred and Willy” article, you have learned to use your two brain hemispheres with the WWW preshot routine to learn quickly. Now, let’s see how you can maximize your training sessions with smart practice.
First, devote 80% of your practice time to short game techniques with the putter and wedges (chips, pitches, and sandtraps). Why? This is where your can save many strokes and much time on the course. Then, devote 10% of your time to approach techniques: half swing and three-quarter swing with medium and short irons, shots in the rough or the fairway, etc. Finally, spend the remainder 10% practicing long game techniques: full swing with medium and long irons, hybrids, fairway woods without a tee and driver with a tee. I recommend practicing 5 techniques per session.
Second, before every swing with any given technique, always have a dual objective: a real target and a movement to make (or swing goal). For example, to learn chipping, aim at a landing spot on the green (target) and visualize a pendulum swing (I to I) with neutral wrists (swing goal). Repeat 5 times with the same swing goal (I recommend you to change target if the shot was on target), then switch to another swing goal. For example, pay attention to your upper body turn as a second swing goal. A swing goal is any movement you want from a particular part of your body: hands, trail foot, lead foot, head, sternum, pelvis, etc. After 5 swing goals, repeat this process with another technique, let’s say pitching.
One swing goal at a time
One swing goal at a time, you can improve several techniques within a practice session and ingrain good habits, which is the ultimate goal: bring your subconscious mind to repeat automatically the right moves. Change goals to keep your interest. The time will fly, I promise.
Why only one swing goal at a time? To allow Wilfred to turn off while Willy turns on, because this is Willy who swings the club and needs training, remember? (See Wilfred and Willy article). With two many swing thoughts, Wilfred will refuse to turn off leading to a poor, chaotic and uncoordinated golf swing.
In a nutshell, 5 techniques per session, 5 swing goals per technique, and 5 repetitions per swing goal. So simple.
