Mental Game · Drill
Three Practice Games That Carry Over to the Course
Part of our mental game programs for no routine, losing it after bad shots, focus for 18 holes. Build a program with it
Practicing how to score helps your range game show up on the course. First, always aim at a target and use your full routine. Second, set up chipping spots with tees, each with a different lie. Chip and putt out from each. When you get up and down in two shots twice out of three tries, move on. Third, play a round on the range. Pick fairways and greens with range targets. Use the clubs you would on the course and play 18 imaginary holes.
The drill
- Aim at a target with every ball.
- Use your full routine.
- Set up chipping spots with different lies.
- Get up and down twice to move on.
- Play 18 imaginary holes.
Why it works
On the course you hit one shot at a time, at a specific target, with a result that counts. Practice that copies those conditions trains your routine, your target focus and your decisions, not just your swing. Chipping from varied lies and finishing with a putt teaches you to judge how the ball will come out and roll, which is what saves strokes.
Common mistakes
- Hitting balls without a specific target, or aiming at a vague area.Pick a small, named target for every ball and commit to it before you set up.
- Skipping the routine on most shots to hit more balls.Use your full routine on every shot, and hit fewer balls if you need to save time.
- Setting up all the chipping spots with the same easy lie.Place the tees so each spot gives a different lie, such as a clean lie, a slight slope or rougher grass, and rotate through them.
How you'll know it's working
- Your shots start on the line you picked, and you can name the target before you hit.
- You get up and down in two shots on at least two of three tries from a spot before you move on.
- Your imaginary round has a clear score, and your misses show you which clubs or shots cost you the most.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Use only a few chipping spots with friendly lies and play nine imaginary holes instead of 18.
Harder: Add tougher lies, require three up-and-downs in a row to move on, and keep a strict score with no re-hitting any shot in your imaginary round.
Common questions
Why does my range game not carry over to the course?
On the range you often hit the same club repeatedly with no target and no consequence. The course asks for a new club, target and lie on every shot, so you need to practice that way.
How do I practice chipping so it helps on the course?
Chip from several lies to a specific hole or target and then putt out. Count each up and down so you practice the result you want, not just the contact.
