Teaching in the Golf Learning Center at Commons Park is a complete joy for me so when I was asked to share a few tips that the Village of Royal Palm Beach could post on social media I was happy to help.  The following are some simple tips that every golfer should keep in mind when they are practicing:​

If you have any questions feel free to contact me at 708-584-0887 or submit a request online.  I look forward to hearing from you. 

If you have had a lesson with me, you have heard me ask, "What were you thinking about?"  The response is typically not what it should be;  "I was thinking of the ball flying through the air and landing at my target."  Instead, most focus on creating the perfect swing and then they overcomplicate something that is supposed to be really simple.  

Another piece of advice I give my students to is be deliberate with their practice.  It is not about the quantity of balls that you hit, it is about the quality.  The more realistic you make your practice, the better you will become on the course.  Simply hitting a bunch of balls to some target on the range is not going to help you on the course.  You have to challenge yourself by picking different targets and switching out clubs.  Every time you take a shot visualize a hole on a course.  Would the ball land in the fairway?  How many yards do you have left to get to the green?  Get creative.

One of my students loves to research and he sent me the article below because it reminded him of what I keep telling him.  Check it out.  

I get a lot of satisfaction out of seeing my students progress in their game.  It is awesome to hear about how they have shaved strokes off their round of golf.  When I ask, " What made the difference?" undoubtedly, the response is "I did what you told me to do."  Now that can vary from student to student.  One may need to relax, another may need to visualize the shot, while many need to start focusing on their swing and not the ball. 

I cannot count the amount of times, I have had to remind my students that the ball just gets in the way of the swing.  In order to help them understand this, I tell them to practice their swing without a ball.  This allows them to focus on feeling the club and it following it to complete the swing.  If they can do this and appreciate what I am trying to teach them, they will improve. 

An article in Golf magazine backs up my suggestion.  You can read it below and then please start practicing without a ball. 

The biggest obstacle that some of my students have is the golf ball.  They are determined to swing at the ball instead of focusing on their swing and allowing the ball to simply get in the way.  This sounds simple to comprehend but for a golfer who is determined to use his body to make the ball go far, it seems far more complicated.  I call these golfers aggressive.

There is nothing wrong with being aggressive in how you approach the shot but attacking the ball will always lead to frustration.  As a result, I spend a lot of time talking to my students about how to visualize the shot.  They need to see the shot happening in their mind because the brain controls the body.  I firmly believe if you have a specific outcome in your mind your body will create that outcome.  The idea is to program your brain to focus on the spot where the ball needs to land instead of obsessing over hitting the ball. 

Recently, one of my students shared an article because it reminded him of what I keep telling him.  It is a good read, check it out below:

During the "stay-at-home" order, I posted a couple drills that you could do without a golf ball.  Now that the golf course and practice facilities are open it seems the lure of the driving range and smashing balls is more exciting.  I'm not saying don't go to the range at all, it just can't be your only practice.  

Recently one of my student's shared an article that was posted in Golf Digest back in February 2012 by Managing Editor Roger Shiffman that echoed the benefits of practicing your swing without a ball. It is great read.