Who likes drills?

**cbe_golfer** · August 24, 2007

I dont like doing drills to make me do something right. I think golf is a mental game and if you think through it, you know the shot already. To me, a drill sounds like trying to make something mechanical and taking the brains out of it. So what do you think?

**ettsn** · August 24, 2007

Why does Tiger spend time on the practice tee? Why did Jordan spend hours in the gym shooting free throws? Why did Gretsky spend all day on the ice everyday?

You must practice the physical motions to the point of allowing your mind to be free of the mechanics of what you're trying to do. Then, you'll be able to focus at the level of a top athlete. The drills are simply physically reinforcing the proper mechanics.

**cbe_golfer** · August 24, 2007

Why does Tiger spend time on the practice tee? Why did Jordan spend hours in the gym shooting free throws? Why did Gretsky spend all day on the ice everyday?

Spending time on a practice tee is not the same as doing a drill. Please understand the topic of discussion here.

**Dent** · August 24, 2007

I dont like doing drills at all, if i wanna fix my problem, i hit the course.

**$2 Nassau** · August 24, 2007

Oh sure, they practice. But does Tiger do drills per se?? Did Jordan to drills?? Or are they just practicing certain aspects of their game??

I guess I'm not sure what constitutes a "drill."

I hear Mickleson will go to a putting green and hit something like 100+ 3-4 footers, and makes himself make a certain amount of them consecutively before he leaves the green. Is that a "drill" or just practicing putting?

**cbe_golfer** · August 24, 2007

Oh sure, they practice. But does Tiger do drills per se?? Did Jordan to drills?? Or are they just practicing certain aspects of their game??

Ok, this is my take on it.

I think anytime you use an artificial aid ( like a tee in front of the ball or an iron lying on the ground to aid alignment ) to reinforce something, you are doing a drill. Anything you normally do on a golf course is practice.

**lynchjo** · August 24, 2007

Drills if performed correctly can certainly correct a swing flaw. I think the reason most people don't like to do them is they want to see immediate improvement...When they don't they give up on the drill.

Scientists tell us it takes 21 consecutive days for a new skill to become habit...so for the drill to engraine the proper feel into your subconscious it needs to be practiced for 21 days. Unfortunately this is not a quick or easy fix but needs to be done if you want to get rid of a swing flaw. We golfers love quick fixes...look at all the quick fixes being preached in golf mags and the golf channel...pure snake oil...but making millions for these folks.

Tiger does drills all the time...at least he used to under Butch Harmon. Now nobody gets to watch Tiger practice because of all the arm chair golfers critiquing his swing...not sure if he does drills under Hank Haney, my guess is yes.

Once the new move becomes habit you can take it to the golf course without having to give it any thought...

**beisenhauer** · August 24, 2007

I think anytime you use an artificial aid ( like a tee in front of the ball or an iron lying on the ground to aid alignment ) to reinforce something, you are doing a drill. Anything you normally do on a golf course is practice.

I think that's an utterly artificial and probably wrong distinction. First, drills and practice are not two separate kinds of things. Drills are a form of practice. Second, I don't think you need any kind of artificial aid to be doing a "drill". A drill is any kind of structured practice, focused on a particular element, or series of elements, of the game, as opposed to the unstructured practice of a practice round or just banging away at balls on the driving range. When Phil makes his 100 consecutive 3-foot putts, that's a drill. It's focused and structured.

In reply to the OP, I don't like drills as such, but I like playing the game well, and some drills can help me do that. Some drills are more enjoyable than others. If it's just "repeat X 25 times" then that tends to get tedious. The more enjoyable drills make a game out of practicing. For example, "I'm going to practice pitch shots until I put 3 balls within 10 feet of the 50-yard flag." My favorite putting drill is to make three putts each from distances of 3, 5 and 7 feet, starting over when I miss one, until I make all nine consecutively. If I do well, I can be done very quickly; if not, it can seem like I'll never finish.

**cbe_golfer** · August 24, 2007

I think that's an utterly artificial and probably wrong distinction. First, drills and practice are not two separate kinds of things. Drills are a form of practice. Second, I don't think you need any kind of artificial aid to be doing a "drill". A drill is any kind of structured practice, focused on a particular element, or series of elements, of the game, as opposed to the unstructured practice of a practice round or just banging away at balls on the driving range. When Phil makes his 100 consecutive 3-foot putts, that's a drill. It's focused and structured.

How do you think everyone else is just banging away at a range?. It could very well be structured without being blatantly obvious like drilling 3 foot putts in. I like my chances everytime from less than 10 feet. Your repetitive drill seems to me like trying to find a way to miss. Sorry we differ.

**ettsn** · August 24, 2007

Spending time on a practice tee is not the same as doing a drill. Please understand the topic of discussion here.

I do understand the topic. Clearly we have a different definition of drills. No need to be a jerk about it. It seems Mr Eisenhower above and I agree.

**cbe_golfer** · August 24, 2007

I do understand the topic. Clearly we have a different definition of drills. No need to be a jerk about it. It seems Mr Eisenhower above and I agree.

yeah..you understand the topic 'now'. And all you are bringing to the table now is taking sides with someone with whom I have a different opinion. you did not seem to have anything to say till he said something which says something about you.

**Heat** · August 25, 2007

I do some "drills" at the range with my driver, but its more or less just placing irons on the turf to judge alignment and correct over the top swings.

**gogolfing** · August 25, 2007

yeah..you understand the topic 'now'. And all you are bringing to the table now is taking sides with someone with whom I have a different opinion. you did not seem to have anything to say till he said something which says something about you.

No need to get bitchy boys... The original post ended with 'what do you think?' If you only wanted to hack down others with other thoughts on the subject then don't ask the question... it seemed to me from the original post that you wanted a variety of opinion, not just your own.

**supercow** · August 25, 2007

Don't mind drills except when the drill doesn't seem to bear relevance to the result.

**beisenhauer** · August 25, 2007

How do you think everyone else is just banging away at a range?. It could very well be structured without being blatantly obvious like drilling 3 foot putts in. I like my chances everytime from less than 10 feet. Your repetitive drill seems to me like trying to find a way to miss. Sorry we differ.

I never said everyone at the range is "just banging away" nor that every drill is going to be as obvious as drilling 100 3-foot putts (a drill I don't use, btw). I offered my definition of what constitutes a "drill", since there seemed to be differing opinions on that, or at least ones that I disagreed with. That doesn't even imply that every drill is going to be a good one, nor that any particular drill will be equally effective for every golfer. You're perfectly free not to like the drills I do. I'm not going to argue that you should. Yes, we differ, and that's fine; a good thing, even.

**ettsn** · August 26, 2007

I'm not sure what your problem is cbe, but you should get over it. Drills, to me, are repeating something over and over, working on a specific skill. On Wednesday, I used up half a bucket at the range working on flop shots. Kept working on placing them softly on spots I picked out down range. To me this is a drill. Sorry you disagree. Please swallow a Midol and get over yourself.

**cbe_golfer** · August 26, 2007

I never said everyone at the range is "just banging away" nor that every drill is going to be as obvious as drilling 100 3-foot putts (a drill I don't use, btw). I offered my definition of what constitutes a "drill", since there seemed to be differing opinions on that, or at least ones that I disagreed with. That doesn't even imply that every drill is going to be a good one, nor that any particular drill will be equally effective for every golfer. You're perfectly free not to like the drills I do. I'm not going to argue that you should. Yes, we differ, and that's fine; a good thing, even.

Yours is a rational intelligent response to the question and I respect it even though I dont agree with it. I dont agree with certain other people who serve up wild BS dressed as opinion without understanding the question.

**hoofreak7** · August 27, 2007

i love everything about the game...especially playing well so i know when i do drills i'll get better so i like to think positively

Sign In

Who likes drills?

0

1. Drills anyone?

Recommended Posts

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

Create an account

Sign in

Topics Being Discussed Right Now on The Sand Trap

TST Partners

Posts

Important Information