Your practice strategy: repetition or replication?

[microcrayfish]

How do you approach practicing golf? Do you attempt to replicate playing the real thing by picking targets, not using the same club twice, only using one ball to practice chipping and putting, etc., or do you go for repetition, by repeating the same action over and over to ingrain it, practice makes permanent after all, or perhaps it's a combination of the two? Are there different areas of your game that you work on in different ways?

I don't personally see a lot of people taking the replication route, usually people at the range will stand in a bay and whack, whack, whack, with one or two clubs until the balls run out or take a whole bucket to the practice green and hit chip after chip. I certainly think both ways have their own merits so I'm interested in finding out what you guy think.

[Surefire]

I go with a bit of both, depending on what I am trying to achieve.

For a swing change or new move, I will go with repetition to ingrain the new feel into my muscle memory.

For something I know how to do, but want to practice actually doing it I will go for the replication route.

In summary for technical work repetition, for feel work replication.

[PiKapp23]

For me it really depends on what I am working on. I am a big 'replication' guy most of the time where I play an imaginary round for about 30-40 balls (of course that's a full 18 holes ). When I'm doing that I will usually warm up first, hitting about 15-20+ balls just to get loosened up, then start playing 'holes' from there, always basing my next club on how good or bad the previous shot was. Sometimes I even go so far as to pull out an old scorecard and 'play' that course.

There are time, though, where I will just go and bang balls. I usually only do that if I am attempting to work on something specific. Lately I've been struggling with my driver so I've been to the range a couple times and just hit driver (after warming up with shorter clubs for several balls first).

I really don't think enough people use the virtual round method to practice. I personally think it's better practice and more fun.

[Eeryck]

Through the winter most of my practice is repetition based on whatever my last lesson focus was, so that the swing can be automatic during playing season.

During the spring and summer, practice for say chipping is 20 shots from the same spot repetition to get the feel for something. Then I will switch to replication by getting up and down from similar spots around the green with a single ball to hone in the feel and add some pressure.

Putting practice is always replication.

Full shots during the season is always replication, in an attempt to simulate a hole. Typically driver then iron then wedge, or 3-wood, iron, wedge or long iron, wedge.

I think you need to do some repetition practice to get something grooved then put it under some pressure in replication to make sure it is right.

Regards,

-E

[DavidFehertysBike]

I use a combo of both. But when i practice alone its usually just a couple core things. I work my alignment, and a plane drill my pro tought me to stop from swinging too steep. I hit 75 yard shots with my pitching wedge. When i practice , thats what i do. Its all target orieneted as well. I check the qaulity of my swing by the ball flight. If it goes left, i came over the top. If it goes right, too much inside. I find working those drills with my PW show benefits for all of my clubs.

[allin]

I think where your emphasis varies by how long you have played. When mastering basics, or adding a new shot, or makin a significant swing change, then repetition is crucial. If you are making small changes or just improving areas where you already have some skill, then applying your skills and subtle adjustments needed on course. Range practice for repetition, practice rounds or pretend play on the range replication.