pros and practice

[shakogolfer78]

well I'm watching the coverage from the Players, and they were talking about how these players practice these short pitch/chip shots. I was wondering how much does the average player practice during a week compared to a tour player, and how much time is spent on each of these categories:
Driving
irons
wedges
putting

[Quinn07]

well I'm watching the coverage from the Players, and they were talking about how these players practice these short pitch/chip shots. I was wondering how much does the average player practice during a week compared to a tour player, and how much time is spent on each of these categories:

I am going to say anywhere between 100% and 200% more than the average golfer. I realize that not all pros practice as much as others, but I would say that since this is their job, they would practice significantly more than the "average" player. Assuming the "average" player has a day job.

[Dub]

Can only answer for myself....for instance, for tomorrow's round I anticipated getting there over an hour prior to our tee time. In that hour I'll (in this order):

Stretch for 5 minutes
wedges 15 minutes
irons 15 minutes
Driving 2 minutes
chipping 5 minutes
putting 15 minutes

advance to the first tee and stretch some more...........

[Ben]

My weekly routine is as follows:


Tuesday - Saturday

One bucket a day. At least 9 holes a day, often 18, during which I'll practice putting, chipping and bunker shots.


Sunday - Monday

With a tournament on Monday my Sunday will be spent playing a practice round. If the event is local I'll spend about 2 hours practicing short game after the tournament round.

With no tournament on Monday. Sunday I'll usually hit 2 buckets over a long period of time mixed in with 30-45 minutes putting, then I'll play 18. That Monday I'll either take a range day off and put in 2 hours of short game. Or I'll hit a local range and hit one bucket and practice putting and chipping.

I love this time of year. I can get a lot done!

[HSip]

well I'm watching the coverage from the Players, and they were talking about how these players practice these short pitch/chip shots. I was wondering how much does the average player practice during a week compared to a tour player, and how much time is spent on each of these categories:

Real generalization (I know there are exceptions)

+ = amount of time High Hcp - Driving ++++, irons +++, wedges ++, putting + Low Hcp = Driving +, irons ++, wedges +++, putting ++++ With the pros the ratio is probably the same but the fact that they practice so much in a day the amount of time driving, iron play etc is probably quite long compared to amateurs.

[Ben]

Real generalization (I know there are exceptions)

I really like the way you described that. Maybe for the pro side you could just add two pluses to each category. I'd say that would be pretty accurate.

[netsniper]

I am lucky enough to work at a golf course, so i have that at my disposal whenever i want.

I take golf very seriously, so i practice daily. This is what my practice routine for the week looks like. And i apologize for being so indepth haha..

Monday--Normally work from 7a-2p. So at 2 i head to the putting green, and roll some putts for about 20-30 minutes atleast. After that, go to the range, hit balls for about 45 minutes. If i am playing, ill head out to the course after the range. If i am not playing, i head to the practice green and hit 100 yard shots to work on my wedges for about 30-40 minutes. After that, back to the putting green for another 30 minutes or so. Then one last session over at the range, and this normally lasts anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on how im feeling.

Tuesday---day off. Normally at the course by 10. Right to the range for a good hour or so of hitting balls. Then work on bunker shots. Then to the putting green. And then we normally tee off somewhere by 2pm.

Wednesday---work 7a-2p. Wednesday is strictly putting and short game day. Spend a good 2 hours working on the short game, then play 9 holes atleast after that.

Thursday---day off. At the course by atleast 10 again, then i do nothing but hit 150-175 yard shots for a good hour or so. Then to the putting green to work on some drills. Then we try to tee it up somewhere by 1

Friday---work 7a-2p. Putting. As much as I can. Ill hit a bag of balls, but i devote fridays to putting and only putting. Then try to play atleast 9 before i go home.

Saturday---work 7a-11a. Play atleast 18, but over the last few weeks we've been playing atleast 27 since its tourney season and all the snowbirds are back home.

Sunday---work 12p-5p. After I am done, 2.5 hours at the range working on a combo of wedges and the full bag.

Like i said sorry for the indepth rant haha. I have found that if you make a schedule and stick to it, not only will your game improve drastically, but it will give you something to look forward to every day, and makes practice fun.

My friend and I are seriously trying to go pro, so we take this pretty seriously and we honestly have devoted our lives to golf.

I really recommend to everyone, make a schedule and stick to it. It will work, I promise.

[Ben]

I am lucky enough to work at a golf course, so i have that at my disposal whenever i want.

Cool! I hear that Florida has some great mini-tour action. You two in on it?

I see you're new here, welcome. There's a mini-tour thread in the Tour Talk section.

[opie]

gotta figure a pro has a much more "focused" practice time also. I know all of us go to the range and see someone flail away at 200 balls with a driver. I firmly believe that does little to nothing. Pro's also have the luxury of a coach standing right behind them (should they choose) ready to fix whatever small flaw they're battling.

My practice time goes as follows only due to a range not being close by (golf course .5 miles away but no range). I do love to stop by on the way home from work for an hour of hour and a half of chipping and putting though

Driving - (probably why it's the worst club in my bag by far)
Irons ++
wedges +++++
Putting +++

[1par2win]

Being married with three kids practice time is a rare thing. But now that the sun is out I get up and am at the course by 6:00am to get in 20+ minutes of chipping and putting at least 3 times a week. I fit in full swings once a week but funny how the scores are going down the more I practice the short game!! Anyway, I would love to get more time in but being limited to a round a week I need to make the most of my time out of my practice.

[jorruss]

When I used to work on a golf course and finished at 230 every day, I would grab a teaching basket and head to the back of the range for several hours. I took my time, went through my pre-shot routine and hit two or three hundred balls a day. Then I would head up to the putting and chipping greens and chip until it got dark, or play 9 holes. I played and/or practiced 6 days a week, and in 18 months my handicap went from a 3 to a +2 and stayed there for a few years, until I got a job in IT and became essentially a weekend golfer.

Now, I play in a few after work leagues, maybe one or two weeknights for 9 holes and play Saturdays and sometimes Sundays when not in a tournament. When preparing for a tournament, I'll get out there on the week of the event, just about every night leading up to it. I'll hit a bucket, but spend the majority of my practice time chipping and putting. It's the best way for me to maintain a tournament tough game. It also helps to be single with no kids

So, working in the golf industry afforded me the time to practice at least 16-20 hours a week, now that time has been cut to maybe 6.

[netsniper]

Cool! I hear that Florida has some great mini-tour action. You two in on it?

We have a TON of mini tour action down here!!!

Currently I am playing on the florida minor league golf tour, which is a very good mini tour that plays all over the state, offers 1, 2, and 3 day events, and has very low entry fees with fantastic payouts!!

[Titleist Man]

Well i practice/play everyday except mondays(the course is closed then ). I practice from 3ish to 6:30 every day. Sometimes i go to the range for 30 min then play nine then go chip and putt and back to the range. Like i said i do this everyday except maybe a bit more practice on weekends.

[lumpuckeroo]

And for the other side, I hit a bucket or two of balls at the beginning of the season and I'm done. I will spend 20 to 30 minutes a month on chipping and putting.

[saltman]

Man it would be nice to have golf as a job. I remember growing up, I could easily practice for 4-6 hours a day and play 18. Somedays, I would play 36 and then hit the putting green for 2-3 hours with a couple flashlights. What a life, I would do it today if I could.

[youngskip40]

How about those of us that are public course players? When and how much do you guys get to practice?

Maybe I'm jumping to conclusions, but it sounds like everyone here with a practice regimen has a club that they can go to and do these things at any time. For me, there's no such thing as roll a few putts and then walk over to the driving range.

For me, it's head to the closest municipal course to roll a few putts, then drive 20-30 minutes to the closest driving range and if I'm lucky the grass tees will be open and if I'm really lucky the sand/chipping green won't be too crowded and I can work on my short game with yellow range balls.

Either that, or I'm heading out to play 9 holes until dark so I can play 2 or 3 balls on each hole to work on my wedges and shotmaking ability.

That said, the cost, and the [in]frequency at which I'm able to do any of these things considering I work 45-50 hours on a slow week... make it very difficult for me to really fine tune my game.

Sigh. Wish I could pull a Tom Coyne and just leave it all behind for a year and give it a legitimate shot.

[HSip]

How about those of us that are public course players? When and how much do you guys get to practice?

Many of us share your frustration at a lack of "good" practice areas. Your single digit HCP speaks well of the practice you manage to get. Hats off to you - Cheers

[saltman]

How about those of us that are public course players? When and how much do you guys get to practice?

No doubt, that is the situation I currently find myself in. I have nowhere within 20 miles to practice my short game like I want to. And the only range facilities are mats and buckets go for $13. If I had a yard, I would build my own short game practice facility.