How to improve my practice sessions

[mattshaver]

Hey guys thanks for the advice.

Just to address a few of your points...

- I do usually have a goal in mind during my practice sessions.  I tend to lose focus really quickly though if I'm not striking the ball well.

- My short game gets a decent amount of work at the range.  When I'm not hitting the ball well, I've gone to just trying to hit 10-50 yd shots with my wedges and things like that.  I could still use a lot of work (duh...I'm a 36 HC ).

- Lessons, Lessons, Lessons.  That's what I've read, seen, and heard from a lot of people, but for whatever dumb reason, I'm still trying to work everything out myself.

- I may have to try that swinging one-handed thing as well.  I've heard of that from 2 or 3 different places so I may have to give it a try sometime.

[pbailey]

I had been away from the game for a few years, when i stopped I was hitting pretty well.  When I came back I was very frustrated.  In the past I would go to the range and beat my swing into submission, full swings until I got the feeling back.  It hasn't worked well for me since I came back to the game.

I knew I wasn't turning enough and in the attempt to impart power to the swing I was casting, over the top at times and had a big hip slide.  I almost quit.

To improve my turn and quite down my lower body, I started taking half swings with my feet a few inches apart.  Gradually moving up to a full swing as I widened my stance, with around 10 balls from each.  One day while doing this, I realized I was holding the ball flight better while working from short to full swings. If at anytime the ball is not flighted how I want it during the drill, I won't move on now until it does.  At the end of the season (last 10 rounds) I stayed in the 80's with the last three being 82 with a few 3 putts and poor chips/pitches.  I'm in the short stuff off the tee a lot now.  Can't wait to continue the progess and this new way of practicing.