Head to the range before a round to loosen up, and after the round to practice

By Chuck Evans,
Special Contributor

Noted golf instructor and columnist Chuck Evans offers golf tips and lessons for WorldGolf.com readers on all aspects of the game.

Recently I was at PGA Tour's PODS event in the Tampa area, working with a few players. Standing on the practice range, I was reminded of some of the things that the world's best golfers do both before and after their round.

The majority of pro golfers show up to the practice range and get loose before their round. They aren't working on anything in their golf swing, but instead they are just loosening up and getting a "feel" for what they have brought to the course that day. They go from the practice range to the course and play their practice rounds. These rounds aren't about scoring but instead about what type of shots will be needed for this particular course.

After the round they come back to the practice tee and then work on their games. If they had problems hitting a particular shot on the course that day they will work on that shot. If they hit it well then they keep working to try and maintain that "feel." The vast majority of pro golfers also use numerous training aids to help them create, and maintain a certain feel. For instance, if they fight their set up alignments they will have some sort of training aid to help them. Virtually all of the players lay down something for alignment when they are hitting balls. They don't want to fall into any bad habits that could affect their ball striking.

So the lesson to be learned for the average player is this: Before the round don't work on your golf swing. Instead just hit balls, loosen up, and whatever the ball is doing play that type of shot in your round. After the round, head to the range and use this time to really work on your game. Use training aids specific to your problem areas to help speed up the learning process and start practicing like the best players in the world!

March 16, 2007

Chuck Evans, G.S.E.D., a Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher, is one of only 31 golf instructors worldwide designated to hold a doctorate in golf stroke engineering. He is executive director of instruction for the Medicus Golf Institute and has served as director of schools for the PGA Tour Golf Academy, and as director of instruction for the United States Golf Institute. He is also the author of "How To Build Your Golf Swing."