Golf: Simple advice from a golf coach, suitable for any player. Lesson 4:

Today’s lesson is a particularly simple one, it is about picking targets when you are practicing, whether it be on a driving range or anywhere else. Firstly this is a good place to practice making our targets as small as possible, so instead of aiming for the 150yard sign, focus on the top right hand corner of the 150 yard sign. My main point of today is for you NOT to aim at flags when practicing. As discussed in previous lessons there are many, many times out on the course when the flag will not be your target. So if you aim at them when practicing you are training your, immensely powerful, subconscious to aim at flags. When you are out on the course this can lead to occasions when you have selected a target away from the flag, but somewhere around the top of your backswing the subconscious takes over saying ‘we always aim at flags’, resulting in a conflicted swing and a readjustment of your target during your down swing – both of which tend to end with unpleasant results.

Another practice range tip is to try and make it as ‘real’ as possible. Rather than blasting one ball after another with the same club at the same target, vary the club and the target, making it more like a round of golf. Involve your full pre-shot routine on every shot.

Today’s lesson: Don’t aim at flags when practicing, do practice picking as small a target as possible and make practice relevant to a round of golf.