When is the best time to fix your swing?  Each year, I pick one thing to fix about my swing, how I approach the game, my grip, my stance, etc.  I examine my successes and challenges from the previous year and then decide which skill I want to improve (fix).

For example, I felt my wedge play this year was not where it needs to be….so next year, I will devote more time using my 60 degree wedge around the green and my 52 degree wedge from 100 yards.  I will still work on the other parts of my swing, but I will purposely work on my wedge play.  So when is the best time to practice!

Ian Hardie at golfhabits.com has an article with a very cool line – ‘Does your mechanic fix your car while you’re driving on the highway?’  This is an awesome statement.  My take on this analogy is that playing around of golf, even with some better than you, is not the place to try to fix something.  It never really works.

At eHow.com, the article says, “Do people take cover when you come to the tee? Did your last set of golf balls head for the Bermuda Triangle? It’s time to visit the driving range and work on your swing. You should bring a friend who’s an experienced golfer that can watch you and observe what part of the golf swing you need to improve.”  The first step to fixing a problem is to get off the links.

From GOLFTIPS.com, LPGA player Paige MacKenzie says: On practicing vs. playing – “The range is where you work on your golf swing; the course is where you go to play…”  Again, most high level players understand that it is extremely difficult to change anything on the course.

Ultimately, it really comes down to time.  Most amateurs do not have the hours required to spend on the range to improve their game.  We want to play, have fun, and dream about getting better.  I would suggest that if we took just 1 hour a week and practiced something, our game would drastically improve!

See you on the links.