At the PGA Show last week, I moderated a panel at Open Forum, which is an ultra-nerdy conference where teachers and other golf nerds go to bicker about the latest golf information around.
The panel I moderated was about practicing, and specifically, how coaches are using new technologies to help golfers practice better. Along the way, Nick Chertock, who organizes the forum, brought up an interesting point:
That golf is one of the few sports where the players don't actually practice or warm up under the watchful eye of a coach. Play any other sport and most practices are team practices; organized events, with a coach running them, making sure everything looks right.
Golfers for the most part go it alone, which is how bad habits form. It means we have to be extra smart about how we approach it.
So, I whipped up a little checklist.
A few notes:
- Your goal here is to be able to answer "yes" to most of these questions.
- You don't need to answer "yes" to all of these questions.
- The more the better.
- If you don't answer "yes" to any of them, you're probably not practicing well.
Do you know how much of each thing you're going to practice ahead of time? ✅
This is pretty basic, but it helps. If you're winging your practice, you're going to end up with imbalances in the game. You'll inevitably practice the things you're already good at more than you need to, and not the areas that are important. You don't need to be overly-specific, but before each range session ask yourself: What is my goal today?
If asked, could you explain why you're practicing the things that you do? ✅
To the point above, imagine someone stopped you on the range and asked you, point blank, why you're hitting that 7-iron for the 15th time. You should be able to answer them, clearly and succinctly. The easiest way to improve your game in this regard is to simply be data-led. Keep any level of stats, see where your holes are, and dedicate 10 minutes to tackling that first.
Orlando Ramirez
Is there a way that you know you made a bad swing, after you made it? ✅
Every good practice session involves feedback. It could be a teacher giving it to you, an app, launch monitor, camera, or a training aid. Whatever it is, it's essential. You need to know when you made a good—or bad—swing right after you made it.
Do you hit the same club to different targets? ✅
This is a staple of random practice, as is the next one. It's fine and normal to hit the same club for a few balls in a row. But just make sure to mix up the target when you do—it keeps your mind sharp.
Do you hit different clubs to the same target? ✅
This is a proven performance-booster. Mix up the clubs, mix up the targets. It's what happens when you're on the golf course.
Do your first shots travel less than 80 yards? ✅
This was a little insight gleaned from the driving range data at the 2025 Masters. The average distance of pros' first shot was between 60 and 80 yards. 81% of Masters players hit their first shot in that range, and hit about five shots before moving up.
Do you try to hit shots both left, and right? ✅
This is called the fight fire-with-fire method, coined by Jon Sherman. If you're struggling with a slice, try to hit the biggest hook you can. Practicing the opposite doesn't just help you solve problems though. Practicing both sides of the extreme helps give your brain guardrails to operate between. It doesn't matter that you're a mid-handicapper. The simple act of trying will make you better.’
Did you play a game, or challenge yourself, at any point during your practice? ✅
At some point during your practice, you should get the blood pumping. You're not just practicing your golf swing when you're practicing. Ideally, you're practicing navigating the nerves you feel on a golf course. Check out our Golf Digest Stress Tests for a bunch of awesome, quick tests you can do.
Do you hit at least 7 different clubs when you practice? ✅
Another Masters-range driven insight. Amateurs don't tend to move through their bag as quickly as pros. A few shots with a lot of different clubs is better than a lot of shots with a few of them—especially when you're warming up. Again, it mirrors what's about to happen on the golf course.
Do you have a 'rehearsal station'? ✅
This is a station behind where you're hitting balls. You don't hit from your rehearsal station; it's a place to go and practice feels, moves, and slow motion swings. It gives every shot you hit a sense of purpose, and forces you to pace yourself—again, something pros do. A good rule? Aim to hit no more than 3 balls every 60 seconds.
Did you segment your practice? ✅
Either by time or by number of golf balls, segment the time you spend practicing by goal. 10 golf balls doing a drill; 10 more doing full swings feeling the movement you're trying to accomplish; 10 final shots putting all that stuff out of your mind, doing your full pre-shot routine for each shot.
Did you practice your least favorite shot? ✅
Pretty self-explanatory. It's not fun, but you should do it.
Again, you don't have to answer yes to all of these. But if you're not asking yes to any, that's a problem. But, also, an opportunity to improve in some ways that aren't all that difficult.