Can too much golf practice mess up your form and swing?

Question

I just got into golf again after years of golft inactivity. I have been practicing at the driving range trying to get my form back and work on my swing. I have been practicing for 3 days straight at the driving range, a break of one day, then practicing for another 2 days straight. My swing improved greatly by the third day straight of practicing, and when I took a break and then began again, my swing became completely off with balls going every which way or not very far at all.

Answer 1

Try this wisdom:



Home on the range, lost on the course
by Bobby Steiner
published June 14, 2006 12:15 am

Editor’s Note: Asheville resident Bobby Steiner is a former Golf Digest Schools Director of Instruction and the author of the instructional book “MUNIE,” based on learning the game and meeting characters at Asheville Municipal Golf Course.

Following is a question and answer forum with replied provided by a collection of characters in “MUNIE.”

Dear Jitterbug:

I’m a great range player, but can’t get it together on the course. Do you have any advice to help me find my swing when playing?

Jerry Hodges

Jitterbug Gang Fan






Jitterbug:

You’re not alone, Mr. Hodges. Golfers everywhere struggle with driving range brilliance, followed by golf course collapse.

Personally, I think there’s only one cure for it: you have to play more and practice less. After all, there are many people who never practice, play all the time, and maintain a scratch handicap.

How? Well, while these players may or may not possess technical perfection, they’re familiar with their shot patterns, are accustomed to the “everything counts” mentality the golf course demands, and don’t have excess swing thoughts.

On the flip side, range rats too often have no familiarity with their shot patterns (they’re ever changing), get all freaked out by the “every counts” prospect of playing the game, and have swing thoughts-a-million.

So, if the flip side sounds like you, I suggest you spend more time on the course, and less on the range.
Mr. Vaughn:

It ain’t the range that makes you hit the ball better, it’s the relaxed attitude you have when you’re there.

Many experience the same problem with tournament play. A guy may shoot even par in a practice round, but when the tournament is won at even par, he’s nowhere in sight. His complaint might be, “I hit the ball great on the range, great during casual rounds, and can’t pull it together during competition.”

My answer to a guy like him? Compete more often.

Tour stars experience the same problem; some play well until they’re within striking distance of the leaders, and then fall back. My suggestion? Get within striking distance more often.

You see, Mr. Hodges, it’s about comfort and familiarity, not technical perfection. A swing that’s built on the range is likely to only work on the range.
Lord Berry:

If practice, rather than play, is the only forum time and money allow, I suggest you work the majority on your short game. Not only does short- game practice summon fewer technical and mechanical thoughts, it takes pressure off your long game. And, after all, it is pressure that causes problems to begin with.

This is the opinion of Bobby Steiner, who offers junior clinics at the Practice Tee in East Asheville (298-0123). Contact him at [e-mail]

Answer 2

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Answer 3

It won't hurt at all to practice each and every day. You just need to make sure that you don't hit too many shots per day. I advise not more than 100-200 hard swings in the early stages. Then progress if you are a serious player. If you stretch properly you will be able to do more. If you feel like you're pushing the muscles too much, you'll want to back off and go work on your short game. As a general rule, work on your short game about twice as long as you work on driving and hitting your irons.

Answer 4

The easiest way to learn golf like a pro is by following "The Simple Golf Swing" program. It's primarily a 31 page eBook that teaches golfers how to make solid contact with the ball, how to avoid hitting fat, how to avoid slicing, how get more power, accuracy, and consistency in your swing. Consistency being the number 1 golf skill.

You not only get the eBook though, you also receive a ton of extra material including video, lessons on putting, driving, chipping, sand play etc. Here is their official site: http://www.golfswingguru.net

Answer 5

In golf there is no such thing as too much practice. The pros do it constantly. I suggest you take a lesson so that you practice a certain aspect of your game which you would like to improve. That way your practice will be geared in a positive manner and you would know you are doing it right. And yes... Even the pros take lessons.

Answer 6

I always had trouble with weight shift. In golf, you want your wieght ahead of your swing (so to speak) ending up with you weight on your leading (left) foot. Just the opposite for a baseball/softball swing. I'd pop up a lot and have no power hitting a softball, but plenty of juice when I play golf. Maybe it's just me.

Answer 7

Practice is good, but be sure to practice all aspects of the game. You make it sound as if you are only working on your long hitting clubs. Change it up and work on one area one day then the next work on your game around the green, which to me is the most important part of the game. I think of myself as a long hitter and play with a guy who only takes a three quarter swing, but at the end he always scores lower because his short game is his specialty.

Answer 8

It's all about training your muscles to the correct motion. Repetition is needed but like any sport you can't overdo it out of the gate. Get into a routine. Perhaps one day focus on driving and the next is chipping and putting. It will make for a well rounded game the next time you are on the course.

Answer 9

i think so b/c i took a break ovr the winter then came and playe my 1st round of the yr great i practiced every day and went in a huge slump i took a break for about a week and stopped thinking about what my swing looked like and just swung the club at the damn ball and hit fine.

Answer 10

golf is all about muscle memory. putting yourself in the same situation over and over again until it becomes so repetetive that you can do perform your shot on cue at any given moment. you probably just got tired from all the swinging. what usually happens is that you just become so focused on hitting the balls you weren't really focusing on your basics. gets that way from time to time.