May 17, 2023

T-Time Podcast // Ep. 39: How to Make Your Practice Sessions Better with the OG Crew!

beginner golfers golf drills golf routines golf tips and tricks mental hurdles of golf podcast

On today's show, Tori is excited to host three special guests - Justin Klemballa, Tameka Fox Hartman, and Alex Anderson - experts in the golfing world. Their discussion will cover various topics that every golf enthusiast will enjoy. They will provide updates on the latest tournaments and share their insights and tips on improving your skills and excelling in your golf practice. Additionally, they will reveal exciting updates on the upcoming Babes Golf 2023 calendar! So sit back, relax, and enjoy this exciting episode filled with everything golf-related, brought to you by our esteemed guests.

What is Shanking?

Shanking in golf is when a golfer hits the ball off the hosel of their club instead of the clubface, resulting in the ball flying off in the wrong direction. It's a common problem that many golfers dread, often treating the word "shank" like a taboo term that shouldn't be uttered aloud. To prevent shanking, one helpful tip is to focus on hitting the toe of the club instead of the center. While still lining up in the center, try to convince yourself that you will hit the ball off the edge of the toe. This mental shift can help you avoid hitting the hosel and hit the ball perfectly. Additionally, standing farther away from the ball can also help prevent shanking.

Three Pillars on How to Improve Your Golf Game

Golf is a game that demands precision, consistency, and focus. Improving your golf game can be a challenging task, but it is not impossible. Justin proposes the “Three Pillar” framework, which outlines three fundamental elements essential for success in golf practice:

1.   Know What to Practice

To excel in golf, it's important to know what to practice. More than simply hitting balls at the range is required. You must keep statistics when you play to know what areas to focus on. Most people keep track of fairways, greens, and putts, but tracking how many shots you take inside and outside of 100 yards is also helpful. This will help determine if you need more time practicing your long or short game. If you take more shots outside of 100 yards, you may need to work on driving. If you take more shots inside 100 yards, you may need to work on your chipping and putting skills to avoid taking multiple shots from the same spot. By keeping track of these statistics and focusing on your weak areas, you can improve your game and excel in golf.

2.   Practicing with Pressure

The main reason why people struggle to transfer their golf skills from the driving range to the golf course is that they need to practice with pressure. When you practice on the driving range, you are in a comfortable position with no pressure on what you're doing. But when you go to the golf course, there is pressure, and your brain is not used to it. To overcome this, you must practice with pressure and set measurable goals. For example, when practicing putting, you can try the "One Step at a Time" drill, where you have to two-putt from an increasing distance from the hole, and if you three-putt, you have to start over. By practicing with pressure, you can develop the ability to perform under pressure on the golf course.

3.   Break Up Your Practice

The key to effective practice is to break it up and add spacing. This means learning something new and switching to a different activity before returning to the original task. Doing this gives your brain a chance to remember what you learned and apply it effectively. This is why playing lessons with a coach is so effective, as they naturally add spacing to the practice. It's important to switch up your practice on the range by doing different activities instead of just hitting balls for an extended period. You can test yourself to see if you remember what you learned in a previous session. Adding spacing to your practice can help you learn more effectively and improve your skills in a shorter amount of time.

Pre-shot Routine for Newer Golfers

A good pre-shot routine for golfers includes both a mental and physical component. Physically, it's important to start from behind the ball, envision the shot you want to make, and pick out an intermediate target no more than 18 inches past the ball. It's also helpful to stay loose before hitting the ball by jostling your feet, doing a waggle with your club to relieve tension in your hands and arms, and focusing more on the target than the ball. New golfers can establish a solid pre-shot routine and improve their game by following these steps.

Babes Golf 2023 Calendar

The Babes Golf 2023 calendar is coming soon and they are preparing for a fun-filled weekend in Palm Desert, complete with golfing, pickleball, pool time, and a night out. The vacation is still open for sign-ups for two more weeks and guests can expect awesome swag and seltzers thanks to event sponsor White Claw. Babes Golf also has a nine-hole outing planned in San Diego and Orange County and a sold-out Get Golf Ready clinic with Natalie at Dobson, which has a waitlist for the next session. Join Babes Golf for a great golfing experience, no matter your skill level.

Conclusion

If you're not doing well, go home. If you're having a good practice day, practice for as long as possible. Practicing poorly only reinforces bad habits, so taking a break and returning another day is better. But when you have a great practice session, push yourself so the positive experience becomes a part of your self-image.

 

Connect with Our Guests

Justin Klemballa:

Instagram | Paradise Valley Country Club | Forest Highlands Golf Club

Alex Andersen:

Instagram | Babes Golf

Tameka Fox Hartman:

Twitter | Arizona Women's Golf Association

 

Connect with us on your favorite social platform:
Subscribe to our FREE Female Golfer Facebook Group:

First T Crew [Behind the Scenes of Women’s Golf]

 

Get in touch!

Instagram:

@tori_totlis

TikTok:

@tori_totlis

YouTube: 

YouTube.com/@tori.totlis 

Website:

CompeteConfidenceGolf.com

 

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