The Practice Range: From touring PGA pros to amateurs at all levels of golf serious players are always trying to improve their game - be it tweaking the old swing or learning something entirely new. To be effective that change is initially implemented on the range where it can be practiced, become consistently repetitive without thinking, and ultimately lead to lower scores.

From Range To Course: Next comes the reality of taking the swing modification or change to the course. Historically golfers have considered walking from the range to the first tee as the most daunting distance in golf because that's where the rubber meets the road and the swing changes that were implemented are for real... without mulligans. This is where the pressure begins.

There are two forces at work here that will always conflict with implementing change: 

• When you're standing over the ball thinking about using the new swing your subconscious will strongly urge you to use the old comfortable one which causes pressure to build
  

• By nature when we're under pressure we revert to old familiar habits because they represent the path of least resistance and seem less threatening
  

Biting The Bullet: Every golfer experiences this regardless of playing level. However, if you're serious about improving your game by implementing changes it will require biting the bullet and feeling the associated pain for a little while.

Tiger Woods is a perfect example. It has been very well documented that his performance suffered, albeit short term, every time he changed swing coaches.  This was because the changes he implemented through practice on the range were being used in competition prior to becoming second nature or automatic to him and his confidence level was lacking.

Easing the Transition From Range to Golf Course:  There's going to be some pain associated with this because change is never easy. However, the following simple process will build your confidence and lead to lower scores.

The Process:  Play nine holes on each of three days at times when no one is behind you.  Each round will be played as follows:

Day 1 - Holes one through six hit three balls off the tee. Regardless of where they stop pick them up, place each in an ideal spot and hit the second shot from there. Continue this for each of the next shots until you're on the green. Use the same process for holes seven through nine only play with two balls.

Day 2 - Use the same process but play two balls for the first six holes and one ball for the last three.

Day 3 - Use the same process but play one ball for the first six holes and play the last three holes where the ball lies. This will introduce some pressure on you to focus on hitting a good shot.

Do this drill as often as necessary until you feel comfortable with the swing change on the course.

This proven process will help build your confidence in applying the swing change you've made on the golf course as well as accelerate the time it takes to becomes automatic... and shoot lower scores.

Topics of Interest: Please let me know if there is a topic of general interest you would like me to discuss.

That's it for now.  Hit 'em long and straight... and stop by the range to say hello.

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