What should you practice?

One of the best pieces of advice any golfer can give another golfer with any measure of certainty, is the necessity of practice for improving your game.

There are many people out there practicing all the time and getting little to no results; why is that? Simply put, they are practicing the wrong things. If you are practicing the wrong things, then you might as well not waste your time.

Every professional golfer, and coach will tell you the same thing: Practice your short game.

The short game is the hardest part of golf. The "soft touch" at the greens is the make or break part of each hole. More stokes are lost inside 50 yards of the hole than anywhere in the field.

Why is it then that golfers will go to the range and practice using their driver with a tee'd up shot?

Well, I am sure there are many reasons for that, but it really doesn't matter. Short game is your key to closing off the hole.

I recommend that you spend 80% of your practice time working on two aspects of your game: Putting, and Chipping. If you need to spend time on your irons or tee shots go ahead, but your focus should be on putting and chipping.

Let's face it: There is one club you are all but guaranteed to use at least once a hole; your putter. And unless you are the kind of golfer who hits the green every time from the field, you will find chipping and pitching skills a must.

One more good piece of advice I picked up: Your wedges are not the only clubs for chipping!
Look to every club from your 5 iron to your lob wedge for chipping, and practice with each. You will soon fall into the groove as to which club to use at what distance for your chip shots.

Practice doesn't make perfect; but it sure can shave strokes!