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Stop Wasting Practice Time: Here’s a 1-Hour Routine That Gets Results

It takes so much time to get good at golf, right? While it can be a time-consuming process, many people make it harder than it needs to be.

If you need a simple routine to follow that actually works, here is a great one: our practice session, which should help you start lowering your scores.

Step 1: Warm Up Properly (10 Minutes)

Your practice session needs at least a ten-minute warm-up. You’ll read about preparing your body and mind, but honestly, you want to make sure you don’t hurt yourself.

It is worth taking just a few minutes to ensure you don’t strain a muscle.

  • Begin with light stretches to loosen your shoulders, hips, and hamstrings. Focus on areas prone to tension, like your lower back.
  • Hit 10–15 easy shots with a wedge or short iron to establish a rhythm. (Don’t focus on distance – at all)
  • Gradually work up to your mid-irons, taking a few shots to feel the clubface and ball contact. This helps you transition into focused practice mode.

Step 2: Chipping Practice with a 9 Iron (10 Minutes)

Yes, we don’t even move to the full swing next. So many golfers think that as long as they do this ten-minute warm-up, they can start blasting drivers. That’s not the case.

Start by chipping.

Pick targets at distances like 10, 15, and 20 yards. Use your 9-iron to make clean contact and get the ball as close as possible to the target. You can do this at the range or in the chipping green. The goal is to focus on consistent contact.

Switch to the sand wedge and do the same thing when you get that feel down. Try to hit 10, 15, and 20-yard shots. You can slowly start to increase the distance.

Remember that chipping and pitching are miniature versions of your full swing. Starting your routine this way should help make the rest of your practice session more effective.

Step 3: Target Practice on the Range (20 Minutes)

Now you are ready for the heart of your practice session. This is where most golfers start rapid-firing golf balls. I would suggest against that. Here are some ways to make this target practice more effective.

  • Always have a target (for every single shot you hit!)
  • Hit 10 shots with a mid-iron, keeping track of how many land within your intended area. Adjust your alignment or swing as needed. Find out which of your clubs are your best/worst.
  • Repeating the process, move to longer clubs like your driver or 3-wood. Again, always pick a target, and when you miss the target, make a note so you can work on improvements.
  • Add pressure by setting goals. For example, aim to hit 7 out of 10 shots on target. If you miss, repeat the drill until you succeed.

Step 4: “Play the Course” (20 Minutes)

Once you have worked through some of your target practice, take the rest of your time on the range to “play the course”.

Play through a few holes of your favorite course and mentally hit a tee shot, an approach, and maybe a wedge. You may hit one shot with a driver, then grab a six iron, and then hit a 50-yard wedge shot.

Changing from one club to the next is very valuable practice. It helps you make adjustments to setup posture and ball position. All things you have to do on the course.

Final Thoughts

Spend the last few minutes thinking about what went right and what went wrong. Keep a journal with notes about your game and the discoveries you made. This is a general practice session.

If you are working on something like fixing a slice or a hook, your target practice session can be made into more of a learning or testing phase. 

The Golf Bandit
The Golf Bandit

Hi, I'm Jan. I'm passionate about golf and have been playing for years. I love testing out new clubs and equipment, and I share my reviews right here on my blog. With access to the latest gear, I provide honest insights on how they perform on the course. I also enjoy sharing tips and tricks to help you improve your game. Thanks for visiting—hope you find something useful!

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