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How to Practice Golf Effectively Between Lessons

Published December 2025 | 10 min read
Taking golf lessons is just the first step toward improvement—what you do between those lessons determines how quickly and effectively you progress. Many golfers waste their practice time reinforcing bad habits or working on the wrong things, essentially undoing the progress made during instruction. This guide will show you how to maximize every practice session, implement what your instructor teaches, and accelerate your improvement without developing bad habits.

The Golden Rule: Practice What Your Instructor Taught

This seems obvious, but it's the most commonly broken rule in golf. After a lesson, you're excited and full of new information. The temptation is to immediately try new drills, watch YouTube videos for "additional tips," or experiment with other techniques you've read about.

Don't do this.

Your instructor gave you specific things to work on for a reason. They've assessed your swing, identified your priority issues, and provided targeted fixes. Adding other elements—even good ones—creates confusion and dilutes your focus.

⚠️ The YouTube Trap

Watching random golf instruction videos between lessons is one of the fastest ways to derail your progress. What works for someone else's swing might contradict what your instructor is teaching you. Stick to the plan until your next lesson, then discuss any questions with your instructor.

How Much Should You Practice?

The right amount of practice depends on your goals, schedule, and current skill level. Here's a realistic framework:

For Rapid Improvement

For Steady Progress

For Maintenance

💡 Quality Over Quantity: Three focused 30-minute sessions beat one unfocused 90-minute session every time. When you're tired or losing concentration, stop. Continuing just ingrains bad habits.

Structuring Your Practice Sessions

Random hitting is not practice—it's just exercise. Every session should have structure and purpose. Here's an effective framework:

The Perfect 60-Minute Practice Session

Warm-Up (10 minutes)

Lesson Material (30 minutes)

Application (15 minutes)

Short Game (5 minutes)

Essential Practice Drills for Common Swing Issues

While you should primarily work on what your instructor assigned, here are some universal drills that support most lesson plans:

🎯 Alignment Stick Drill (For Accuracy)

What it fixes: Poor alignment, inconsistent ball striking

How to do it:

  1. Place an alignment stick on the ground pointing at your target
  2. Place another stick parallel to it along your toe line
  3. Hit balls ensuring your setup is square to these lines
  4. Check alignment every 5-10 shots

Why it works: Most swing issues stem from poor setup. Perfect alignment creates a foundation for consistent ball striking.

🎯 Gate Drill (For Swing Path)

What it fixes: Slice, hook, inconsistent contact

How to do it:

  1. Place two alignment sticks or clubs on the ground creating a "gate" just wider than your clubhead
  2. Position the ball in the center of the gate
  3. Practice swinging through without hitting the sticks
  4. This trains a square clubface through impact

Why it works: Provides immediate feedback on swing path and face angle.

🎯 Feet Together Drill (For Balance and Tempo)

What it fixes: Poor balance, rushed tempo, inconsistent contact

How to do it:

  1. Address the ball with your feet touching each other
  2. Make smooth, controlled swings (start with half swings)
  3. Focus on maintaining balance throughout
  4. Gradually work up to full swings

Why it works: Forces you to swing smoothly and stay balanced. If you're off-balance, you'll fall over.

🎯 Impact Bag Drill (For Contact Position)

What it fixes: Poor impact position, loss of power, inconsistent strikes

How to do it:

  1. Use a specialized impact bag or make one with old towels/blankets
  2. Practice hitting the bag in slow motion, focusing on proper impact position
  3. Check: weight forward, hands ahead of ball, shaft leaning toward target
  4. Gradually increase speed while maintaining proper positions

Why it works: Trains the correct impact position without worrying about ball flight.

The 5-5-5 Short Game Practice Method

Short game is where most strokes are lost, yet it's often under-practiced. This simple method ensures balanced short game development:

Every practice session, hit:

That's only 30 shots but covers all short game fundamentals. Make it a routine you never skip.

Common Practice Mistakes to Avoid

1. Hitting Ball After Ball Without Purpose

The driving range isn't a fitness center. Mindlessly pounding balls builds muscle memory for whatever you're doing—good or bad. Instead:

2. Only Practicing What You're Good At

It's natural to gravitate toward clubs and shots you're comfortable with. But improvement comes from working on weaknesses:

3. Ignoring Your Lesson Notes

After each lesson, write down or record (video) the key points your instructor emphasized. Bring these notes to every practice session. Review them before you start. This keeps you focused on the right priorities.

4. Practicing Only Full Swings

Statistics show that over 60% of shots in a round are from 100 yards and in. Yet most golfers spend 90% of practice time on full swings. Rebalance this:

5. Never Simulating Pressure

Practice is comfortable. Golf rounds create pressure. Bridge this gap by adding pressure to practice:

Using Technology Wisely

Modern practice tools can accelerate improvement when used correctly:

Video Analysis

Launch Monitors and Apps

Training Aids

When to Schedule Your Next Lesson

Lesson frequency depends on several factors:

Book your next lesson when:

Don't book your next lesson if:

💡 The Right Frequency: Most recreational golfers benefit from lessons every 3-4 weeks during their improvement phase, then monthly for maintenance. Competitive players might need weekly or bi-weekly lessons during season.

Keeping a Practice Journal

One of the most underrated practice tools is a simple notebook. After each practice session, write down:

Over time, this journal reveals patterns, tracks progress, and provides valuable information for your instructor to refine their teaching approach.

Practice vs. Play: Finding the Balance

You need both practice and play, but they serve different purposes:

Practice is for:

Playing is for:

The mistake: Trying to work on swing changes during a round. This ruins both your score and your practice effectiveness.

Better approach: Practice is practice, play is play. When you're playing, trust what you've practiced and focus on scoring. Save the technical work for the range.

Signs Your Practice is Working

Improvement isn't always linear, but these signs indicate effective practice:

⚠️ The Plateau is Normal

Everyone hits plateaus where improvement seems to stall. This is normal and often means your body is consolidating new skills. Keep practicing consistently, stay patient, and trust the process. The next breakthrough is coming.

Final Thoughts: Make Practice Purposeful

The difference between golfers who improve and those who stay stuck isn't talent or time—it's how they practice. Every ball you hit is either moving you toward your goals or away from them. There's no neutral.

Effective practice between lessons means:

Your instructor can only do so much in 30-60 minutes per session. The real improvement happens in the hours you spend between lessons implementing what they've taught. Make those hours count.

Ready to Find a Great Golf Instructor?

The first step to effective practice is having an expert guide. Search for qualified instructors in your area who can create a personalized improvement plan.

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