On and Off Season Workout

Question
Hello John.  What would you recommend for a daily workout to get ready to compete in the mini-tours?  Would you do the same warm up each day or would you practice a few skills a day and then others the next?  Being in Florida there isn't much of a down time due to the weather being nice to play so would you recommend the same workout for the off season also?  Thank you for your time.

Answer
Hello Tim:  I would definitely make stretching and balance conditioning part of my daily routine.  A good place to start would be http://www.krtotalfitness.com/

I would get in the habit of practicing at the same time each day so that it becomes ingrained.  And I'd devote 75-80% of the time to the short game.  And unless you're working on technique, I would avoid hitting the same shot twice in a row. (You don't get the luxury of doing so in play so why do it in practice.)  For instance, I would put 6 or 7 balls in my pocket and wander around playing shots to the same hole. The reason I say this is the first shot you hit is the only one that is a true golf shot; others from the same place or to the same target are corrections of or adjustments to the ones previous.

Work on your weaknesses and reinforce your strengths.  And create challenges while you practice.  If possible, find someone to compete with while practicing.

As for the long game, don't hit a lot of balls with just one club unless you're working on technique or a club you're having problems with.  Put your imagination to work devising holes to play on the range and actually change clubs for each shot as if you were actually playing.

Then there's the mental game.  Basically, you are what you think so you need to start thinking like a mini tour winner, imagining yourself in the last group, making great shots under pressure to win.  Play one shot at a time and concentrate only on how you want the shot to turn out.  Utilize visualization techniques and always conjure up the feel of a good shot remembered before each shot.  Develop tunnel vision if you will.

Play as much as you can and if you play alone, scramble 2 balls and play the worst shot.  It will only take a couple holes doing this to appreciate the mental exercise it provides.  Make your goal breaking 40 for 9 holes.  And if you play with others, always play for something.

Tim, I've kinda rambled but I hope I've given you something to go with and I wish you good luck with the mini tours.

Fairways and Greens,

John
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