Effective Transfer Practice,
Part IV
by Eric Alpenfels
As mentioned in the first three articles
of this series, making a swing change on the
range tends to be easier for golfers when
compared to taking that swing change to the
course. Many factors can affect this process,
but from my experience, the lack of success
primarily stems from the failure to practice in
a way that prepares one for the course. The
basic point of practice on the range should
be to change technique, refine technique or
sustain an effective swing. Regardless of the
point, the time spent on the range should
directly improve performance on the course.
If such improvement does not follow, then
why practice?
With the goal of taking technique changes
made on the range to the course, the final two
of six “Effective Transfer Practice” guidelines
are offered.
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Eric Alpenfels
Director of Golf Instruction /
Golf Academy / the Pinehurst Resort
Eric Alpenfels is the Director of the
Pinehurst Golf Academy and Golf Instruction
at Pinehurst Resort. He is a Class A Member
of the PGA of America and has been part of
the Pinehurst family since 1985.
His expertise has earned him recognition
from Golf Magazine as one of the “Top 100
Teachers in America,” Golf Digest as one of
“America’s 50 Greatest Teachers” and U.S. Kids
Golf as one of the “Top 50 Teachers for Kids.”
Tee Time
A Golf Lesson from the Greens
Effective Transfer Guideline #5
Practice the Right Areas
With any practice session, consideration
should be given to what areas of performance
need the most attention. Take, for example,
someone who wants to create greater
distance off the tee with the thought that a
shorter shot into the green will lead to lower
scores. In this case, making a swing change
that could increase distance might be more
challenging when compared to practice time
spent working on the elimination of the four
three-putts made in the last round due to poor
distance control. Practice time spent working
on the wrong area might not only lead to little
improvement in performance on the course
but might lead to higher scores due to the
areas needing attention being neglected. In
short, the goal is to determine the areas that
need attention but also can be improved the
quickest. The following steps are suggested
for your next round of golf to help start the
determination process.
Step 1
• Determine and note the number of
fairways hit off the tee as well as the greens
hit in regulation. • Determine the number of
short game shots hit from around the greens
as well as the total number of stokes taken to
get the ball in the hole. • Determine and note
the amount putts taken per hole.
Step 2
• Review this information and determine
what areas are the most in need of attention.
Some of the basic questions to ask are as
follows: Are the three putts the result of
poor green reading, distance control or just
poor technique? Are shots lost around the
green when chipping or pitching due to poor
technique or poor touch? Do too many shots
hit off the tee end up in unplayable situations?
Are missed approach shots hit into the green
ending up in challenging or reasonable
situations?
The basic information derived from the
above steps (or any other game analysis
program) can be very helpful in determining
what should be practice.
Effective Transfer Practice Guidelines #6
Practice with Relevant Feedback
Relevant feedback comes in two forms.
The first form of feedback is called intrinsic.
In this case, it is the feeling a golfer has when
hitting a shot or making a swing. The second
form of feedback is called augmented. This
form of feedback is derived from an outside
source such as comments from an instructor,
swing observations noted from video, or in
this case, feedback from performance. The
most effective way to utilize augmented
feedback is to continually track performance
on the course and use that information as a
guide for what to work on when practicing.
Take for example a practice session prior to
a round that focused on distance control in
putting. Questions for the post round would
include the following: Did the distance
control practice session help with distance
control during the round? If not, what did
change? Were the first putts ending up closer
to the hole than in the past and just not get
converted into a two putt? Or, were the first
putts just as far away as always? Obviously,
there are a variety of questions that can be
asked. The key is that the answers offer insight
into what areas need attention. ☐
No. 140 The Pinehurst Gazette, Inc. p.9
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