The pros spend a lot of time dialing in their putting using drills. You would be surprised at just how much time pros spend working on their putting alignment and their putter path. Some of the typical routines the pros utilize are:

• Checking eye line with an alignment mirror (Justin Thomas)
• Working on their putter path with an alignment rod (Jordan Spieth)
• Setting up a putter “gate” with tees to ensure a square face at impact (Tiger Woods)
• Rolling the ball on a line using a chalk line or a string alignment (Justin Thomas)

Next time you are watching the pros warm up on the putting green ahead of a round, check out how many gadgets they have around the greens. They are just like the rest of us! 

The pros spend a large percentage of their time working on their short game. Unless they are working on a particular element of their technique, they spend a lot of their time moving around the short game area and simulating different shots that may come up in the course of play. Some techniques you may see:

• Take three balls and hit chips or pitches with three different trajectories to the same target
• A riff on the above technique, take three balls and hit bump and runs with a different club for each shot
• Use one ball and play 9 random holes on the chipping green finishing out each hole – what is your best 9-hole score?

Vary Your Shots on the Range

On the course you rarely have the same shot two times in a row. You should practice accordingly! The pros vary what they are doing on almost every swing using these games:

• Change the distance you are trying to hit the ball on each swing. This can be done utilizing a launch monitor or by varying your targets on the range. Try to hit two different clubs at the 150 yard marker with two different clubs.
• Change the shot shape on each shot. Try the 9-ball drill – hit 3 draws, 3 fades and 3 straight balls. How many can you hit as expected out of 9 swings?
• Change the shot trajectory. Trajectory can make a big difference if you are playing in wind or trying to take some off a club. Work on this during your range sessions.

Analyze Your Strengths and Weaknesses

The pros have access to approximately a zillion stats. Many pros have even hired statisticians to help them figure out their relative strengths and weaknesses based on stats.

Amateur golfers probably know their relative strengths and weaknesses so there is no need to spend dollars on a statistician. If you do not feel you know your strengths and weaknesses, you can start to track basic stats through many different apps on the market (e.g., Golf Shot, Swing by Swing, 18 Birdies). Make sure you are optimizing your practice time by dedicating enough time to your weaknesses.

Many golfers tend to just focus on their perceived weaknesses during practice sessions. However, you cannot ignore your strengths. Make sure you give your strengths enough focus during your practice sessions so that they continue to be strengths in your game. The pros spend plenty of time reinforcing their approach and dialing in their strengths in addition to working on their weaknesses.

The pros are meticulous about planning and tracking their practice. Many have coaches that help them build out a plan and adjust it as needed on a weekly basis. How are you planning and tracking your own practice sessions? At a minimum start planning your weekly practice routine and tracking your results. Build yourself weekly challenges to keep yourself engaged and hold yourself accountable for your results while you practice. Track all of this in a journal so you review your progress over time.