by Jimmy Patrick

Created on: April 21, 2009

It is possible to play golf on the practice range and practice golf on the golf course. The difference between playing golf and practicing golf is a very important one to understand. It has nothing to do with location and everything to do with mindset.

If you are hitting golf balls at targets, focusing all your mental energy on trying to get the ball in the hole, then you are playing golf. If you are focusing your mental energy on swing mechanics, even just one, you are practicing.

The reason this distinction is important to understand is because you don't want to mix the two modes of golf up. You don't want to be practicing or playing when you should not be. In other words, there is a time for practice and a time for play.

If you are playing in a meaningful golf match of any kind, whether it be your club championship or a five-dollar nassau with a friend, you should be playing, not practicing. If you find yourself trying to figure out your swing flaws or trying to correct a slice during your match, you are practicing, and the mental energy you are using to practice will take away from the focus you need to maintain on your target.

Inevitably, when one practices, they are going to experiment to a degree. Say a golfer is slicing the ball more than she likes; if she starts changing her stance or grip or adjusting her swing plane, then she is practicing. The results you will get with various changes to your swing mechanics will be unpredictable and therefore not condusive to the best possible score.

When playing golf, you want to be as consistent as possible. You want to be able to play predictable shots. If you are slicing the ball on a particular day, you will have to just run with it. You will have to accept that as your shot for that day and start aiming left of your targets. Remember the object of the game is to hit the fairways and greens, not hit the ball perfectly straight.

I see so many golfers go out on the course and get frustrated with not hitting the ball straight that they spend the rest of their round trying to correct their swing. Then, at the end of the round, they are unhappy with their high score. They are mixing practice with play.

If you are trying to correct your swing while out on the course, then you better not care what the score is at the end. If you are trying to shoot the best score you can, then you shouldn't care how you get the ball in the hole as long as you get it there.

So, when playing golf for the best score possible, you must accept your swing and abilities for that given round of golf and focus totally on getting the ball in the hole with the skills you presently have. Focus your mind on visualization, course management, and other mental aspects of the game, leaving all mechanical thoughts for a later date.

The mind can only handle so much information at one time and only has so much energy to spend. So, always remember to play golf when you mean to play and practice when you need to practice. You will save yourself lots of frustration this way.

Learn more about this author, Jimmy Patrick.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.