Hi HB and OK,
I would like to hear from you both how the guys on tour prepare for tournaments.
How do they practice in the week/s leading up to tourny?
Do they look at notes and charts from the previous year and practice shots and clubs used previously?
When do they arrive in the area of the tourny?
How many practice rounds do they play?
How do they play their practice rounds?
How do they practice in the tourny week?
What do you guys get them to do that they maybe wouldnt do otherwise?
How do they chill out during tourny week?
Do you guys meet up with them at the tourny or do you work with them in the lead up too?
I played mini tours out in the states and Europe a number of years back so I have an idea,but would love to hear what the real deal is like.
Your other threads have been so enlightening and ive just been dying to hear and learn more.
Cheers,
David McCallum.
David,
Most guys would do the normal thing of hitting balls and playing while at home. If they are working on something special, they might see their teacher and do some video. My guy lives close to his equipment company, so he spends some time there to get everyhing how he wants it.
The caddies would do more analysis about clubs and shots from previous years. The players might run through the course in their heads.
The schedule for the week varies based on travel, current run of tourneys, etc. If the player is coming from home, he will probably arrive Mon. night, esp if he knows the course.
The ideal. Player arrives Sunday night / Monday morning. Caddie walks course early Monday. Player practices with particular emphasis on adjusting to the conditions. Grass type, sand texture, etc. Possibly play 9 holes in the afernoon. If the player has not seen the course before, I want to have a concrete plan for what I think he should do. I pick the lines and distance of tee shots based on trouble or advantage. Early in the week I might point out some bad spots (pot bunkers, etc) to explain why I think a play is correct. I would rather not bring this up during play. The player might override my choice based on visual or feel but it does not happen too often. If a player knows the course well, he will know how to play it. Many courses dictate the correct play rather than giving the player multiple option. Then it just comes down to execution.
I like two practice rounds. The player gets a better feel for the course and learns something about the course with every trip. It could be 9 Monday, 18 Tuesday, 9 Wednesday. If not in pro-am, the players can play crack of dawn 9 holes. During a practice round, we are not trying to shoot a score. It is all about finding the right play for each hole. I like the player to putt to likely pin positions. If the greens have ridges, they need to hit putts over these spots. Some putts have diferent speeds than they appear. We also want to get used to the rough and sand.
If the player hits a poor shot, he will hit another to see a god one. He would play some shots from the rough but drop a ball in the fairway where he wants to play from.
Some guys will play a money game on Tuesday, but they still hit lots of chips and putts.
Practice schedule depends on tee times and state of game. I like a player to practice hard on Tuesday and taper off from there. If you are not swinging well, you have to do more. It is better to ppractice hard after a morning round with late time the next day. Normal would be some balls on the range and some putting. Short game as well. If the course has a nice short game area, they will spend a lot of time there. Most go to the trailers for streching and workout.
They all have favorite things to practice. We often have to get them to spend more time chipping and putting. We get them to play shots from spots around the green that we think may come up during the round. When you work for a guy for a long time, you can spot a trouble hole when you see it the first time. You try to figure out a way for him to play it that will minimize trouble without him knowing you are doing it. Quick analysis of the round will help guide the post round practice. The player might think he is putting bad, but you notice he keeps hitting his pitches to 7 feet and his wedges to 20 feet. So you suggest wedge work.
They chill out with good dinner and sports on TV. Unless family is out. If you are doing your work, there is not much energy left to do much else.
Most weeks, you just meet your guy Monday or Tuesday. I usually go to his house for about a week to play golf before the start of the year and before Q-school if we have to go.
Most guys would do the normal thing of hitting balls and playing while at home. If they are working on something special, they might see their teacher and do some video. My guy lives close to his equipment company, so he spends some time there to get everyhing how he wants it.
The caddies would do more analysis about clubs and shots from previous years. The players might run through the course in their heads.
The schedule for the week varies based on travel, current run of tourneys, etc. If the player is coming from home, he will probably arrive Mon. night, esp if he knows the course.
The ideal. Player arrives Sunday night / Monday morning. Caddie walks course early Monday. Player practices with particular emphasis on adjusting to the conditions. Grass type, sand texture, etc. Possibly play 9 holes in the afernoon. If the player has not seen the course before, I want to have a concrete plan for what I think he should do. I pick the lines and distance of tee shots based on trouble or advantage. Early in the week I might point out some bad spots (pot bunkers, etc) to explain why I think a play is correct. I would rather not bring this up during play. The player might override my choice based on visual or feel but it does not happen too often. If a player knows the course well, he will know how to play it. Many courses dictate the correct play rather than giving the player multiple option. Then it just comes down to execution.
I like two practice rounds. The player gets a better feel for the course and learns something about the course with every trip. It could be 9 Monday, 18 Tuesday, 9 Wednesday. If not in pro-am, the players can play crack of dawn 9 holes. During a practice round, we are not trying to shoot a score. It is all about finding the right play for each hole. I like the player to putt to likely pin positions. If the greens have ridges, they need to hit putts over these spots. Some putts have diferent speeds than they appear. We also want to get used to the rough and sand.
If the player hits a poor shot, he will hit another to see a god one. He would play some shots from the rough but drop a ball in the fairway where he wants to play from.
Some guys will play a money game on Tuesday, but they still hit lots of chips and putts.
Practice schedule depends on tee times and state of game. I like a player to practice hard on Tuesday and taper off from there. If you are not swinging well, you have to do more. It is better to ppractice hard after a morning round with late time the next day. Normal would be some balls on the range and some putting. Short game as well. If the course has a nice short game area, they will spend a lot of time there. Most go to the trailers for streching and workout.
They all have favorite things to practice. We often have to get them to spend more time chipping and putting. We get them to play shots from spots around the green that we think may come up during the round. When you work for a guy for a long time, you can spot a trouble hole when you see it the first time. You try to figure out a way for him to play it that will minimize trouble without him knowing you are doing it. Quick analysis of the round will help guide the post round practice. The player might think he is putting bad, but you notice he keeps hitting his pitches to 7 feet and his wedges to 20 feet. So you suggest wedge work.
They chill out with good dinner and sports on TV. Unless family is out. If you are doing your work, there is not much energy left to do much else.
Most weeks, you just meet your guy Monday or Tuesday. I usually go to his house for about a week to play golf before the start of the year and before Q-school if we have to go.
HB
Another freakin' homer run post. How do these cats make swing changes? Are they just good a changing crap? Do they do mirror work and video work? What in your opinion is the most effective way to incorporate a swing change? Are they monkeying with the change while the play or just "make ball go right here?"
Another freakin' homer run post. How do these cats make swing changes? Are they just good a changing crap? Do they do mirror work and video work? What in your opinion is the most effective way to incorporate a swing change? Are they monkeying with the change while the play or just "make ball go right here?"
Bucket,
I'll give you a short answer here and add some under learning golf. There are two different types of work that tour players do to their swings. One is change and the other is just finding / grooving the pattern. Most tour players have a fault or two that the constantly monitor and try to keep under control. Many are hesitant to make large changes because of not knowing that it will work. One way to look at it: it is better to be really good at a average swing than average at a really good swing.
I'm not saying that I agree with the dominant thinking on tour. There is a bunch of bandaid junk going on out there. They often have a swing thought that they use with long shots.
thank you very much for the quick and very informative response.
how do the guys cope with Q-school?
how do yous guys cope with keeping them calm(ish!).
do they/you do anything different for Q-school?
thanks again,
david mccallum.
David,
It is just golf. A player should prepare the same way he would for any other tournament but pay special attention to the mental side. By the mental side, I mean cultivating trust in himself and visualizing himself handling every possible episode with poise. Many players will get down on themselves after a weak shot or round. Those players will have no chance.
Q-school is a grind because it determines where you play the whole next year. With all the ramifications of each shot, the player must put a lot of energy into maintaining the state of mind in which he plays his best.
The player should enter Q-school with the idea of winning rather than getting his card. Smart but aggressive play is the goal.
Hybrid Mode
