We’ve all heard the old saying: “Practice makes perfect.” But let’s be real — if that were true, every player pounding balls on the range would be a scratch player. Truth is, practice makes permanent. Whatever you repeat, you start to own — whether it’s helpful or harmful to your game. So the better question is: are you practicing something worth repeating?

There’s a big difference between working on your game and just spending time with a bucket of balls. If you’re just hitting shots with no real purpose, no feedback, and no target, you’re not practicing — you’re just exercising. And while exercise is fine, it’s not going to help you shoot lower scores. Intentional practice is where the real gains live. That’s where scores drop, and confidence builds.

So what does that even look like? It starts with a plan. You’ve got to know what you’re working on, and make sure you’re actually working on that — not falling back into old habits. Add some constraints to your session. Use an alignment stick, set up a tee gate, or give yourself a visual barrier. Make your practice harder than the game. Then pick one focus — just one. Maybe it’s starting the club back smoother, keeping your feet quiet, or holding your finish. Don’t chase five things at once. Get great at one.

And measure something. Anything. Track dispersion, face angle, carry yardage, launch — whatever you can. Even something as simple as “How many chips can I hit inside 6 feet?” gives your brain something to chase. Golf is a game of feedback. You need some.

If you want to get tournament tough, you’ve got to feel a little pressure when you practice. That’s the secret sauce. Play games with yourself. Set a goal, and if you miss it — start over. Hit ten in a row between targets. If you miss one, reset. Put a dollar on a putt. Go head-to-head with a buddy in a wedge game. Get your heart rate up. The more you simulate pressure now, the better you’ll handle it later.

The thing is, it’s not about perfect practice. It’s about honest practice. Intentional practice. Fifteen minutes done with focus and feedback will beat two hours of range therapy every time. So next time you show up to the course and toss your bag down by the range, ask yourself: Am I getting better… or just getting reps?

👉 Up Next: You’ve been working. You’ve got the tools. But what do you do when the ball’s just not flying like it should?

Next week: Why You Should Learn a go to shot.