In this video we get to see if all the set-up and swing changes I made over the past couple of weeks will help with distance. We’re going to use a radar system to measure ball speed, which is my ultimate metric.

I’m fortunate to have John Greenwood on my team because he not only builds my clubs, he brings his radar to help me test and train so I get instant feedback on my changes.

One of the things I learned after claiming my second World Long Drive Championship title last year was the difference between “practice” and “training.”

I practice my golf swing more efficient over the long run. But I train to improve my performance today.

Radar-based training is the future of golf if you want to get better right now.

Watch the video to see how I train with video.

Consistency Starts with the Pre-Shot Routine

The first thing you’ll notice about the way I practice is that I do my pre-shot routine before EVERY shot. Even when I am working on swing changes. Every time.

If you take nothing else away from this video, take this lesson on how to practice: do your routine before every shot. It will soon become second nature, and it is the best way to set yourself up consistently for successful golf shots.

Radar-Based Training

As I continue to practice I focused on setting up with a “tall” spine. The better my posture is, the more athletically I can swing.

The radar unit showed that as I continued to work on my posture my ball speed went up. I went from 186 to 188 to 190 mph in ball speed, just by working on posture.

What’s great about the radar is that I don’t have to spend a lot of time guessing whether or not something is helpful.

I know within a few shots.

Plus I can continue to tweak things around to see if I can get even more improvement, and find out immediately if I am on the right path.

Don’t Sweat the Mis-Hits

You’ll notice a couple more things in this video.

First, I don’t hit them all perfectly.

In fact, I hit a couple of stinkers.

What I encourage my students to do is not worry about the outcome of the shot. It’s just another piece of information.

If you are trying to learn about something your focus is internal – on the feel of the swing. Sometimes I am so intent on what the swing “feels” like that I barely even see the ball.

It’s ok.

It’s all a part of learning.

Too many swing thoughts is distracting.

If you try to learn too many things or pay attention to too many things in just one swing your focus is split in too many directions and you wind up learning nothing. Any time I am making a “learning” swing I focus all my attention on just that one aspect of the swing.

It’s OK if the shot result isn’t perfect – as long as I learn something from the feedback on my swing.

In the mean time, the improvements I am seeing from the Radar feedback keep me encouraged.

TAKE AWAYS

1. “Practicing” means working on a better swing for the future. “Training” means optimizing what you have Right Now.
2. Do your Pre-Shot Routine before every shot. Every time.
3. Don’t judge your shots. Learn from them.
4. When you see improvement, congratulate yourself! It’s very motivational.

PS – I’m still looking for another 2- to 4-mph in ball speed, so I still have lots of work to do!