Swingin' Smooth Golf

Effortless Decisions for a Smooth Swing

Form

The Importance of Form Practice

Form

Form practice can be defined as practice that works on how you swing a golf club. As TPI certified, this is known as practicing the Big 15. These are 15 common swing characteristics that affect how you swing the golf club.

As discussed before, there is a difference between performance practice and form practice. With form practice, this should only be done without caring about what the golf ball does. This type of practice can be very frustrating but is necessary to improve your performance and course management.

This type of practice is what most people envision when they think about practicing golf. “Today, I want to work on not coming over the top.” Or “I want to stop Early Extension,” and there is a place where this is needed. However, there is another important aspect to consider: can you physically accomplish what you are doing?

While working on this type of practice, there are two things to consider: one being, do I have a physical limitation that is leading me to show a swing character causing a swing flaw, or do I have the physical ability to make the change but lack the technical knowledge to be able to make the change?

If you have a physical limitation that is leading to a swing characteristic, there are two different options that are open to you. One is that you work on that limitation in the gym, i.e., with a physical trainer or physical therapist. Alternatively, you can receive coaching that focuses on working around your physical limitations. Occasionally, you can’t do anything in the gym to help your physical limitations, so you must work around them.

If you belong to the second group, which lacks the technical knowledge necessary to make changes, then you will find it easier to adjust your form. These golfers need to learn how to diagnose the true problem of, or be coached about, their swing so they can make the right change at the right time. The worst thing to do is try to eliminate a swing characteristic that you do need in order to make good contact with the ball because you think that your form is off.

Throughout the exploration of this SSG pillar, we will talk about all kinds of swing characteristics and how to combat them if they are a true swing flaw and not just how your swing looks.

What’s the Difference Between Form and Performance Practice

Form, Performance

How do you practice? What do you spend your time doing? Are you practicing in the most effective way?

The single most important thing to improving your score is how you practice. Most golfers would find this as common sense, but what you’re practicing is less intuitive. Understanding the differences between the two types of practice will significantly improve your game.

The two different types are 1) form practice and 2) performance practice. There is a big distinction between the two, but they can also be confused. For example, someone who has early extension, an extremely common swing characteristic, may not have an issue with making ball-then-ground contact.  For this golfer to address his early extension, they will be strictly working on form practice.

Now let’s switch it. If a golfer doesn’t have early extension or any other swing characteristic that would lead to an inability to have ball-then-ground contact, they struggle with ground contact in the correct place. This golfer working on this SKILL is working in performance practice.

To break this down to simpler terms, form practice is how a golfer looks when they swing the golf club, and performance practice is how the ball performs. When breaking down one’s practice into these two categories, it will simplify your goals.

Most people focus their practice on performance practice through form practice. This is a confusing concept at the best of times, but most golfers and some coaches follow it. To know if you have ever done this, ask yourself a simple question: do you quantify your ball flight by how you “feel” during your shot? Or have you ever considered a swing, a bad swing by the ball didn’t do what you wanted it to do, but on camera your physical swing, i.e., manipulation of the club or body, did what you set out to do. This is a classic example of performance practice through form practice.

If you are working on form practice, there should be zero consideration towards the performance of the ball. Generally, you should perform form practice without a ball initially.

To determine whether to transition your form practice into performance practice is based on your ability to perform the desired form at full speed without a ball. Then start slow and move faster with the ball to incorporate it into your performance.

Now, for the TRUE integration from form to performance, it is to test your swing form with the help of a camera against the performance standards that you have set for yourself. All of the form work that you do will never translate into performance without testing it, and all of the performance practice that you put in without a solid form foundation will not translate into a decreased score.

This is the fine line that golfers need to dance in order to improve their score, but most golfers don’t realize the importance of keeping these two skills separate.