Dear Geoff,

having a stroke, read and aim procedure, and distance apporach in line with your methodology. Basically working and well integrated. (Practiced a lot on the different parts).

-What practice program on a weekly basis would you suggest, to maintain and further develop the skills. And how much time and how often per week? Is there a standard set of drills that you think one always should do, added by working on areas that at the particular time seems a little bit off ?

I find myself to often practicining some of the drills without really knowing weather I need this training or not.
My own thinking
-is to work on Posture (Eyes over the intended line, square hips and shoulders) by mirror on ground and sight-line - once every two weeks
-Practice "Eye diciplin" Hard focus for short putts, and gazing and still eyes for "salute the dawn" - Once week
-Distance control - I feel is really not needed to practice, the brain controls this so well anyway. (However I practice this in the warm up by rolling balls to the fringe getting the feel for present green-speed, and have them stop right at the edge of the green)
-Green reading for breaking putts, is were I spend most of my time on the pratice green -two times week

What is your thoughts on this ?

So totally three times a week 30-45 minutes each time

I am a serious amateur player, playing national mid-senior competetions, HCP 2,5

Best Regrds
Christer

Dear Christer,

Sorry for the delay -- a bit under the weather just now.

Here are the guiding principles for practice:

1. Practice purposefully and mindfully.
2. Practice isolated skills as well as integrated performance.
3. Allow 10 minutes to get into a practice mindset and 10 minutes at the end to come out.
4. Have fun practicing.
5. Don't practice into a state of fatique.
6. Mix up your activities in blocks of practice.
7. Keep records of performance for skills and set incrementally challenging goals.
8. Practice weaknesses more often than strengths.
9. Mix in set exercises for skills with performance tests under simulated playing conditions.
10. Just because you've put in your practice doesn't mean you can't just play around some.
11. Always keep an eye out to learn what works and how to do it.
12. Try keeping a few notes about possible insights, to judge after they age a bit.
13. Use training aids to learn and then set them aside to try what you're learning.
14. Always translate technique into your body, putter, ball and green physically and visually.
15. Switch from two-balls to one-ball practice and possibly back.
16. Accurately judge what causes a miss and don't blame the wrong aspect or skill.
17. All practice is not about sinking putts, and much is about stroke and / or distance purely.
18. Don't neglect to practice intangibles like timing and mental state and mood and intentionality.
19. Even during play, every stroke is a learning occasion.
20. Compete with friends and always win.
21. When practicing with two balls, the second ball must be better than the first or why try.
22. Practice what you actually face when playing, such as 25-30 footers and inside 5 feet.
23. Set up a fairly simple 20-footer and sink at least 7 of 10 every day.
24. Practice green speed and touch at the first of the session.
25. End each session with 6-10 foot putts and sink bunches.

Other than this, you'll have to make your own time and mixture as circumstances allow. At the pro level, 2 hours daily is not excessive.

Cheers!

Geoff Mangum
Putting Coach and Theorist
PuttingZone.com
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