Phase One: 5-8 Weeks

250 balls a day getting used to set-up. Create your unique Open Stance set-up routine and get used to the visual (Target) as you intend to hit your ball straight at your target with perfect contact.

Phase Two: 5-8 weeks

250 balls a day making set-up adjustments to optimize impact precision and directional control. Grip, foot orientation, hips and shoulder orientation, and ball position are in the frame. No one chooses the wrong path. Create patterns before adopting or discarding any idea.

Phase Three: 5-8 weeks

250 balls a day demanding your set-up elements are exactly repeated, and that your contact, start line, intended shot, and their necessary motion are physiologically precise.

My own progression with only a video camera and 1,500 balls a day (Five Teaching Baskets) came in one month once my club was on plane. I had a wicked across-the-line set to expel first, which alone took a month. However, after two months, I was on my way to creating any shot I wanted, so my goal became counting the number of mishits I had each day. Then how many shots fell outside of my tolerances.

At first it was too many to keep count. When I walked away from playing four months later, in August 2002 to take a club pro job, I was down to five or less of both. Don’t ask why I chose not to play. I’m just an idiot.

My target area was either AT a post on the range, or one degree to either side of it. That is three feet at 100 yards and six feet at two hundred. I never enjoyed anything as much as hitting practice balls for those Spring and Summer months.

What I learned about swinging my golf club allows me to practice less and maintain perfect impact and shot-shaping ability to this day. With practice to regain balance, I can reclaim precision very quickly. You can, too.