What is needed for the golf drill? Golf clubs. A driving range (as flat as possible). Calm wind conditions are best. Helpful tools to use are Bushnell Golf Rangefinders for accurately working out distances and Walkie Talkies to avoid shouting across the golf driving range.

The golf drill
Practice the following 150 yards and in golf drill. Get a helper to pace out onto the practice ground and call out the distance they are standing away from you (for example 75 yards). Try to pitch golf shots at their distance so they can give you instant feedback on the distance you land the golf ball (for example 4 yards short or 2 yards long). This will allow you to immediately adjust your hitting which is great for improving your judgement of the distance you hit the golf ball. Make sure the helper changes distance every six golf shots or so to test you.

Tour pro example

StrokeAverage.com golf tour pro client Ross Fisher used the Approach Shot Drill in his tournament preparation at the Emirates Golf Club, Dubai Desert Classic 2007 (in which he finished in 5th place playing with at the time the world number one Tiger Woods for the first time in the last round).

Together with his caddy, Ross Fisher pitched golf shots between 90 and 110 yards before the golf tournament commenced. Then during the golf tournament, the golfer / golf caddy team adopted a conservative on-course strategy on golf holes where high risk golf shots arose by choosing to lay up to the pitching distances practiced on the driving range.

What can we learn from this?

A great golf lesson is learnt from this Ross Fisher tour pro example. By preparing a specific on-course golf strategy before the golf tournament commences (in this case removing the emotions of high risk shots on certain areas of the golf course), you will play your round under less pressure. With lower risk results to achieve from some of your golf shots you are more likely to pull them off which builds confidence in your golf game. Always remember that confidence in your golf game is built through knowing that you have the ability to pull off a certain golf shot and then achieving the desired result from that golf shot, over and over and over. Ross Fisher excelled on his pitching for that week. Excellent work.