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DRILL OVERVIEW
Jack Nicklaus Competitive Practice Drill
Your drill at a glance
Mind gameDrill category
Practise with purposeBenefit
10 minutesPractice time
1 / 10Difficulty
Club, balls + a way to record scoresEquipment
This drill is from the Golf Practice Made Easy App.
The Jack Nicklaus Competitive Practice Drill gives every ball a purpose. Choose a target, follow your normal routine and keep score so that practice includes the decisions and commitment you need on the course.
Watch Jack Nicklaus’s competitive practice message
Watch the short quote video below. Nicklaus’s message is to include the mental demands of competition in practice, alongside technique and physical preparation. The three steps below turn that idea into a scored practice round.
Step 1. Choose your target
What to do
| Action | What to do |
|---|---|
| Pick a drill | Choose a familiar putting, chipping or full-shot drill that suits your practice space. Use a task you can repeat and score clearly. |
| Define success | Pick a target and a clear success rule before you start. For example, a putt counts when it finishes in the hole, or a range shot counts when it finishes inside your chosen target area. |
| Set a challenge | Choose a score to aim for using your previous results. Keep the target and success rule the same throughout the round. |
Step 2. Use your routine
What to do
| Action | What to do |
|---|---|
| Plan | Stand behind the ball, choose the shot and picture where you want it to finish. |
| Settle and commit | Use your normal pre-shot routine. Once you are ready, commit to the decision and play the shot. |
| Accept and reset | Record the result, then start a fresh routine for the next ball. Give every attempt the same attention, including those after a miss. |
Quick practice checks
| Watch for | Try this |
|---|---|
| Hitting balls without a target | Pause behind the next ball and name your target before setting up. |
| Rushing after a miss | Take a breath, record the result and begin your usual routine again. |
| Changing the success rule | Finish the round with the original rule. Adjust the next round if the task was too easy or too difficult. |
Step 3. Score 18 attempts
What to do
Choose your target and success rule before starting. Play eighteen attempts, using your full routine before each one.
| Score | When to award it |
|---|---|
| 1 point | The attempt meets the success rule you chose. |
| 0 points | The attempt misses that target. |
Add your points for a total out of eighteen.
George’s Conclusion
This competitive practice drill turns a bucket of balls into a clear challenge. Pick the target, use your routine and give each attempt your attention.
Use your score to choose your next challenge and take the same routine onto the course.
MAKE THE NEXT BUCKET COUNT
Pick a card. Practise with purpose.
