Choose the measure before the change
Decide what you are trying to improve before judging the change.
If the problem is toe contact, we should be able to see the strike move. If the problem is distance control, we should be able to see the ball finish closer to the intended distance. That gives us a fair test.
At The Tips, we can use TrackMan to record a starting pattern. Hit a small group of shots with the same club and a clear target. Keep the misses in the group.
Then try the change and compare.
Give the practice a score
For impact location, make it a game. Choose a central area of the face and see how many of ten shots finish inside it. Use the same area when you repeat the test.
Those ten shots are a practice score. They give you a consistent way to compare attempts.
Also check whether you can intentionally move contact away from the center and return. Being able to find the heel when you need to can be useful evidence that your strike control is improving.
Then reduce the help. If you used a physical guide, remove it. If you rehearsed before every shot, see whether you can produce the result without that preparation.
Retest after the lesson
Come back another day and play the same game. That tells us more than judging the change by the best shot of the lesson.
Eventually, change the club or target. Take the task outside and see how it behaves from a real lie.
Video can show that your swing looks different. The practice test tells us whether the difference is helping you produce the intended result.
Keep a simple record of your score and what you were attempting. The next session can begin with the same test, giving you a clear way to see what you are starting to own.
Work on your own pattern
Practice with Landon at The Tips in Brickell or Miami Springs Golf Course. Choose the setting that fits the work.
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