Tour Player Practice routine

[Rbaumgolf]

John,
What is a typical work week like for a touring professional who is trying to "stay sharp". How much time do you devote to keeping your game fine tuned? What is the hardest part of your game to keep in shape?

Thanks
Ray

[john riegger]

when i am at a tournament it is very short practice sessions.i try and be prepared when i show up.i only hit balls before i played unless something needs my attention.i spend all my time working on short game and putting.as far as practice rounds i just try and play a money game just to keep focus.i have played all the courses enough that unlees there are changes i know how i am going to play each hole.
the only other thing i do to prepare is take care of my body and watch my diet.i try and make sure i am fully rested so when sunday afternoon comes around i feel completely rested.
i guess it is like everyone else,it is just my job and i am use to the routine.if i need a 8 hour session hitting balls,it just goes with the job.i really don't think anything about it.
now when i am at home i put in a full day.it consist of working out in the morning.then off to the course.i may hit balls fro 8 to 12.i will have some lunch,then warm up and go play a quick 18.then i usually spend the rest of the day worinking on my shoert game.then after getting home i workout again,do some dowel drills with my son.then he and i get on the putting green and putt for an hour.
so you can see the difference from my practice while at home versus being on the road.

[Trig]

when i am at a tournament it is very short practice sessions.i try and be prepared when i show up.i only hit balls before i played unless something needs my attention.i spend all my time working on short game and putting.as far as practice rounds i just try and play a money game just to keep focus.i have played all the courses enough that unlees there are changes i know how i am going to play each hole.
the only other thing i do to prepare is take care of my body and watch my diet.i try and make sure i am fully rested so when sunday afternoon comes around i feel completely rested.
i guess it is like everyone else,it is just my job and i am use to the routine.if i need a 8 hour session hitting balls,it just goes with the job.i really don't think anything about it.
now when i am at home i put in a full day.it consist of working out in the morning.then off to the course.i may hit balls fro 8 to 12.i will have some lunch,then warm up and go play a quick 18.then i usually spend the rest of the day worinking on my shoert game.then after getting home i workout again,do some dowel drills with my son.then he and i get on the putting green and putt for an hour.
so you can see the difference from my practice while at home versus being on the road.

John - I'm betting you are not just pounding balls mindlessly either. I would imagine you have very specific things you are working on when hitting balls on the range.

[john riegger]

i am always checking my alignments 3-f-5 all the time.i work on hinge actions with right arm tracing the plane line.this is all i work on at this time.pretty simple stuff,learn feel through mechanics

[elliskit]

...do some dowel drills with my son.then he and i get on the putting green and putt for an hour.

John,
I very much appreciate your willingness to participate in this forum and give of your time and knowledge.

I have a 4 year old son who has a great interest in and enthusiasm for the game of golf. We chip balls in the back yard and have putting contests in the house. I am curious about how you work with your son.
How long are his dowels?
What kind of drills do you do with him?
How do you emphasize fundamentals and keep it interesting for him?
How long do you usually work with him at one time?
Has he played on a real course yet?
What are your plans for him playing competitively? How soon? How much?

Any suggestions you have toward helping my son be the best he can be would be greatly appreciated.

[pluthb]

With your short game practice do you:
A) hit a lot of balls from one distance changing trajectories/clubs
B) hit a lot of balls from different distances with one club then another?
C) a combination of the two.
D) none of the above.

[john riegger]

i cut the dowels down for him so it extends up his forearm.
the drills he does are the same as i do.he traces the plane line a rifht arm fling wedge and the a left arm flying wedge.he also works on his impact alignments.he really does not understand what he is doing,but he can do it very precise.he has not been on the course yet.i am sure he will want to do what his daddy does.if he chooses not to that is fine.
as far as your son goes let him ask you or just have him watch,he will want to participate.best of luck to you

[john riegger]

pluthb
you must be a shortgame instructor with all these questions.the answer is i do it all.i practice every type of shot you can imagine.i think to have a great short game you have to have a great imagination first.

[Yoda]

...I will have some lunch,then warm up and go play a quick 18...

When you play a round at home, do you walk or ride? If you ride, do you find it affects the normal 'rhythm' of your game?

[john riegger]

yoda.i ride.no it doesn't bother me.was this a trick question.remember i control the process for every shot.plus i can play 18 hole in 2 hrs.remember boys and girls play fast