Practice makes perfect, and when it comes to golf, it would be great if you could spend half a day on the practice range hitting drives, working on your short game, sinking putts – but the reality is, sometimes, you’re just lucky to find enough time to get in 18 holes. So here are some practice tips you can do in your spare time:

1. Set Goals – write down your goals for game improvement, practice time, plus any other ways to become more focused on your golf game. This takes a minimal amount of time and can be done in the comfort of your own living room!
2. Plan Your Round – play the course in your mind: Take about 30 minutes and think about the clubs you’ll use, the shots you’ll make, how to avoid the hazards, etc. Then you’ll have a game plan when you actually get to the course.
3. Watch Video Footage – watching video that your golf pro has taken of you is a useful learning tool as it helps reinforce what you are trying to do on the course.
4. Refine Your Pre-shot Routine – practice your pre-shot routine in the living room or back yard: Pick a course you know well and play each shot with your full pre-shot routine.
5. Review Your Rounds – take the time to go back and review your competitive rounds – assess what you did and didn’t do, and how you would play differently today. That way, you have a plan of attack for future rounds, which may assist with the process of learning and improving.
6. Practice Your Conscious Breathing – golf requires a quiet mind and a steady body. Spend 15 minutes each day on breathing techniques, such as diaphragmatic breathing, to assist with your ability to voluntarily relax your body and your mind.
7. Images In Your Mind – use visualization to create images in your mind to refine your golf skills. In your mind, you can “practice” playing the entire course – then when you actually play the course, it will all feel familiar.
8. Watch TV – watching professional golf tournaments can be a superb contributor to your practice schedule – you can watch and learn. The way players conduct themselves on the course is a great way to teach yourself how to pace yourself, walk, set up for shots, and how to deal with poor shots.
9. Review Your Goals – take a few minutes on a regular basis to review your goals and monitor your progress. Simply going over what you had planned to achieve can assist with getting where you want to go.
10. Log Your Thoughts – keep a journal and write down your thoughts. This is a superb way to maintain self-awareness regarding the language that you use to yourself. Are you verbally beating yourself up – or praising what is good? By logging your thoughts you can identify areas where you can improve the way that you think – and ultimately, improve your game.

Practice doesn’t have to be at the range or on the course. Use these tips in your home or office and discover how much you can improve your handicap – and your frame of mind – when you actually get to the course.