Top coaches say this is one thing recreational athletes often struggle with
Top 100 teacher Mike Malizia says consistency is a fundamental principle that is often overlooked.
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Earlier this month, I had the pleasure of attending Golf’s Annual Top 100 Teachers Summit at Cabot Citrus Farms, and it was such a treat to spend two days interacting with some of the best guiding minds in the game.
In addition to the numerous demonstrations that took place live, my colleagues and I also had the opportunity to pull some teachers aside during quiet moments and ask some of their most pressing teaching-related questions. One question I posed to Top 100 Teacher Mike Malizia was: What is one What is the most common problem that many of your students have? His answer was straightforward: alignment.
This intrigued me because I felt as if I no way Consistent with where I think it is. According to Malizia, I’m not alone. But putting down the spot stick while practicing on the driving range isn’t the cure you might think.
“You can’t practice alignment on the range because the range is a square box,” Malizia told me. “On a golf course, you have shapes, your tee boxes are aimed one way, fairways are aimed another way. The greens are sloping in a certain way. So alignment is probably one of the most important things in golf and something that people never One of the things that comes with practice is consistency.
Malizia says if you really want to nail your alignment, you need to practice your technique period Round – not before or after a round.
“This is what I want you to do,” Malizia said. “Later that day, go out on your own and play nine holes. I want you to use the calibration stick on every shot.
Malizia says students who try this advice are often surprised at how quickly it helps them.
“[Afterward] They’ll say, ‘Yeah, I shot 38 today, that’s incredible!’ “Yes, I’m leaving, because your defeat is not far away now.”
“Coordination is one of the most important things,” he continued. “But it’s also one of the most overlooked and underpracticed.”
If you’re looking for a simple tip to keep your game in good shape in 2025, determining your routes is a surefire way to start producing lower scores. Try Malizia’s tips to start your next golf season on the right foot.
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