Two Irons, One Priority: Give Your Practice Hour a Purpose

A productive practice hour starts with a decision: what will you work on today? For Metro Vancouver golfers planning an indoor session, a narrow goal can make the time easier to manage. Bring two familiar irons and a pocket notebook, then divide the hour into preparation, focused repetitions and a short test. The aim is not to fix every part of your swing.

Before you start: build a simple station

Choose a shorter iron and a mid-iron that you already use comfortably, such as a 9-iron and a 7-iron. Keep the spare club, notebook and unused balls outside your stance and swing area. If alignment sticks are permitted, place them flat on the mat, clear of the clubhead’s path: one parallel to your intended target line and another parallel to it near your feet. Do not point the foot-line stick directly at the target.

Start on a blank notebook page and write one priority, such as “start shots toward my chosen target.” Set a target corridor that suits your current ability. Keep that corridor unchanged during the scored portions so your results remain comparable.

Minutes 0–8: prepare without keeping score

Take a few unhurried rehearsal swings, checking clearance around you. Begin with short, controlled swings using the shorter iron, then gradually increase to your normal swing length. Give yourself time to settle your grip, stance and balance rather than rushing toward full-speed shots. If using a simulator, confirm the correct handedness and a clear target view before starting the next block.

Minutes 8–20: establish your starting point

Hit ten shots with the shorter iron toward the same target. Step away briefly between shots and repeat your setup. Record how many finish inside your chosen corridor, along with the most common miss: left or right. Note an obvious heavy or thin strike separately, but include it in the ten-shot result rather than replacing it.

This is a baseline, not a verdict on your game. Avoid changing your grip, stance and swing thought after every miss. You need a reasonably consistent task before deciding what deserves attention.

Minutes 20–38: repeat one task with both irons

Work in three six-ball sets. Use the shorter iron for the first set, the mid-iron for the second, and return to the shorter iron for the third. Keep the directional task the same, but choose an appropriate target distance for each club. Use your own typical carry distance rather than a distance you think the club should achieve.

Choose just one setup checkpoint, such as aligning the clubface before placing your feet. After each set, pause and write a short observation. “Four of six inside the corridor; two right” is more useful than “bad swings.” Keep your normal pre-shot routine and resist adding several technical fixes midway through the block.

Minutes 38–52: test without rehearsal balls

Alternate clubs for ten scored shots, choosing the appropriate target before each one. Treat every ball as a fresh attempt: select the target, set up and swing. Do not immediately replay a miss. Keep any permitted alignment aids in the same position as before so the main change is switching clubs, not changing the entire task.

Minutes 52–60: record and reset

Write down the baseline score, final score and one observation worth revisiting. The alternating-club test is a different challenge, so a lower score does not automatically mean worse technique. Choose one priority for next time, return equipment neatly and leave the hitting area clear. A useful practice record needs only a few honest lines—not a detailed account of every swing.