April’s Tip of the Month - Practice, Man...

BY RYAN WILLIAMS PLAYER DEVELOPMENT PROFESSIONAL

Every golfer, at some point, falls into the trap of feeling like practice is a chore—or at the very least, not as engaging as it should be. I know I’ve been there. The summer before I moved to Sacramento to play college golf, I had an unusual experience at San Joaquin Country Club. The course had lost greens one through fourteen, leaving only the final four holes with temporary greens. For weeks on end, I played the same four holes, occasionally changing tees, but the novelty quickly wore off. This led me to fall into a bad habit: I spent too much time working on my swing and not enough on scoring, shot-making, or competitive play. My college career got off to a slow start, and I learned a tough lesson about how not to prepare for golf at a high level.

Recently, my twin brother, Alex, invested in the Stack System, a speed training program that comes with a “club-like” device. You attach weight to the end of the club, and the app designs custom workouts based on the user’s goals. I was intrigued—not just by the technology, but by the results it was producing. After completing the program, Alex increased his clubhead speed from 108 mph to 118 mph in just three months. Naturally, I couldn’t let him out-drive me, so I jumped into the Stack system myself.

In just one month, I’ve gained 4 mph, but what’s more interesting is how. The Stack Radar connects via Bluetooth to the app, providing instant feedback on swing speed. The app tracks every swing, so I know if I’m swinging faster or slower than last time. Seeing that “New Speed Record” notification on my phone has become highly addictive. I’ve found myself eagerly looking forward to each Stack session, and it’s made practice feel more engaging.

The program even includes a Putting and Wedge component. The Putting program has you hole out 18 putts from various distances, measuring your “Strokes Gained Putting” against players of similar skill levels. Meanwhile, the Wedge portion focuses on distance control, rewarding players for how accurately they hit their target yardage.

Why the admiration for this system? Simply put, it’s because my practice now feels structured and competitive. I can knock out a speed session, move on to wedge work, and finish with putting practice—all within a productive 90-minute window. It’s the complete opposite of the aimless tinkering I used to do as a college player, and it’s a habit I still have to fight against today.

That said, the Stack is not the only way to make practice more engaging. You don’t need an expensive training tool to bring some fun and structure into your practice routine. Here are a few games you can try to spice up your time at the club:

Putting: "10-Point Game"

How: Set up 5 tees in a circle about 10 feet from the hole. Start at one tee and hole out the putt, no matter how many strokes it takes. After each holeout, rotate to the next tee. Goal: Earn 10 points in as few putts as possible. Scoring:

• 2 points for a 1-putt.

• 0 points for a 2-putt (as long as the first putt was at least near the hole).

• -1 point for a 2-putt where the first putt was left short.

• -3 points for a 3-putt.

Try for a "Perfect Game" by holing out all five putts in one stroke each!

Short Game: "Up and Down Game"

Options:

• 9 Holes Up and Down: Start from 9 different spots around the green and keep score until you hole out each time.

• Up and Down Streak: See how many locations in a row you can get up and down (2 strokes or fewer).

Driving Range: "Brady Riggs 3-Ball Pressure Game"

Goal: Earn 5 points in 3 shots. How: Create a zone with a left and right boundary for your target area. One side is a "trouble zone," and the other side is a "safe miss" area. Scoring:

• 3 points for a shot within the "Desired Zone."

• -5 points for hitting the "Trouble Side."

• 1 point for a slight miss on the "Safe Side."

• 0 points for a wide miss on the "Safe Side."

You can vary the challenge by changing the placement of the trouble side or using different clubs.

If there’s a specific area of your game that’s giving you trouble, or if you know your game would improve with a bit more structure but just can’t seem to find the discipline, I’m happy to help. Reach out to me, and I’d be glad to design a fun and effective practice game tailored to your needs.