June’s Tip of the Month Golf is a Game Best Played, not Worked At

BY RYAN WILLIAMS PLAYER DEVELOPMENT PROFESSIONAL

I’ve always tried to write these monthly articles as though we were having a conversation — something that hopefully feels a lot like taking a lesson with me at our practice facilities.

Golf is a vulnerable game. I think it was Jack Lemmon who once compared playing a round of golf to stepping on stage in front of everyone you know and removing one article of clothing at a time. Trying to improve your game often feels just like that — exposed, uncomfortable, and faith-requiring. You can do all the right things and still see inconsistent progress. Sometimes, you even wonder if the old swing, flawed as it was, was better than this new one that only occasionally offers hope you made the right change.

If you’ll indulge me, I recently fell into a trap I’ve encountered many times. After a solid 2024 of competitive golf, I saw the offseason as an opportunity. I consulted a golf fitness expert, took a lesson, and started a speed training program. But somewhere in the process, my preparation checklist got too long. I was doing all the “right” things, but it quickly became clear that I wasn’t allowing my natural ability to come through. I was stifling it.

So how do we manage this all-too-common predicament?

Have a Plan

The best players in the world never muddle their intentions for the day. They're either working on movements, patterns, and swing changes — or they’re playing, scoring, and competing. Never both. Make a clear decision before your session begins, and you’ll save yourself a lot of confusion and frustration.

Create Good Habits

Written Game Plan:

Think like a good physical trainer. They don’t guess — they plan the exercises, reps, and weight. If one of us — myself, Teresa, John, or another pro — prescribes a drill to help make a swing change, having a structured regimen is critical. Poor range sessions happen when players react to each shot instead of sticking to a focus. If you hit 100 balls and changed your focus 100 times, you didn’t really train anything.

Instead, perform drills in sets. Try four repetitions of a drill, followed by a “normal” swing on the fifth ball. This approach brings awareness to what feels right, what doesn’t, and gives the swing change a better chance of sticking.

Compartmentalize: Train Fundamentals, Play Shots

Tour players constantly use drills and tools to manage their tendencies — and yes, even the best have plenty of things they don’t like in their swings. But here’s what really sets them apart: decision-making, shot shaping, trajectory control, feel. Not perfect mechanics. Fundamentals give you access to those skills — but don’t guarantee them. Real skill is developed over time through playing, experimenting, and trusting instinct.

Ways to Gain Skill

7-Iron Only Game:

Play a few holes using just your 7-iron — choosing yardages where you can reach the green in two. This is my favorite way to break out of swing-thought overload. Quickly, players rediscover a more artistic, instinctive way to play. You’ll have to problem-solve, get creative, and play the game — not just execute mechanics.

“Call Your Shot” Drill:

Do this one with a friend: Have them call out a shot (“low,” “fade,” “draw,” etc.) as you’re starting your swing. It sounds impossible at first. But surprisingly quickly, players find they can respond with only a split-second of thought. The drill reveals a truth I share often: You’re better than you think you are.

Shape

At its core, golf is a balancing act between intellect and instinct. Knowing how to do something is important. But at a certain point, we need to stop working on the game and start playing the game.

Kids don’t perform tag. They don’t work at it. They play it. And that’s exactly how golf should be played.

If you’ve been grinding, stuck in mechanics, or just plain frustrated, try one of these drills. Step out of the “lab” and back into the playground. You might just surprise yourself.