How are we ever going to bridge the gap?

[callawayrep]

So the prevailing thought here is, correct me if i'm wrong, that practicing or training everyday will make you better at LD?
i really dont think that is the case, it definately helps if its putting or chipping your talking about, but power drives? wouldnt it burn you out?  i think intelligent volume is better than greater volume, obviously everyone has differing recovery rates from exertion but i still think less is more, you just have to figure your recovery rate out. I know someone who made the worlds open semi final and was only hitting 100 balls a week and weight training once or twice a week, didnt make him champ but i dont think training everyday would have either.

Jamie works out 5 days a week, and hit balls everyday the weather is good enough to.
Zuback works out twice a day every day, and hits balls everytime the weather is good enough.

Sooooo.... i don't know what it takes to burn you out but these two seem to win a lot. Work harder and you'll get better. Their is a reason why all of these guys are the best, including Tiger, they work harder than anybody else.

It would be a vast new way of training if Zuback said he rests every other day on the couch and still makes it into the final 8 every year. I know I was at my longest when I trained 5 times a week and hit balls 3+ times a week. That is what it takes for me, and it seems like the best in the world too.

(FYI, let's not blow this out of proportion, these are facts told to me personally by both Zuback and Jamie. As for Tiger, everyone knows he trains from 8am-5pm 6 days a week..... except when he's in rehab LOL)

[jfk]

I did say the short game benefitted from loads of practice, you must have missed that bit.

I also saw an interview by Jamie where he said he benefitted from having long layoffs from hitting balls.

[Mikee]

I also saw an interview by Jamie where he said he benefitted from having long layoffs from hitting balls.

He just changes from golf balls to hockey pucks. 

There is a point were the body, no matter how conditioned, will reach some type of over-training, then rest is a must.  I worked out hard for 2 months and played on a basketball team, when I took spring break off and didn't work out or anything.  When I came back to school the weights felt 15lbs lighter.  Everyone is different so taking some amount of time off will help anyone but how much is entirely up to each individual.

[ukrainien]

You could be right John, I just know that I for one would luv to be able to take 6 months off work so I could focus on longdrive full time

if you really wanted to , you would!

life is short. you only live once....

do you really want to?

[ukrainien]

less is more?

I disagree.  your trying to build repetition and muscle memory. exactly the same as any other part of golf , just at a higher pace. So at what point is doing less practice gonna benefit you? its not.

show me a successful professional athlete who isnt dedicated.

[The_Power]

I can’t give you all my secrets Kari…. actually given how well you did in the worlds I think I could quite happily trade all my secrets for just some of yours

Anyhow for the purpose of this post here is a snapshot:

To peak for October there would be more emphasis on physical conditioning in the early months, phasing out to a point where I’m no longer even lifting weights 1 month before the worlds.

I would have the time to purchase, prepare, and cook food and maintain a proper diet, right now my diet sucks because I don’t have the time and I’m all about convenience foods.

I would spend an awful lot of time on hitting drills that groove the correct moves, hitting balls with your feet tied together is a favourite of mine.

I would spend at least two hours a day just hitting the big stick, sometimes working on speed, sometimes on accuracy, sometimes on trajectory etc

Without limited work holidays to worry about, I would compete in as many longdrive events as possible to hone my competitive edge, and to trade thoughts and ideas with fellow competitors.

I would take the time to test numerous different shafts and heads and work out exactly what is an optimal combination for me.

You are probably thinking I could do all this now and still hold down a job, that might be true but I want a girlfriend as well, and in my experience full time longdrive + job + girlfriend just doesn’t work. The thing is, and this is addressing your point Dan, without the job away goes the guaranteed income and that is liable to lose you a girlfriend as well, it really is a catch 22 situation

[jfk]

less is more?

I disagree.  your trying to build repetition and muscle memory. exactly the same as any other part of golf , just at a higher pace. So at what point is doing less practice gonna benefit you? its not.

show me a successful professional athlete who isnt dedicated.

Dan your missing my point, javelin throwers have about 50 'all out' throws a week, does that mean theyre not dedicated?

what i'm saying is theres a point of diminishing returns, where that is varies from person to person, i know that when ive hit balls everyday i have definately not hit the ball further, ive been hitting the ball further recently but it hasnt came from hitting more balls or training every single day. every second day as it happens. (but thats me)

[pgaloom]

I work on my enjoyment of not working while at Worlds...ie. drinking, gambling, and free time with the missus.  Trying to play more golf will help.  Speed training is the other aspect.  Strength means nothing if you don't have the ability and flexibility.

[bombinbrian]

Not only the training goes into making them as great as they are, they also have tools available to them that makes sure that every driver they have is tweaked to perfection. They have the use of more launch monitors, than everyone else combined. I think alot of us pick a club and stick with that brand too long, instead of trying other heads and other shafts. The only common demoninator we have to have is the ball. other that that, I believe too often we gravitate to a certain head or shaft or loft, because so and so has picked up alot of distance and or accuracy with a certain product. I remember years ago, I was hitting 7.5* heads and I had several people tell me how much farther I would hit it with a 4* or 6* head. I tried and tried for a year and a half to hit the lower lofts farther, ok I am a slow learner, to no avail.

My point is, it does take training to be among the best, but the equipment has a huge amount to do with it also. We all need to be more ready to try different combinations, ON A LAUNCH MONITOR, to see what we need to get to the next level. That's why I bought a launch monitor this winter. I am in a different position than most since I can use mine to fit clubs for my shop as well as for myself. If you are serious about getting to the elite, take the time, find some place that has one and hit many combinations to see if you are hitting what you need, instead of what you think you need. I am in the middle of the country and would be happy to help any one of you so you can see the numbers that you need to see.