The Grocery Store Theory of Practice

Just like any other sport or craft, practice creates improvement. But I see this happen all the time: someone comes to the range, gets a jumbo bucket of balls, and just hits one after another with no rhyme or reason. Rapid fire. No reset.

Then, they go out to play and come back complaining about a bad round—even though they "practiced so much."

What I always tell people is: It’s not about how much you practice, it’s about HOW you practice.

I love using the analogy of getting groceries. You wouldn't just walk into a grocery store without a single idea of what you’re buying. If you did that, you’d wander the aisles, grab random items, and be constantly trying to remember what you actually needed.

By the time you get home to unload, you’d realize you still don't have the ingredients for a real meal. You spent a ton of time in the store, but you’re left with a random bag of snacks and a lot of frustration.

So, what does a grocery run have to do with your golf game?

Think about the intent you put into a successful shopping trip. First, you look in your fridge. You analyze what’s missing for the week. You see what you're running low on. If you’re like my dad, you write a physical list of every single item. Then, when you get to the store, you know exactly what you need and you can navigate the aisles efficiently.

When you go out to practice golf, you have to make it intentional. Having a "list" for your practice session helps you make the most of your time. If we take it step-by-step like we’re shopping, we’d first analyze which part of our game needs the most help. Even if several things feel off, trying to cram them all into one session is just going to leave you feeling overwhelmed.

When I work with people, we identify just one or two things to focus on, and then I give them specific ideas on how to practice those things. By having a “list” of practice goals, you can hone your focus faster and actually see that practice show up on your scorecard.

Stop wandering the aisles. Start practicing with intent.