Welcome to The Cactus Club, where I highlight cool sh*t in the world of golf.

This week: Every golfer wants to improve, but most don’t focus on practice habits. Hitting endless range balls without a plan. Pros? They practice with purpose. They track stats, simulate real golf, and prioritize short game. Learn the five key ways pros train differently.

Shoutout to 7 Iron Golf for supporting you and 1,300 readers.

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Better Practice

The Pain

You want to get better at golf. But let’s be honest—your range sessions are a mess. You’re hitting ball after ball with no real plan, hoping something clicks. You grind for hours, yet your scores stay the same. Sound familiar?

The Real Problem

The reason? You’re practicing like an amateur. And amateurs don’t train to improve—they train to feel like they’re improving.

Pros? They do things differently. Every swing has a purpose. Every session has a structure. That’s why they get better.

The Fix

If you’re serious about lowering your handicap and playing like a scratch golfer, it’s time to practice like a pro. Let’s break down the 5 key differences between how pros and amateurs train—and how you can use them to shoot lower scores.

Pros Have a Plan. Amateurs Just Show Up.

The Amateur Approach

Do you ever go to the range with a real plan? Or do you grab a large bucket, start with a few wedges, then randomly cycle through clubs before ending with a driver marathon?

If that’s you, you’re not alone. But that’s not how you improve.

The Pro Approach

Pros don’t just hit balls—they train with intention. Before they even step onto the range, they:

✅ Identify a specific goal for the session (ball striking, shot shaping, distance control)

✅ Use structured drills designed for that goal.

✅ Track progress and analyze results.

Your Move

Before your next range session, set a clear goal. Are you working on accuracy, shot shaping, or lag putting? Decide before you hit a single ball.

Train with purpose, and you’ll finally see real progress.

Pros Track Everything. Amateurs Guess.

The Amateur Approach

Be honest—are you tracking your game, or just going off feel? Because here’s the truth: feel lies. You might think you’re hitting it farther or straighter, but you’re just guessing without data.

The Pro Approach

Pros don’t guess. They track everything. They use:

📊 Launch monitors to measure swing speed, carry distance, and dispersion.

📝 Practice journals to log what works and what doesn’t.

📈 Strokes gained analysis to pinpoint weak areas in their game.

Proof: Golf Digest says top PGA Tour pros spend over 60% of their practice sessions tracking performance. That’s why they improve so efficiently.

Your Move

Start tracking your stats. Use tools like Arccos or TrackMan to measure your game. You can’t fix what you don’t track.

Pros Prioritize Short Game. Amateurs Love the Driver.

The Amateur Approach

Look around the range. What do you see? The driver nukes buckets of balls while the short-game area sits empty. But what wins tournaments? Wedges and putting.

The Pro Approach

Pros spend 50% or more of their practice time inside 100 yards. They:

✔️ Groove consistent wedge distances.

✔️ Master green-side spin control.

✔️ Develop elite putting speed and line control.

Stat: According to Shot Scope, 65% of all golf shots occur inside 100 yards.

Your Move

For every 1 hour of full-swing practice, spend 1 hour on short game. Your scores will drop faster than your buddies’ bets at a money match.

Pros Simulate Real Golf. Amateurs Hit on Repeat.

The Amateur Approach

Hitting 30 straight 7-irons in a row? That’s not golf. But that’s exactly what most golfers do at the range.

The Pro Approach

Pros make their practice look like the course:

🏌️ Randomized practice: Changing clubs every shot.

🎯 Target-based drills: Picking precise landing zones.

🤯 Pressure training: Adding consequences for bad shots (e.g., restart a drill after a miss).

Your Move

Next time you practice, simulate real golf:

👉 Play a virtual round—call out a hole and hit the necessary shots.

👉 Never hit the same club twice in a row.

👉 Set up challenges—make 3 6-foot putts in a row before leaving.

Pros Reflect and Adjust. Amateurs Move On.

The Amateur Approach

Most golfers finish a session, pack up, and leave without thinking about what worked or didn’t. That’s a mistake.

The Pro Approach

Reflection is where real improvement happens. After every session, pros ask:

✅ What went well?

✅ What didn’t work?

✅ What’s the next step?

Your Move

Start a golf journal. Track your best drills, biggest challenges, and key takeaways. Over time, you’ll see patterns—and your improvement will skyrocket.

Train Like a Pro

The biggest difference between pros and amateurs isn’t talent—it’s how they practice.

If you want to drop your handicap and play like a scratch golfer, shift your practice approach today:

✅ Set clear goals before every range session.

✅ Track stats, don’t just guess.

✅ Spend 50% of practice on short game.

✅ Simulate on-course conditions in training.

✅ Reflect, adjust, and repeat.

Click Here and transform your game

The average PGA Tour player spends 35-40% of their practice time on putting, while the average amateur golfer spends less than 20%—despite putting making up nearly 40% of total strokes in a round.

Takeaway: If you want to lower your scores, practice your putting!

^{_{Tracking every shot with Big Game}}

Need To Know

The Players Championship isn’t just another stop on Tour—it’s golf’s unofficial 5th major and the ultimate proving ground. Since 1974, TPC Sawgrass has chewed up the world’s best, with its iconic island green 17th crushing dreams in seconds. The purse?

A record-breaking $25 million—the biggest in golf. Legends like Tiger, Phil, and Jack have lifted the trophy, but many have collapsed under the pressure. This is where careers are made and legacies are shattered. Want respect? Win The Players.

🗞️News

• Behind the mics, No Laying Up boys are exactly as you’d hope—unfiltered jokes, relentless banter, genuine passion for golf, and always down for another round. (more)

• The yips are a mix of mental and neurological issues that disrupt motor control. Research from top experts reveals why they happen—and, more importantly, how to overcome them. (more)

🧰Equipment

• Rapsodo partners with TruGolf’s E6 APEX, enhancing MLM2PRO™ golf simulation with precise club distance tracking, detailed analytics, and engaging, skill-building practice challenges for users. (more)

• The new Legend Irons blend classic Hogan precision with modern tech. They feature a hollow-body, foam-filled design for stability, forgiveness, and control—fully customizable in 5-PW or 4-PW sets. (more)

👕Fashion

• Sun Day Red names Karl Vilips its first ambassador, signaling a long-term vision. Winning in his 3rd PGA Tour start, SDR prioritizes craftsmanship, innovation, and golf’s next generation. (more)

• The Nike Roshe G Tour Snake Print blends performance and luxury with a water-repellent gloss finish, lambskin liner, leather heel, and black painted Swooshes for bold, tour-level style. (more)

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In The Know

The 2025 Cologuard Classic brought the heat to La Paloma Country Club in Tucson, Arizona, from March 7-9, featuring 78 of golf’s elite in a no-cut, 3-day battle. With a $2.2 million purse, Steven Alker emerged victorious after a playoff against Jason Caron, both finishing at 12-under 201. His reward? $330,000 and 330,000 Charles Schwab Cup points.

Beyond the competition, the tournament had a bigger purpose—raising awareness for colon cancer screening through Exact Sciences, while the Tucson Conquistadores funneled proceeds into Southern Arizona youth sports.

The week delivered a $25 million economic boost to the region while pushing a powerful health message. The Cologuard Classic continues to be a must-watch PGA TOUR Champions event, proving that great golf and great causes go hand in hand.

🗓️Events

• Experience the Ford Championship at Whirlwind Golf Club from March 27-30! Enjoy world-class LPGA action, exclusive fan activities, free lessons, specialty shopping, and exciting prize opportunities. (more)

• Compete in the World Putting Tour Tournament on March 30th at Putting World Scottsdale! $5K first-place prize, elite competition, and ultimate bragging rights. (more)

• Join us on March 21, 2025, at McCormick Ranch Golf Club for a charity tournament supporting children with SPD and autism—golf, community, and giving back! (more)

• Sparky’s Fairways in Tempe—no daylight saving, no worries. (more)

📰News

• Which states dominate junior golf? I analyzed state-level data to uncover where junior golf thrives based on geography, climate, and population. The results might surprise you! (more)

• John Souza is the new president of AZ GOLF, and he succeeded Tim Brown after his two-year term. AZ GOLF appreciates Brown’s dedication and leadership. (more)

• Arizona lawmakers are debating House Bill 2411, which would allow golfers to bring their alcohol to courses, aiming to cut costs and boost player freedom. (more)

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