Improving Faster at Golf: Joël Bernard's Method
Are you the king of the driving range but can't seem to make anything work on the course? Joël Bernard explains why traditional training can be misleading for golfers and shares a champion's tip for improving much faster with the same amount of practice time: visualize each shot.
To be continued
What the lesson shows
Joël Bernard starts with an observation: you can spend hours at the driving range without seeing any results on the course. The reason: Training should replicate as closely as possible what happens in a game, but in golf, we practice on a flat mat with practice balls, hitting 20 or 30 irons in a row or 20 putts from the same slope and distance. We train our bodies through repetition, which is essential, but We forget about the mental and emotional aspects: A 7-foot putt to win a match doesn't carry the same weight as the 38th putt in a row.
He recounts the anecdote—taken from a book by Bob Rotella—about a baseball pitcher who, as a child, would imagine himself in a packed stadium while aiming at a rectangle painted on a barn, and then the story of Ian Woosnam, who had practiced that putt dozens of times while imagining himself winning the Masters. His advice: pretend that. Before each practice swing, Create a context and bring intention to it: It's the decisive shot on the 18th to win the tournament or a bet with a friend.
The Exercise, Step by Step
- Whether you're at the driving range or the putting green, avoid taking dozens of identical shots in a row with nothing at stake.
- Before each shot, picture a specific scenario: the 18th shot to win your match.
- Add a concrete incentive, such as a bet with a partner.
- Put all your effort into the shot as if it were the most important one of the game.
- On the course, reverse the process: visualize yourself successfully executing that shot during practice.
Key Takeaways
Mistakes to Avoid
- Believing that the time spent at the driving range is enough to improve.
- Hit 20 or 30 balls in a row with the same club, without any context.
- Practice 20 putts from the same slope and at the same distance.
- Put aside the emotional impact of big plays during practice.
Driving Range Mode
Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.
- Each shot is preceded by a match scenario
- 7-foot putts played as if to win the game
- A fictional wager or a friendly bet between training partners
Your Questions
Why do I play well on the driving range but poorly on the course?
According to Joël Bernard, the driving range doesn't replicate the actual game: mats, flat ground, different balls, and shots repeated exactly the same way. Above all, it lacks the mental and emotional aspects of the course.
What does “pretend” mean?
Visualize every practice shot: imagine it's the decisive shot on the 18th hole, with real stakes. Champions—in golf as well as in baseball—train this way.
Is rehearsal pointless?
No, Joël Bernard considers it essential. The mistake is to limit oneself to it without incorporating the mental and emotional aspects.
Which champion does he cite as an example?
Ian Woosnam, who had practiced a 7-foot putt dozens of times during practice while imagining himself winning the Masters, then found himself back in that practice mindset when it came time to actually make the putt.
Learn More
Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Joël Bernard). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons without hosting them.