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Warm-up and MobilityRange Practice All clubs Beginner / Intermediate ⏱ 4 min 🇬🇧 Video in English, summarized

Jack Nicklaus's Training: Three Reasons to Go Hit Some Balls

For Jack Nicklaus, practicing is pointless if you don't know why you're doing it. He identifies three reasons for going to the driving range and describes how each shot should be played just as it would be on the course.

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Jack Nicklaus
Jack Nicklaus · his YouTube channelFree lesson selected by Fred P.

To be continued

11 minSame problemGolf: 6 Mobility Exercises for People Over 60HansenFitnessForGolf · Beginner / Intermediate / Seniors6 minSame problemWarm-up with a sand wedge: the Marchildon methodCharles Marchildon · Beginner / Intermediate2 minFrom the same proJack Nicklaus Putting: How to Control Your SpeedJack Nicklaus · Intermediate

What the lesson shows

First reason: warm up before a game. Jack Nicklaus hits 15 to 25 balls, ranging from the pitching wedge to the driver, including the 8-iron, 5-iron, and 2-iron, and finishes with a few pitches. He compares this to the amateur who rushes to the course after work and isn’t warmed up until after nine holes: it only takes a few minutes to know what kind of swing you’ll have that day. Second reason: fix a defect. He starts with the basics—grip, stance, posture, and ball position—because nine times out of ten, one of these is the cause of the problem.

Third reason: anchor a part of the swing, often after the match, even when he’s played well. He doesn’t hit 500 balls—sometimes 5, 15, or 50—just enough to understand what he’s doing and why. The common thread is to train with a goal in mind, just like on the course: he approaches the ball from behind, picks a reference point in front of him, aligns himself with the target, takes his time, and makes a smooth swing while maintaining his balance.

The Exercise, Step by Step

  1. Before a round, hit 15 to 25 balls: pitching wedge, 8-iron, 5-iron, a long iron, the driver, and then a few pitch shots.
  2. If a problem arises, first check your grip, stance, posture, and ball position.
  3. After the match, hit a few balls to reinforce what works and understand why.
  4. Stop as soon as you get the hang of it: 5, 15, or 50 coins are enough.
  5. Approach each ball from behind, choose a reference point in front of you, and align yourself with the target.
  6. Take your time and make a smooth swing while maintaining your balance.

Key Takeaways

Working out without knowing why is a waste of time.
Warm-up: 15 to 25 balls while moving up the net; a few minutes are enough.
To correct a flaw, you need to revisit your grip, stance, posture, and ball position.
To make a movement stick, a few well-executed shots are better than 500.
Each shot is played just like on the course: from the back of the green, set your target, align your stance, and take a balanced swing.

Mistakes to Avoid

  • Arriving at the starting line without warming up.
  • Look for the cause of a flaw in your swing before checking the fundamentals.
  • Hitting hundreds of balls without a goal: that's exercise, not training.
  • Hit a series of balls without aiming or following a pre-shot routine.

Driving Range Mode

Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.

  1. Warm-up: 15 to 25 balls while moving up the bag
  2. Check your grip, stance, posture, and ball position when you make a mistake
  3. A few shots after the game to solidify a move
  4. Every shot played with proper alignment and aim

Your Questions

How many balls does Jack Nicklaus hit to warm up?

Between 15 and 25 swings, ranging from the pitching wedge to the driver, including the mid- and long-iron clubs, and then a few pitch shots to finish. He estimates that about five minutes is enough.

Where does he start when he has a flaw?

Start with the basics: grip, stance, posture, and ball position. According to him, nine times out of ten, one of these is the cause of the problem.

What does it mean to train with a goal in mind?

Play every shot as you would on the course: approach it from behind, choose a reference point in front of you, align yourself with the target, take your time, and make a smooth, balanced swing.

Learn More

All “Warm-up and Mobility” videos →Find the lesson that's right for youAll “Practice” videos →Find the lesson that's right for you Tommy Fleetwood's Precision Drive: The Safe TeeTo find the fairway, Fleetwood maintains his tee height, holds the club in the air, widens his stance, and hits over a tee placed behind the ball. DeChambeau's Short Game Practice: Chips, Rough, BunkerHis typical practice session around the green: three basic chip shots, three shots from the rough handled differently, and in the bunker, controlling the point of impact on the clubface. Justin Rose's putting session with Phil KenyonBefore a tournament, Rose and his coach check his setup, the ball's line matched to the top of the putter, a start-line gate and the slope in percent. Jack NicklausAll of his lessons

Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Jack Nicklaus). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons without hosting them.

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