On the Golfchannel, Hank Haney applies Tiger Woods practice schedule in his Project to re-engineer Charles Barkley's golf swing. It is a revealing "Day in the Life" of Tiger Woods practice habits.Commitment to Practice
In conversation with Charles at their first meeting, Haney asked Charles if he was really serious enough. Was he really ready to commit to what it would take to get better? When Charles said yes, Haney asked if he meant he would work a "Tiger Day". When Charles asked what a Tiger Day meant, Haney gave the itinerary summarized in the table below:
A Tiger Day of PracticeTime | Activity |
6:00 - 7:30am | Workout |
7:30 - 9:00am | Shower and breakfast |
9:00 - 11:00am | Hit balls on the range |
11:00 - 11:30am | Putt |
11:30 - 12:30pm | Play 9 holes |
12:30 - 1:00pm | Lunch |
1:00 - 3:00pm | Hit balls on the range |
3:00 - 4:00pm | Short Game |
4:00 - 5:00pm | Play 9 holes |
5:00 - 5:30pm | Hit balls on the range |
5:30 - 6:00pm | Putt |
As Tiger's coach, Hank Haney knows the schedule. He was not kidding. Tiger Woods practice schedule is his schedule too.
This is a sobering timetable for anyone trying to compete with Tiger. It's also a revealing look into the level of commitment Tour pros must have to get to the professional level demanded of world class players.
This is pretty much a 12 hour day. Look at how it breaks down:
- 1.5 Hours fitness
- 4.5 Hours of ball striking
- 2.0 Hours of playing
- 2.0 Hours of short game
- 2.0 Meals, shower and rest time
That is 8.5 hours of golf -- after a workout!
One-half of the two hours on short game is putting.
He can get the 9 Holes in one hour by playing with a cart on his home course at Isleworth in Orlando. We have already heard about his religious workout motivation -- just look at his physique. The ball striking and duration of the practice day is really impressive.
For more insights on practicing, checkout the Golf Practice Strategies pages on this site.
Standard Procedure
Tiger Woods practice habits are not uncommon amongst tour pros. I know from personal experience this is true of many pros. I have vacationed three times in Wintergarden, Florida at the Orange County National (OCN) Golf Center. This facility hosts the PGA Q-School occasionally. It is also home to the Phil Ritson Golf School where many pros practice in the off season.I was there in November and took the occasional lesson. The pro there introduced me to Dick Mast, a player on the Champions Tour. I also was on the range beside Brian Davis, a PGA Tour player from England. Dick Mast often practiced for a six hour day (that was the duration I saw him there, so he could have practiced elsewhere at OCN where I did not see him). Brian Davis practiced for four hours straight in 85-degree heat, then went out with one of the Assistant Pros to play 18 holes.
These guys are good because these guys work hard. They definitely work for what they get. From my perspective it was just as cool to watch them practice as it is to see them play.
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