How to Make a Golf Swing Change Stick — For Good
At the start of a new golf season, it’s common for players to take a lesson to upgrade their swing. What usually happens next? The player likes the changes, sees some early improvements… and then slowly drifts back into old habits.
That’s because making a swing change stick takes more than one good lesson. It takes time, intentional practice, and the right structure.
There are three keys to making a swing change last:
- Consistent feedback
- Repetition over time
- Testing the swing under pressure
Let’s break them down.
Key #1: Consistent Feedback
This is where most players go wrong.
They base their progress on how the swing feels or whether the shot looked good. But feelings aren’t consistent feedback — and good shots don’t always mean you made the right move.
Real feedback comes from:
- Video replay
- Data points you can track
- Training aids that show your swing mechanics
- Launch monitors (if available)
If you have a launch monitor, use it! It gives you immediate, objective data — from club path to face angle — on every single swing. That’s the kind of golf swing practice feedback that leads to real improvement.
Key #2: Repetition Over Time
Once you’ve got reliable feedback, your next job is to build muscle memory through smart repetition.
Too often, players take a lesson and then hit hundreds of golf balls that week. But a month later? They’re barely practicing at all. The change fades.
Here’s the truth: Not all reps are equal.
The 100th ball in a single session isn’t nearly as valuable as the first 10 balls over several days.
If you’re trying to create lasting change, daily, short practice sessions are more effective than occasional marathon range sessions. Your body learns better through consistent recall, not overload.
This principle is central to what we teach with Legends of the Links — making practice short, fun, and focused, so swing changes actually stick.
Key #3: Testing Your Swing
This is the final — and most overlooked — piece of the puzzle: testing your swing under pressure.
Most amateurs never do this. They feel confident after a few weeks of range practice and think the swing change is locked in. But as soon as pressure creeps in — whether in competition or a tricky lie — they revert to their old swing.
To avoid this, test your swing regularly:
- Set goals and measure performance
- Hit from uneven lies: sidehill, downhill, rough, bunkers
- Add competition or games to simulate pressure
- Track results with scoring-based drills
This is exactly why golf practice games like those in Legends of the Links work so well — they test your swing in fun, challenging ways, not just from a flat lie on the range.
Make the Change Last
If you’re going to invest in a lesson, give yourself the best chance to make it permanent. Track your progress, build consistent reps, and test your swing in real scenarios.
Whether you’re working with a coach or using a junior golf program like Legends of the Links, remember: Practice doesn’t make perfect — perfect practice makes progress.