Intermediate improvement plans
The Best Drills for Intermediate Improvement Plans
Use drills that make practice measurable instead of simply filling a bucket with swings.
What a good drill should do
A drill earns its place when it gives you feedback. It should tell you whether the clubface is improving, whether contact is more predictable, or whether your decision-making holds up when you only get one ball.
The best drills for intermediate players are not fancy. They are repeatable, trackable, and close enough to real golf that the skill can travel.
Three drills worth keeping
- Nine-shot window: with a 7-iron, try low, stock, and high shots to three targets. Don’t chase perfection; learn ball-flight control.
- Up-and-down ladder: drop one ball in five different short-game lies. You only pass if you finish each hole in two shots or fewer.
- Fairway finder: hit ten tee shots with your most reliable club, whether that’s driver, hybrid, or 3-wood. Count only balls that would leave a clear second shot.
Make the drill honest
Add consequence. If you miss the green in a wedge drill, the next ball starts from a tougher yardage. If you leave a lag putt outside a comfortable circle, you must hole the next one before moving on.
Quick recap
Drills work when they expose the same demands you face on the course: changing targets, uneven confidence, and one chance to execute. Keep score, keep notes, and repeat the drills long enough to see a pattern.