Practice makes perfect. That's the saying that has been drilled into golfers from an early age. However, I think the saying should perhaps be practice makes permanent.

Let me explain: if you stand on the driving range or practice ground without any plan or idea of what you are practising, then all you are going to perfect is your current swing, including its faults.

Golfers, who start each practice session with a definitive plan as to what to work on to unprove their swings, will receive changes faster than those with no idea on what they are doing.

After each lesson I give, I make sure that I give each pupil practice drills or swing thoughts to take away with them to ensure their practice is purposeful.

Also, at the range where I work, we have supervised practice sessions where golfers on our learning programmes have their swmg monitored by the teaching staff to make sure they are practising correctly.

I have found that golfers, who use these sessions and practise correctly, improve twice as fast as those who don't.

Now I would like to turn to what you should practice.

As much as it seems helpful spending hours hitting long irons and drivers as far as you can on the practice ground, this is comparable to David Beckharn spending all day practising his free-kicks and neglecting the rest of his football skills it just wouldn't happen.

Sixty-five per cent of the game of golf is played within 100 yards of the green, so your practice must reflect this statistic.

You must spend at least half your time practising putting, chipping, pitching and bunker play if you are really serious about reducing your handicap this summer.

As in life, it's quality not quantity that counts. A quality practice session may only involve you hitting 50 half-shots in 20minutes instead of the usual 150 full-out drives: because if you've thought about each swing you've made, with numerous practice swings in between, your shots you will always improve quicker.

On a final note, isn't it funny how golf is the only sport where people practice their strengths, not their weaknesses?

If you are a bad putter, why spend hours hitting endless drives? More fun when practising, I agree, but what's your mood like when you've three-putted again on the golf course?

* James Morrow is a fully qualified member of the PGA, who teaches pupils of all abilities at the World Of Golf, in Sideup. If you are interested in learning to play golf or for any lesson enquiries, or any aspect of his fortnightly column, he can be contacted on 020 8309 0181 or via the website on: http://www.worldofgolf-ukco.uk

Free lessons for beginners

During the next two weekends, I will be offering free golf lessons to complete beginners to the game.

These lessons will be in a group format and are aimed at encouraging people to take an interest in the game and perhaps join one of group lessons to help them start out.

The only stipulation is that you must be a complete beginner, as these group lessons will be a very basic introduction to the game of golf.

The dates for the free group clinics are this Saturday from 1-2pm, and on Sunday, May 25, between 3pm and 4pm, when free club-use will be provided.

Places can be booked simply by telephoning reception om 020 8309 0181 and asking for a place for the "Free golf clinics in May" lessons.