Practice without a ball
The suggestion of practicing your swing without a ball is maybe a new concept, the reasoning for such an idea, is to take away the distraction of the result, and to focus on the understanding of where you go wrong in the swing! so that you can better self-correct.
Golf instructors have been trusted for many years by the amateur golfer and video analysis has helped them see more but for most of these instructors, they often refer to seeing a ball fly, which determines what to tell you, “you are now swinging correctly”. This judgment of ball flight that dictates the lesson, maybe not the best way to explain what is related to a good grip, balance, swing plane or a great number of other areas coached. There are too many influencing factors.
The senses required to hit a good ball flight, are all kinesthetic feelings, but for most that practice the game this is missed because too much focus is given to the result good or bad.
Try the positive practice without a ball to help promote better focus on the kinesthetic senses to help feel when you might hit a ball correctly. When we place a ball down on the range and hit it, the distractions of ball flight, path, distance, etc, overpower our “feel” and we may or may not learn what we are trying to learn as a result. All that being said our practice sessions should include time for fundamental training (no ball practice), as well as ball striking practice. I have been using it and I am enjoying the outcome so far, with much more self-awareness.
Give it a try, today!