Another thing about driving ranges

[Maninblack4612]

There's a thread about shanking on the range but not on the course. I go to the local range most days when I don't play & practise mainly wedge & 6 & 8 iron shots. I always finish with a few drivers. I find that if I hit too many with the driver they get progressively worse so I don't overdo it. I've been driving very well recently, yesterday I hit all but one fairway. However, at the range I can hit consecutive shots 40 yards apart, duck hooks, big ballooning slices, the lot. I don't try to hit it too hard, just concentrating on putting a good swing on each one. It's something I just can't explain. The tee is the correct height, the lie is perfectly flat, I just don't know. Anybody else experience this?

 

[bobmac]

Looks like it is likely to be a clubface issue.
Have you changed your grip recently?

 

[Maninblack4612]

Looks like it is likely to be a clubface issue.
Have you changed your grip recently?

No, I haven't changed the grip at all. I've recently changed the way I release the club leading up to impact but, on the course, I've never hit it straighter.

 

[Maninblack4612]

Do you pick a target on the range and visualise the sides of a “fairway” or just stand where the bay points you and swing?

I have a target & always set up parallel to the sides of the mat to ensure that any misses aren't caused by misalignment. It's what the pro taught me to do.

 

[AliMc]

No, I haven't changed the grip at all. I've recently changed the way I release the club leading up to impact but, on the course, I've never hit it straighter.

Don't practice with the driver on the range then just stick to hitting your irons, I personally don't see the point in practising something at a range that's going well on the course as I inevitability screw it up (on the very few occasions that I go to a driving range, probably once or twice in the last few years)

 

[bobmac]

No, I haven't changed the grip at all. I've recently changed the way I release the club leading up to impact but, on the course, I've never hit it straighter.

If it's straight on the course, don't fix it.

 

[Maninblack4612]

Don't practice with the driver on the range then just stick to hitting your irons, I personally don't see the point in practising something at a range that's going well on the course as I inevitability screw it up (on the very few occasions that I go to a driving range, probably once or twice in the last few years)

If it's straight on the course, don't fix it.

Good advice, but I'm just curious as to why its so different at the range. It's always been the case that if I'm hitting it any way decently at the range that I'll hit it well on the course. Funny game.

 

[bobmac]

Good advice, but I'm just curious as to why its so different at the range. It's always been the case that if I'm hitting it any way decently at the range that I'll hit it well on the course. Funny game.

If you're hitting duckhooks and high slices, you are altering the clubface direction at impact.
If it was happening on the course, I'd be looking at the new way you release the club but it's not so be thankful it's not great on the range and wayward on the course.

 

[JamesR]

Good advice, but I'm just curious as to why its so different at the range. It's always been the case that if I'm hitting it any way decently at the range that I'll hit it well on the course. Funny game.

For myself, I think I hit at it harder, on the range, than I do on the course. Which no doubt leads to errors.

 

[SocketRocket]

I only use the range these days to work on a specific drill, I find repeatedly hitting balls at a target with one club creates faults I don't have when playing. If I'm working on my driver then I hit a number of half speed shots until I am getting the desired outcome, then progressively ramp up the speed.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Thing with the range is that you get into a routine and a good/bad temp depending on how well its going. If you are hitting well then everything seems easy. I find that I can got from a nice tempo to getting the driver out and everything starting to go wrong with hip slides, swinging too fast and trying to then slow down etc and it ends with me trying to change things that don't need changing.

I simple allocate 5 balls per club now. Pick a target per club ad score out of 5 and move on

 

[SyR]

I'll start with my 9 and 7 iron to warm up, hitting about 10 shots. Then I'll visualise a few opening holes and go through my clubs required to reach the greens. I then will finish with my wedge as my distance control at 120 and under is the weakest part of my game, I'll probably end up hitting quarter of the bucket with my wedges.

 

[Diamond]

Have a lesson then implement the advice at the rang. It’s what the pros do.

 

[C7usk]

Good advice, but I'm just curious as to why its so different at the range. It's always been the case that if I'm hitting it any way decently at the range that I'll hit it well on the course. Funny game.

I find the balls at the range (certainly where I stay) are so poor and varied in condition that it really affects the ball flight. Especially with the driver.. I can hit shots on the range that I know are good swings and the balls doin crazy stuff. Puts me right off.

 

[Funt1m3]

So much at the range for me is in my head. One day I’m “hot” and ready for the Tour, next I’m ready to snap the clubs. I blame the mats…

The problem with getting a lesson is it isn’t just one lesson, usually. We’ll unless you’re a low figure hc and you really are tweaking the last 0.1%

 

[Maninblack4612]

I find the balls at the range (certainly where I stay) are so poor and varied in condition that it really affects the ball flight. Especially with the driver.. I can hit shots on the range that I know are good swings and the balls doin crazy stuff. Puts me right off.

The balls at my range are excellent & I generally keep the more dimpled ones for the driver. They're made by Srixon, although I don't know what the quality of manufacture is like. They tend to fly a bit lower & definitely less far. Being two piece they should fly with less spin, although I'm not sure that's the case.

 

[Jensen]

The balls at my range are excellent & I generally keep the more dimpled ones for the driver. They're made by Srixon, although I don't know what the quality of manufacture is like. They tend to fly a bit lower & definitely less far. Being two piece they should fly with less spin, although I'm not sure that's the case.

Try a different driving range, just don’t tell Chris I said that ?

 

[C7usk]

Lol. Yeah that's definitely the answer... Bummer is it's only 5mins drive to it or about 25 to the next nearest.. And the one just up the road is attached to an American golf so its always good to have a little bit window shopping.

 

[Maninblack4612]

Lol. Yeah that's definitely the answer... Bummer is it's only 5mins drive to it or about 25 to the next nearest.. And the one just up the road is attached to an American golf so its always good to have a little bit window shopping.

You use the same one as me, next to AG & Miller & Carter?

 

[BiMGuy]

40 yard dispersion is pretty good with a driver.