Birchy
Money List Winner
Hate the range, hate practice.
I think the only time i go the range now is to test new clubs :rofl:
I think the only time i go the range now is to test new clubs :rofl:
D
Deleted member 17920
Guest
So that's weekly then!
Imurg
The Grinder Of Pars (Semi Crocked)
Weakly, maybe..?
Possibly but perhaps I could do things better. Some plans in place for 2016 so lets see
Birchy
Money List Winner
Simbo
Tour Rookie
I tend to practice a lot during summer, and do it constructively. I know my strengths and weaknesses and work on both. I generally practice distance control wedges and putting. Driving every now and then and very seldom mid irons and once in a blue moon long irons/hybrids/woods.
Winter practice is different and I go to the range and try and work on balance, posture, rhythm, timing, ball striking etc. I work a lot on the basics over winter. I don't think the range offers a great deal more, using rock hard balls, standing on a nice and level surface, having a good lie all the time. I do work a lot on driving during winter though. Trying to recreate pressure in practice is very difficult IMO. Nothing on the range can really prepare you for playing the tough 18th in a tournament, when you're 2 shots under your handicap, or all square in your club champs knockout and your opponent has just stuck his wedge to gimme length.
Winter practice is different and I go to the range and try and work on balance, posture, rhythm, timing, ball striking etc. I work a lot on the basics over winter. I don't think the range offers a great deal more, using rock hard balls, standing on a nice and level surface, having a good lie all the time. I do work a lot on driving during winter though. Trying to recreate pressure in practice is very difficult IMO. Nothing on the range can really prepare you for playing the tough 18th in a tournament, when you're 2 shots under your handicap, or all square in your club champs knockout and your opponent has just stuck his wedge to gimme length.
D
Deleted member 15717
Guest
Constructively? No. I know I don't...but I get bored otherwise! Maybe I should make it more of a target next year
3565
Journeyman Pro
If I'm playing well I don't really go and practise anything specific, I might just go and hit balls to keep the swing/good feelings going, if I'm struggling then I'll get a lesson to see what the issue is and then go practise that before putting into play.
Norrin Radd
Tour Winner
i tend to start well with a good stretching sequence and then with the wedges i look to get my timing right before moving up to the longer irons.On each shot i will go through my pre shot routine and pick a different target for each shot i play.
I find myself losing concentration after about an hour of range work and this is when i will take a break and get myself a cup of coffee and rest for a few minutes before starting again with the short stuff ,a few shots with the wedges and im then into hitting the big dog .
trying too hard with the driver gives me a big hook ,but if i relax and swing easy i generally hit pretty straight.its a fault that follows me far too often onto the course.
so is my practice constructive ,yeh maybe .
does it help my game .well i cant see it harming it .
i must admit that if when i start my range session that if im not timing it right i will pack up .i really think that i would be grooving a fault into my swing that i dont want.
I find myself losing concentration after about an hour of range work and this is when i will take a break and get myself a cup of coffee and rest for a few minutes before starting again with the short stuff ,a few shots with the wedges and im then into hitting the big dog .
trying too hard with the driver gives me a big hook ,but if i relax and swing easy i generally hit pretty straight.its a fault that follows me far too often onto the course.
so is my practice constructive ,yeh maybe .
does it help my game .well i cant see it harming it .
i must admit that if when i start my range session that if im not timing it right i will pack up .i really think that i would be grooving a fault into my swing that i dont want.
Capella
Journeyman Pro
I have to admit that at the moment I don't practice much at all, apart from on my putting mat at home. The time I can spend on golf at the moment is so limited and therefore so precious to me, due to lack of daylight hours, that I normally rather head out on the course after a few warm up shots (or even without any warm up at all ... I have found it does not make a world of difference, again except for putting. I always putt a few balls on the putting green before I go out). Plus, since my dad has been injured since October, I normally always go to the course together with my mother so that she gets to play as well and she is the most impatient person in the world when it comes to practice, so I don't even try anymore. I miss it, though.
When I have enough time on my hands and no impatient playing partner breathing down my neck, I normally do try to divide my practice time equally between the putting green, the short game area (or our par 3 practice course) and the range. I rarely hit more than 50 balls in a row on the range and I normally always have a specific thing I am working on when I do. That can be either a tip from a YouTube video that I want to try out or something I noticed on the last round I played before. I normally write down after each round what worked well and what did not and also what I want to focus on in practice. So I think I do use my practice time quite efficiently. I do find it difficult to concentrate and get very self-conscious when I feel watched, though, so I try to avoid the range when it is too crowded.
When I have enough time on my hands and no impatient playing partner breathing down my neck, I normally do try to divide my practice time equally between the putting green, the short game area (or our par 3 practice course) and the range. I rarely hit more than 50 balls in a row on the range and I normally always have a specific thing I am working on when I do. That can be either a tip from a YouTube video that I want to try out or something I noticed on the last round I played before. I normally write down after each round what worked well and what did not and also what I want to focus on in practice. So I think I do use my practice time quite efficiently. I do find it difficult to concentrate and get very self-conscious when I feel watched, though, so I try to avoid the range when it is too crowded.
bigbobosjockstrap
Newbie
Go easy on a newbie but this is the kind of thread I was hoping to find when I signed up tonight!
ive only taken up golf in mid-July having never lifted a club before at the age of 35 so I need lots of practice to make up for lost time!
I currently do the following twice a week as that's as much as I can get in with the nearest range 20 odd miles away.
15 chips with either SW or 60 club at target 45 yards away
20 9 irons at target 110-120 yards away
20 7 irons at target 150 yards away
20 5 irons at target 160 yards away
10 3 irons as straight and far as possible
15 drives as straight and far as possible
the first 3 sets are going really well in terms of distance and a bit of improvement needed in accuracy but my other irons are poor, especially the 5 iron. I probably hit 50% of drives around 200 yards with decent accuracy but need to work on stopping the ball going way right on the others.
A set of 5 lessons with Trackman booked for the new year will hopefully improve my game a bit in time for the Spring and hopefully better weather!
ive only taken up golf in mid-July having never lifted a club before at the age of 35 so I need lots of practice to make up for lost time!
I currently do the following twice a week as that's as much as I can get in with the nearest range 20 odd miles away.
15 chips with either SW or 60 club at target 45 yards away
20 9 irons at target 110-120 yards away
20 7 irons at target 150 yards away
20 5 irons at target 160 yards away
10 3 irons as straight and far as possible
15 drives as straight and far as possible
the first 3 sets are going really well in terms of distance and a bit of improvement needed in accuracy but my other irons are poor, especially the 5 iron. I probably hit 50% of drives around 200 yards with decent accuracy but need to work on stopping the ball going way right on the others.
A set of 5 lessons with Trackman booked for the new year will hopefully improve my game a bit in time for the Spring and hopefully better weather!
chrisd
Major Champion
Hi and welcome to a great forum!
I would think that you're on the right road to improvement. Taking lessons and working on the drills given are key. You have a good practice regime as far as I can see. Getting a handicap and then lowering it takes time and practice as there are many things that you can't learn until you encounter them whilst playing and you do certainly need to find a way to get round your own course without wasting shots.
Having said that - it wouldn't be a great game if it was easy!
I would think that you're on the right road to improvement. Taking lessons and working on the drills given are key. You have a good practice regime as far as I can see. Getting a handicap and then lowering it takes time and practice as there are many things that you can't learn until you encounter them whilst playing and you do certainly need to find a way to get round your own course without wasting shots.
Having said that - it wouldn't be a great game if it was easy!
user2010
Challenge Tour Pro
Nope, never practice, just a warm up before the game on the day, chipping and putting and a few stretches, that sort of thing.
Had one of my best rounds of the year at a course I`d never played before, Vale Royal Abbey near Winsford, last Friday, fantastic greens(the Pro said the Head Greenkeeper had them running at around 10 on the stimp in the middle of December ffs and he gets them to around 13-14 in the Summer!)
Full handicap Stableford, Winter rules, scored 41 points with a blob on the 1st! 19 out, 22 back and that included two 1 pointers on 16 and 17. Very pleased with how I hit the ball.
The course was in such good condition, the organiser has booked it again next year at the same time.
Had one of my best rounds of the year at a course I`d never played before, Vale Royal Abbey near Winsford, last Friday, fantastic greens(the Pro said the Head Greenkeeper had them running at around 10 on the stimp in the middle of December ffs and he gets them to around 13-14 in the Summer!)
Full handicap Stableford, Winter rules, scored 41 points with a blob on the 1st! 19 out, 22 back and that included two 1 pointers on 16 and 17. Very pleased with how I hit the ball.
The course was in such good condition, the organiser has booked it again next year at the same time.
AMcC
Journeyman Pro
I would say that I didn't practice constructively.
Like some others I have been taking some lessons with a view to sorting out my swing, becoming more consistent and getting my handicap down. As part of this process my pro gave me a schedule to work to at the range. I used to just go to the range and hit shot after shot with a couple of clubs until the balls were finished.
Now I hit some to warm up then some working on drills for the long game. Then I move on to short game, hitting so many balls working on just technique then on distance control. The last set of balls will be as though I was playing a shot on the course and every shot is with a different club to a different target. I feel this is very good for me as it is much more target focused and more like golf on the course.
Like some others I have been taking some lessons with a view to sorting out my swing, becoming more consistent and getting my handicap down. As part of this process my pro gave me a schedule to work to at the range. I used to just go to the range and hit shot after shot with a couple of clubs until the balls were finished.
Now I hit some to warm up then some working on drills for the long game. Then I move on to short game, hitting so many balls working on just technique then on distance control. The last set of balls will be as though I was playing a shot on the course and every shot is with a different club to a different target. I feel this is very good for me as it is much more target focused and more like golf on the course.
MashieNiblick
Tour Winner
I don't practice much (not as much as I'd like to or as much as I should) but when I do, I try to focus on things arising from lessons or specific shots I'm struggling with or that I didn't play well last time out.
Keeno
Challenge Tour Pro
I don't practice much due to time constraints,,,,,,, so I bought a bag full of hybrids.
I see every round of golf I play as practice. Learning how to play the course, keeping the ball in play, missing in the right area's is the biggest asset you can have.
I would like to enjoy practicing, but have always enjoyed playing game far more.
I see every round of golf I play as practice. Learning how to play the course, keeping the ball in play, missing in the right area's is the biggest asset you can have.
I would like to enjoy practicing, but have always enjoyed playing game far more.
ScienceBoy
Money List Winner
At the range yes, but only if i use my alignment sticks.
On the course I always follow my routine so that's lots of practice, mostly at the par 3 course.
Some range sessions are designated for fun, usually with others in mini competitions or just at the range to enjoy myself.
Fun range sessions should never be frowned upon!
As long as you are clear with yourself that it is for fun and not a practice session however.
The damage cones when you intend to practice but don't.
On the course I always follow my routine so that's lots of practice, mostly at the par 3 course.
Some range sessions are designated for fun, usually with others in mini competitions or just at the range to enjoy myself.
Fun range sessions should never be frowned upon!
As long as you are clear with yourself that it is for fun and not a practice session however.
The damage cones when you intend to practice but don't.
ChrisB0210
Assistant Pro
I do practice constructively. Depending on how my golf is going I'll pick a couple of drills to focus on and hit 60 balls across 2 or 3 drills. Before getting to my drills I've hit 20 balls to warm up, usually chipping, working up to pitches and full shots. Last 20 balls on Competition mode - I pick a club, target and distance and record where each ball lands relative to target and distance.
I record the drills and outcomes in a notebook at the suggestion of my coach, so we can both see what is and isn't working.
In winter and summer I try to practice at least once a week. If work and family commitments allow then it can be more than that.
I record the drills and outcomes in a notebook at the suggestion of my coach, so we can both see what is and isn't working.
In winter and summer I try to practice at least once a week. If work and family commitments allow then it can be more than that.
freddielong
Tour Winner
Lessons are very good idea as its so hard to see what you are actually doing, with that in mind i like to record practice sessions or at least parts of them. As for practice sessions I have a couple of drills that make up about 70 percent of them the rest of the time it's usually working on something specific that I am not happy with.
If you don't have a plan you are not practicing your just hitting balls and that's more fun done on the course.
If you don't have a plan you are not practicing your just hitting balls and that's more fun done on the course.
ManinBlack
Tour Winner
I never go to the range without analysing each shot to discover from the ball flight what the club has been doing. If it's starting left or right I'll check my alignment to see whether it's a purely lining up problem, which it often is. I take my normal stance, then put a club across my feet with another, parallel to this, lined up behind the ball. This is the point of my aim, the feet point left of the target. It took me a long time to realise that. I'm not a fan of drills at all but what I do find useful, especially with a mirror behind me, is to execute a proper backswing in slow motion, stopping at the top to check that the club is in the correct position. I then swing down, using my downswing swing thought, & it's amazing what good shots result, although I haven't had the courage to try this on the course yet.
In the past, I've not been able to practise the short shots very well at the range but over the last couple of years I've spent a lot of time hitting full, half & three quarter wedges and my short game is 100% better than it was, the main reason I've got back to single figures despite advancing years & creaky joints.
I also use the Swingbyte at the range, which is useful to monitor my tendency to swing too much from the inside.
And finally, the range has become a kind of pensioners' social club. The guy who runs it, a fellow former bank manager who I met in our past lives, is a great friend now & a group of us retirees see each other regularly during happy hour between 9.00 & 11.00. There's as much chat around the coffee machine as golf played & some of us have played together in our clubs' open competitions.
Some people I play with hate the range but the fact you can hit balls in all weathers & not have to pick them up is is, for me, with lots of time on my hands, invaluable.
In the past, I've not been able to practise the short shots very well at the range but over the last couple of years I've spent a lot of time hitting full, half & three quarter wedges and my short game is 100% better than it was, the main reason I've got back to single figures despite advancing years & creaky joints.
I also use the Swingbyte at the range, which is useful to monitor my tendency to swing too much from the inside.
And finally, the range has become a kind of pensioners' social club. The guy who runs it, a fellow former bank manager who I met in our past lives, is a great friend now & a group of us retirees see each other regularly during happy hour between 9.00 & 11.00. There's as much chat around the coffee machine as golf played & some of us have played together in our clubs' open competitions.
Some people I play with hate the range but the fact you can hit balls in all weathers & not have to pick them up is is, for me, with lots of time on my hands, invaluable.
