Does anyone else struggle at the range?

[shun_naka]

I'm still very much a beginner, but the last month or two I've been playing at weekends and playing reasonably well on the course. Not scoring great but still decent enough for my level.
But anytime I've been to the range midweek for practice, out of 50 balls I'll hit about 10 sweet, the rest total duffs that I'd never hit on the course

maybe it's because it's after a long day at work etc, but I feel like it's really hindering any progress. Got another lesson booked in this week as the downturn in my performances at the range are really concerning me! Feel like I've gone 10 steps backwards

 

[gmhubble]

I am with you - it all depends which range I visit

My local club has very hard mats and I struggle to get a clean hit off the mate

My local World of Golf has protracer and also newer mats that have a very nice 'tuffness' to them so I hit the ball much nicer and have the benefit of measuring each shot

Shop around your local driving range facilities - it may well be that the one 10 mins further will really suit you better

Also - go with a plan - dont just hit a 100 balls - wedges one day, short irons another, longer irons and woods .... I rotate my sessions in those four groups and it works quite well

 

[GreiginFife]

Range mats this time of year tend to be heavy and wet or frozen solid and I tend not to use the range during he winter because of it. For me it doesn't help with trying to practice when the club head is either dragging on the wet, heavy AstroTurf or bouncing up off a frozen surface.
It's rare a range mat will replicate anywhere like ground conditions on a course. I wouldn't worry about it too much. If your club has a grass practice facility I would recommend using that. At least then you are getting lifelike replications of conditions.

 

[Beezerk]

Ask Snell how his range visit went tonight and you'll feel MUCH better about your game 😄

 

[shun_naka]

Ask Snell how his range visit went tonight and you'll feel MUCH better about your game 

Really couldn't have been worse than mines!

 

[moogie]

Really couldn't have been worse than mines!

Ohhh yesssss it was

 

[srixon 1]

I struggle to get there at this time of the year. Not much fun when cold wet and windy. I do remember going a few years ago though and having a mare. Paid for the balls, picked my spot and then warmed up for a few minutes. 3 perfect shermans later I packed up and went home.

 

[Craigg]

Generally my session starts well, probably through just using warm up swings and not really thinking about it. Ball seems to fly lovely. Then I try to get the brain involved and it gradually tails off from there!

 

[Dasit]

Go to the range with a purpose and split all your balls into groups.

I am trying to tuck my right arm in on downswing at the moment and swing my arms less around my body on backswing, I don't expect to hit many good shots at the range while working on this.

On the course I lose these swing thoughts and concentrate on good ball striking, so hit the ball much better.

 

[clubchamp98]

I'm still very much a beginner, but the last month or two I've been playing at weekends and playing reasonably well on the course. Not scoring great but still decent enough for my level.
But anytime I've been to the range midweek for practice, out of 50 balls I'll hit about 10 sweet, the rest total duffs that I'd never hit on the course

maybe it's because it's after a long day at work etc, but I feel like it's really hindering any progress. Got another lesson booked in this week as the downturn in my performances at the range are really concerning me! Feel like I've gone 10 steps backwards

Most golfers go to the range and just blast balls .
Try to imagine your golf course and play it at the range.
hit your drive. Good or bad.
whats your second shot pick a target 7 iron to green
play your front nine like this to stop you just blasting drivers
this is how golf is played so it makes you concentrate on one shot at a time.

 

[shun_naka]

Go to the range with a purpose and split all your balls into groups.

I am trying to tuck my right arm in on downswing at the moment and swing my arms less around my body on backswing, I don't expect to hit many good shots at the range while working on this.

On the course I lose these swing thoughts and concentrate on good ball striking, so hit the ball much better.

I think i maybe think too much on the range too. I concrentrate on doing all sorts with my arms, body etc and just end up tensing up/freezing and hitting bad shot after bad shot, bringing down all my confidence with it

 

[graham64]

I used to go to the range twice a week everything seemed fine and then the wheels came off couldn't hit anything just got myself frustrated. Ironic since I stopped going have posted my best 2 scores ever

 

[Bunkermagnet]

If I have to go to the range, I take no more than 3 clubs including 7 iron and a wedge. I prefer to practice at the club given time, but the range is at least a swing excersize. Thats all I use it for, keeping the swing going and perhaps practising the very short game. I always find I'm next to the local range smasher who is a tour pro

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I find if I go after work it very much depends on the day I've had in work. If it's been crap and stressful my swing tempo will undoubtedly be quick, too quick and I'll struggle. If I have had a good day in work I'm sub-consciously much calmer and seem to find a much better rhythm and swing much smoother. Also, if I feel tired, I'll be less effective.

When I go to the range I'm usually working on a specific thing and so try and focus on that. Also, less is more in terms of balls and I'd rather hit 40 well and 80 or 120 averagely. Having set goals is important to me or I'll get bored and just hit them without any focus which is a waste of time and effort

 

[User62651]

You shouldn't struggle at the range, should be easier than on the course as you're playing the same shot over and over from a perfect lie.

Easy to overdo practice so quality rather than quantity - focus hard on each shot, do a full pre shot routine for each and aim at an exact target.
Mats are hard and weather can be cold now so warm up, I think some physical problems I've had could be down to overpractice when I was younger. Blattering drive after drive (as many youngsters seem to do) is fairly pointless and after 6 or 8 full out attempts you will be physically tired (even if you dont feel it) so results will be mixed.

Also practice makes permanent so make sure you're doing all the basics right as you will ingrain any flaws through repetition.

 

[drewster]

I am truly woeful on the range. For some reason i just hit shank after shank after shank. It never happens on course but for some unknown reason put me on a mat and i'm worse than useless. Just find it depressing !!!!

 

[njrose51]

I LOVE THE DRIVING RANGE!

I go there to practise the specific areas myself and my coach are working on, plus work on the basics - grip, posture. Also, to prepare for my next round or competition so I'm not walking onto the first tee rusty.

I would say though that to get the best out of the range, it is specific areas/tasks rather than just blasting away 100 balls. Warm up, go through the bag, then focused practise. I also do chipping and putting. try and set specific targets, or visualise playing certain holes from tee to green using the clubs you would normally use. Play each shot as you would if you were on the course. Pre shot routine, checking line etc.

I could spend hours on the range! :swing:

 

[Curls]

Another vote for loving the range. I try to make myself only get 50 though, I think I lose focus with 100. Different target every time unless I muck it right up, so I go from wedge to driver to 8iron and so on. Only issue is at the range alignment is easy, you're either square to the mat or have an idea of the angle. In an open field I struggle with alignment and have to work hard on it when the season starts

 

[chrisd]

I too spend time at the range. Sometimes working on specific things and quite often just biffing balls which, I think, is good for my back

 

[Steve Bamford]

I LOVE THE DRIVING RANGE!

I go there to practise the specific areas myself and my coach are working on, plus work on the basics - grip, posture. Also, to prepare for my next round or competition so I'm not walking onto the first tee rusty.

I would say though that to get the best out of the range, it is specific areas/tasks rather than just blasting away 100 balls. Warm up, go through the bag, then focused practise. I also do chipping and putting. try and set specific targets, or visualise playing certain holes from tee to green using the clubs you would normally use. Play each shot as you would if you were on the course. Pre shot routine, checking line etc.

I could spend hours on the range! :swing:

Totally agree with this. Goal focussed, otherwise you gain very little and there is the danger of actually ingraining issues into the swing.