Does practice make you better or worse?

I try and practise along the same lines Bob laid out. Sometimes though I want to work on a specific drill. I always walk off the mat after every shots as it stops me just reaching for the next balll if I've hit it particularly well or particularly badly and always try and go through my set up each time.

Went tonight and it was one of those really frustrating sessions where it was close to being really good and you can't quite get it to come out but can't quite put yoru finger on what was missing. The ball striking is getting better and there are a couple of elements I need to tidy up and I think we're moving in the right direction
 
I more or less follow Bob's practice routine. Will go to a range if practice area too wet, but prefer to use own balls on practice area and depending on time I have, will determine what I work on. A lot of it is keeping the basics in order especially maintaining my posture and driving through the hips and working on parts of the game which are not going so well, but allowing time to keep the short game tuned even though this is one of the stronger parts of my game. I try reproduce my normal pre shot routine for every shot which helps me focus better and stops me hitting countless balls.
 
Dave3498 said:
Driving ranges are good places to practise you faults.
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Yup, last week I had a dodgy 1/2 reverse pivot, apparently.

Today I managed to get that up to 3/4 RP, with signs of potential to go all the way.

The problem is, those strikes still end up longer and straighter than anything I hit with a half decent swing.

The question is; am I too old and set in my ways to build a decent swing, or should I give and just do the best I can with a crappy swing.

Even if I'm practising faults, I can get those faults so well ingrained I can trust them on the course.

Which is not so bad in my book.

It means I hit the ball better at the range, which means I'm more likely to go there more often, and it means I can spend less time actually learning, and more time practising.

Which means I get to finish quicker, and spend more time in the bar.

 
I don't practice enough - I know that.

We have a smashing par 3 nine-holer at my club. There's no reason why I can't go there every day - takes about half an hour maximum. But I don't. OK the weather's not conducive in the Winter and I do use it a little during the rest of the year, but not as much as I should

I go to a range once in a while but the quality of the balls/mats/targets isn't great and I lose interest.

The basic problem is I'm lazy.
I'm a poor practicer - always have been in anything I've done. Even playing the "games" that they give you to keep it interesting - 10 minutes in and I'm bored.
I'd rather play.
Playing solo quite a bit gives me the chance to practice on the course so I can see real results from the first bad shot and the subsequent "practice" ones.
I'm sure I could be better if I practiced but I don't enjoy it. I play this game for enjoyment and if part of it is a slog then I simply wont do it.
 
I'm not a great practiser these days.

Not a great fan of ranges (mats, rubbish balls, nothing like real golf). I do go occasionally just to work on something specific or if I haven't played for a while. Usually just take a wedge and a 6 iron and hit 1 or 2 baskets maximum.

I really don't see the attraction of bashing 150 balls with your driver which is what a lot of folks there seem to do.

Practice facilities at our club are excellent now that the old 7th hole has become the practice area. The old green is great for short game practice and that's where I spend most of my practice time now. Usually work on a go-to chip with my 52 gap wedge and then experiment with a few different options (chip and run, high floater etc) with different clubs. I have much more fun seeing how close I can get those little shots.
 
MashieNiblick said:
I'm not a great practiser these days.

Not a great fan of ranges (mats, rubbish balls, nothing like real golf). I do go occasionally just to work on something specific or if I haven't played for a while. Usually just take a wedge and a 6 iron and hit 1 or 2 baskets maximum.

I really don't see the attraction of bashing 150 balls with your driver which is what a lot of folks there seem to do.

Practice facilities at our club are excellent now that the old 7th hole has become the practice area. The old green is great for short game practice and that's where I spend most of my practice time now. Usually work on a go-to chip with my 52 gap wedge and then experiment with a few different options (chip and run, high floater etc) with different clubs. I have much more fun seeing how close I can get those little shots.
Click to expand...

I wish I had ready access to a short game practice green (not putting green).

My new potential club has a shiny new range and putting green, apparently, but I'm not sure if the green is putting only or whether it can be used for short game practice, if it can, I can see myself spending a lot of evenings there over the summer.
 
Dave3498 said:
Driving ranges are good places to practise you faults.
Click to expand...
'Fraid it's true. Practise does not make perfect, it makes permanent. Good or bad habits.
Gotta agree with region three, every ball you hit should have a very precise target, range or not.
If you're knackered after 100 balls, slow down take more time between balls, and as said, analyse each shot. More likely, if your getting tired, you're putting too much effort into the swing, trying to use strength rather than timing and fluidity.
 
I love practicing! trying all the shots you dont get a chance to on the course, moving the ball to order is very satisfying when it comes off. I can spend hours there and when you get tired move onto the short game. #lovegolf
 
Ever try to have three balls in the air at once? Separate shots, of course.

I never hit more than 50, and hardly ever hit a driver and usually not more than 3 or 4 fairway woods or hybrids.

At least 40 of the 50 will be with a 6 iron or shorter.
 
I am guilty of getting 100 balls, my local range for an extra £1 will give you an extra 30 this month too! I do try to be strict with myself, and yesterday u took my entire bag, and played 10 shots with every club in the bag working from lob wedge right through to driver. Picked a line I was playing, and tried to play down that line with envy club, obviously just increasing the distances achieved.
With my range though, the quality of the balls is shocking, I bin at least 3 from every bucket as they are split, but some are smooth, rough, basically just crap. Does this have a negative effect? The odd ball that has a weird flight, is that the ball or me?
 
This year I am trying to vary my practice. I am bad for only using my 8 iron when working on my swing without aiming at a precise target. I am now working on using my 5 iron as well so I keep a smooth tempo and then really focus on target stuff. I need to work on the 100 & 150 yard distance.
 
Aztecs27 said:
I wish I had ready access to a short game practice green (not putting green).

My new potential club has a shiny new range and putting green, apparently, but I'm not sure if the green is putting only or whether it can be used for short game practice, if it can, I can see myself spending a lot of evenings there over the summer.
Click to expand...


even in summer i like to find a nice quiet green out on the course in the evening and practice away at the short game. chipping away with four balls at different spots.
 
I don't practice.

I used to though - a lot.

So yes, practice definitely makes you better.
 
This thread got me thinking, so I have just got back from the range. Only took my six iron and bought 60 balls. Picked my target line and tried to work on a smooth swing with consistency being key. I have now worked out, I can fade the ball quite nicely so a lot of work was done on initial alignment, now I am starting it left and it's coming back in by no more that 5-10 yards. At the end, I was looking and feeling great with my last 10 balls all finishing within about 10 yards of each other. So thanks bob for the inspiration to make proper use of the range! Now to transfer that to the other clubs and the course!
 
a GREAT thread and one that will cause alot of thoughts for many people.

I have three reasons to go to the range, and all have a completely different approach,

Range drills post lesson:

If im working on something with my pro, whether its grip, swing path or whatever, im at the range with 1 or 2 clubs max (Say 6i + a wedge) trying to grove these changes. when i was working on swing path & grip, i would hit 15-20 6i's with the revised set up, then chip with 5 wedges to brake it so it wasnt so repetative. i could do this for up to 150 balls at a time, but like the OP stated, i will generally warm up with a few wedges to 25, then to 50, then to 75 yards beford attempting any sort of drills that im under instruction to compete.

Pre round warm up:

is exactly what it is, start with a pw to 50/75/100 markers, thats about 15 balls gone, then a few with an 8 iron at various targets, then 6i then 4i, this will generally take me up to 30 balls, but will give a good indication of the shot shape / swing i have bought to the table that day. then i will spend the last 20 balls playing a virtual part of my course, for example,

1st (Par 5) even with a poor driver or a missed approach i should be on in 4 shots, so i will play this hole as i would in a round, Driver, assess that shot and make a decision on shot 2, shot 3, shot 4 allowing for 2 putts only per green.

2nd (long Par4) Driver, if its good take a 4i which is normally my approach club, if its poor a small iron as a lay up then a wedge to the 50 yard marker.

3rd (Short par 3) so ill hit a 9iron to a net thats about 120, if i miss it i will then play a lob shot or bump and run to the 25 marker depending on where my ball would have finished.

i find this sort of warm up is great, less tiering and it allows you to get round ready.

General Practice

If like today im off to the range for general practice, i could hit 100 or 150 balls depending on weather etc, i ideally like to know why im going, which in todays case is working on strike of irons, it will be focused on pre shot routine and self assement per shot outcome, i wont just stand there and smash balls for the fun of it though, 15 wedges to 25, 50 & 75 yards, then will start working on complete set up for dispersion and quality of strike, will mainly use 8i, 6i, 4i, and if its successfull would leave around at around 100 balls in total, but i would expect this to take 90-120 mins to complete.
 
Im terrible at going to the range and firing through 100 balls, much better at short game/putting practice though. Unless my pro has given something for me to work on i just lose concentration, something i need to work on this year.
 
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