Driving Range/course gap

[Paul77]

Been to the range probably way too much because my course seems to have it's own little rain forrest climate. It's like a swamp just now. There was a little break on Sunday night, and my good lady asked if I wanted to go a wee 9 holes. She must have seen that I was getting twitchy. She tagged along for the moral support.

In the last week the range sessions have been great. I can't seem to do no wrong. Actually hitting greens on the range for fun consistently. Just absolutely creaming 7 iron for fun. All the good stuff. However, one particular par 3 on my course (2nd hole). 164 yard downhill, really long grass on the right and OOB on the left with trees. Using the same 7 iron I seem to produce this lovely thin bullet on the tee everytime lol. Doesn't help with the sunset bang in your face either, but that's golf. I've only ever greened it once with the 7 iron and it was the first time I played the course and long before any lessons.

• I just wonder how much of this range work is actually helping?
• Why would there be such a difference in shots with the same club?
• Anyone else get this crazy behaviour?

I can flush any of my irons at the range. Of course I get the odd lazy shot or shank, but usually it's boring penetrating shots out to the middle green. It's not like I'm just punting it out into the wide area either. I'm actually picking the middle green as a target. Could well be psychological due to the OOB and long grass, but surely the strike should be well engrained by now?

One of those daunting shots. The 17th hole is almost exactly the same shot, except with 8 iron and I do the same on that hole too. Picture of the 17th below.

 

[patricks148]

a driving range is vastly different from a course, mats, catch it slightly fat still goes almost the same distance. Not to mention you always have a good flat lie and lining up is easier.

Big wide space with no rough, you can't lose a ball and it doesn't matter if you hit a bad one.....

Range is for working on swing changes or grooving something.

 

[Foliage Finder]

All too familiar for me this story! Take last week for example.

Range: 4 iron off the deck arrow straight 60-70% of the time. Driver, little cut/push but nothing drastic. Wedges within 15 yards majority of the time.

Course: Lost a dozen balls. A WHOLE DOZEN. For me the issue is off the tee. Nerves set in, I get tense and try to hit it too hard. Result is either a thin bullet, slice or hook. Often a slice, over-corrected to a hook with the provisional. Getting better now at just relaxing and focusing on tempo and smooth movement, but it's hard to do!

You're not alone!

That being said though, I think range work is important in order to make sure the basic swing you have is good. Then, when you do relax and don't focus on the mechanics on the course, rather your tempo, feel etc, the basic swing is still grooved and there in your muscle memory.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

If I was the OP I'd be taking a six iron and hitting it easier into that second hole

 

[Paul77]

I'm a kind of lighthearted fellow so I don't get too caught up with it all. What will come will come with practice. I just wish I could get on the course more. It was ok for a spell there. Shooting in the 80's with nice weather but for weeks now it's just been torrential rain.

If I could get more course time, I'd never be at the range. I think the two are different entities. Most of our tee boxes are uneven. Ball slightly below feet, or yor feet aren't even level. Stuff like that you can't practice at the range.

 

[Region3]

No consequence for a bad shot at the range.

If you decided the next time you went to the range that every time you hit a bad shot you would throw a brand new ball over the nearest fence/hedge, I bet your range game would be closer to the course game.

Maybe that's a bit extreme, but you get the idea.

 

[User 105]

The difference is usually mainly down to pressure.

On the range there's nothing to loose, so you swing smooth because if you miss-hit, you just re-load. No harm done.

On the course, there is pressure involved. Whether you consciously think so or not. It just adds that little bit of tightness in the swing which causes the bad shots.

What you can do is play games on the range to add a bit of pressure. Not just hit 1 shot to 1 target. Pick a 5-6 targets and decide how close to each you must get. Then in turn try to do it and you have to start again if you miss one target.

 

[Canary_Yellow]

I'm a kind of lighthearted fellow so I don't get too caught up with it all. What will come will come with practice. I just wish I could get on the course more. It was ok for a spell there. Shooting in the 80's with nice weather but for weeks now it's just been torrential rain.

If I could get more course time, I'd never be at the range. I think the two are different entities. Most of our tee boxes are uneven. Ball slightly below feet, or yor feet aren't even level. Stuff like that you can't practice at the range.

You seem to be saying the opposite in this post to you say in your original post?

In any case, this one is correct. Range and course are psychologically different and the conditions are somewhat different, however, a good swing on the range and a good swing on the course will have equally good outcomes, it's just a matter of being able to do it on the course without thinking about it.

 

[Paul77]

More likely due to the conditions of the hole and the hazards involved. I really don't like the sun in my face when I'm hitting. At that time of night, the sun is setting and just bursting my chops on hole 2, 5, 7, 10 where funnily enough I don't play very well off the tee. All other holes with the sun at my back I can usually do a lot better off the tee.

Anyone got any tips for playing into bright sunlight? I could wear sunglasses, or a cap I guess. I do neither.

 

[patricks148]

More likely due to the conditions of the hole and the hazards involved. I really don't like the sun in my face when I'm hitting. At that time of night, the sun is setting and just bursting my chops on hole 2, 5, 7, 10 where funnily enough I don't play very well off the tee. All other holes with the sun at my back I can usually do a lot better off the tee.

Anyone got any tips for playing into bright sunlight? I could wear sunglasses, or a cap I guess. I do neither.

or keep your head down and don't look up when hitting it

 

[duncan mackie]

No consequence for a bad shot at the range.

If you decided the next time you went to the range that every time you hit a bad shot you would throw a brand new ball over the nearest fence/hedge, I bet your range game would be closer to the course game.

Maybe that's a bit extreme, but you get the idea.

it's not extreme at all - if you want an in your face example of extreme just watch Paul Dunne in the last round of the Open. In fact just watch one shot - his approach to 18...

everyone has a price; absolutely no exceptions (Langer maybe ) it's just a matter of finding it. When that's on the line even basic honed function fails.

Paul - you need to listen for the sound of your ball hitting the green at this par 3; you should make a conscious effort not to see it's flight or where it lands. Look to see how close to the flag you are after you here it land. If you here nothing, or just the moans from the guy you hit on the next tee 60yds left, just get out another ball and do it again (after apologising if necessary of course).

 

[Paul77]

it's not extreme at all - if you want an in your face example of extreme just watch Paul Dunne in the last round of the Open. In fact just watch one shot - his approach to 18...

everyone has a price; absolutely no exceptions (Langer maybe ) it's just a matter of finding it. When that's on the line even basic honed function fails.

Paul - you need to listen for the sound of your ball hitting the green at this par 3; you should make a conscious effort not to see it's flight or where it lands. Look to see how close to the flag you are after you here it land. If you here nothing, or just the moans from the guy you hit on the next tee 60yds left, just get out another ball and do it again (after apologising if necessary of course).

Aw I felt for that lad when that bork shouted at him pre shot. Then pumps it into the back rough on 18 in front of hundreds of folk. I'd have been weak at the knees on a shot like that. He recovered really well out that rough to be fair. There should be a sniper on the roofs at events. Anyone shouting stupid stuff like Mashed Potato should be put down.

I'll nail that par 3. It's my nemesis hole. I won't give up.

 

[User 105]

it's not extreme at all - if you want an in your face example of extreme just watch Paul Dunne in the last round of the Open. In fact just watch one shot - his approach to 18...

Or his first wedge at No 1 !! He hit it so fat it didn't even make the water.

Or the three drives he hit at, I think, at the 5th hole. Luckily found the first one.

 

[TheCaddie]

Range work is always good by mixing it up. Driver, long iron, short iron, wedge. All with a target in mind.

If you shank the drive, then try and pick an iron and aim to the right, or to the left of where the imaginary hole is to get back on track.

It's far too easy to keep reloading and coming away thinking you've done well. But 70% of straight drives out of a 100 balls, hitting one after another, isn't transferable to the course really.Especially when you will only use a driver 10-15 times a round, with a fast majority of shots in between each usage.

 

[shortstuff]

On our course you can hardly ever play a classic 'range' shot with your irons because the ball is always above or below your feet. In fact it's almost pointless practising irons. The only thing you can perfect on the range for us is driving and pitching. So the best way to bridge the gap between the range and the course is playing 9 holes on your own; 2 balls experimenting a bit with different shots etc.

 

[Paul77]

On our course you can hardly ever play a classic 'range' shot with your irons because the ball is always above or below your feet. In fact it's almost pointless practising irons. The only thing you can perfect on the range for us is driving and pitching. So the best way to bridge the gap between the range and the course is playing 9 holes on your own; 2 balls experimenting a bit with different shots etc.

I don't think that I'll be going to the range much now. Went out for 9 holes tonight. I usually consolodated any range time with a 9 holes in the evening. Of late I haven't been able to do that. I guess the lack of course time felt odd tonight. Still shot 9 over for 9 holes but it was scrapy and lucky. I wasn't happy with it. Not flowing like I used to be just a month ago.

Typical like you say, ball always uneven at feet no matter where you go. Gives a sense of being uncomfortable at address. No more range for me.

 

[el marko]

In all honesty if you are a club member i cannot see any reason why you would choose going to the range than going for 9 holes. Especially in the summer. Yesterday was the first time this season i've been to the range just because my last round my irons were dreadful and i wanted to try out my new SLDR.

Even the worst players can be cream shot after shot at the range, i hear so many players moaning about how good they are at the range compared to at the course. The difference is you don't get 30 practice shots before your approach into each green.

My advice would be to keep range sessions to an absolute minimum in the summer and try and get 9 holes in as often as you can.

 

[Paul77]

In all honesty if you are a club member i cannot see any reason why you would choose going to the range than going for 9 holes. Especially in the summer. Yesterday was the first time this season i've been to the range just because my last round my irons were dreadful and i wanted to try out my new SLDR.

Even the worst players can be cream shot after shot at the range, i hear so many players moaning about how good they are at the range compared to at the course. The difference is you don't get 30 practice shots before your approach into each green.

My advice would be to keep range sessions to an absolute minimum in the summer and try and get 9 holes in as often as you can.

Sound advice thanks.

no excuses really. I live 3 mins drive from my course and its never full. It's just been raining here a lot recently. To give an example of how bad it's been here's a shot looking down the par 5 6th hole. As you can see water hazzards a plenty.


My golf course by paul stewart, on Flickr

 

[el marko]

Sound advice thanks.

no excuses really. I live 3 mins drive from my course and its never full. It's just been raining here a lot recently. To give an example of how bad it's been here's a shot looking down the par 5 6th hole. As you can see water hazzards a plenty.

My golf course by paul stewart, on Flickr

Where are you based Paul? I am totally shocked that in July, your course is waterlogged. The courses round here are crying out for water.

 

[duncan mackie]

So that's where all the waters going then...will probably regret this but it's really really dry down here!