Driving Range Nerves

[MashieNiblick]

Don't get nerves but sometimes I find I'm unable to block out all the noise and activity going on around and just can't focus and get settled. When that happens, If I've just started off I'll stop and take a few deep breaths and maybe even change bays and start again to see if I can get myself focussed. If I can't or if I've nearly done I'll just hit whatever I've got left pretty quickly (chips or with feet together or something like that) and go home. No point practising when you can't concentrate.

 

[Deke]

Cheers guys,I really appreciate all the feedback.Loads to try out during my next range session,happy days!

 

[stevelev]

I find the best thing for me is to have a quick stretch to loosen up properly, swing a couple of irons together nice and steady to stretch the arms a bit.

Then I would start with my SW hit 3 balls, up to 9I 3 balls, then hit 3 balls with every odd club through the bag. At this point I'm concentrating solely on form and contact with a full swing, full rotation and steady tempo, I only go at 70% so everything is controlled. And for every single shot on the range you full pre-shot routine.

The I play a round, even as far as to play the little chips, if I hit a bad shot, I have to play the recovery as I would on the course,(just no rough to contend with) I pick a differnt target or line for every shot.

Then out to the chipping area for half hour, 3 balls, one to a near flag, one a touch further then a far flag. I do this with a few club just to get used to the flight and run out for each club. Its good to build up more memory of what happens when you hit shots so you have sometihng to compare shot on course to.

Finally I'd finish with 15 mins putting but only 2 balls, any more and you get used to the putts and think your doing bettter than you would on the course.

I find it usually takes me 2 hours at the range to do this routine, and I'm still crap lol

 

[Toby_LeRhone]

I find that i quite like the noise when its busy. I also definately perform better when i perceive that people may be watching me (it makes me concentrate).

 

[Farneyman]

I dont like ranges as they are confined compared to the course.

But I still like hitting the ball there and need to spend more time practicing there.

 

[JustOne]

I usually warm up with a few cigarettes then when ready look at the back fence and wonder if I can thin a 7-iron that far

 

[Mark_G]

I cant stand being watched, however the chaps on here have given me some great advice regarding my settle down routine, this has really worked. My swing has improved because I am taking time to concentrate on what i am doing but also feel what I am doing correctly and what I am doing wrong. What I have also found is that by going through moves slowly I have more time to try different things and realise the effects of each change I make. Enjoy the range and the improvements when they come.

 

[Tiger]

Yo Deke. I have gone off the range massively recently. It's tough in the winter when the nights are dark but I see it like this. If I fat one on a mat I get away with it. After a while I start machine gunning no matter how hard I try. I have no clear indication if the shot I hit would have been ok on the course. All of these things impact on my range thinking. So I lose concentration and then I'll hit some real crap and my head will go even more and it disintegrates into a bit of a farce...

So now I need to make my practice as close a simulation to playing as possible. It helps me concentrate and hopefully will help your nerves. My first choice is to play whether its a few holes or full round. If I can't play I'll hit a grass practice hole we've got a great 160 yard one at ours. If that's not possible and I must go to the range I follow the advice already given on here. Warm up with wedge shots and then play the front/back nine of my course. Enjoy and don't be nervous.

 

[Deke]

Cheers Tiger.I am going to play 9 holes and hit 100 balls tomorrow so I will give the play the range like a hole idea some testing.I am really looking forward to it now actually,cheers for the input forum buddies!

 

[Region3]

I'm a shining example of what you get told not to do at the range.

Banging ball after ball with no apparent goal.

When I go to the range the only things I care about is if the ball travels towards my target (yes I do pick one, I don't understand how you can't, but I don't care if it's short or long) and the feeling off the club that I've struck it well.
I step away from the mat maybe every 5 or so balls.

I'll get through a bucket of 50 balls in about 20 minutes, although the last 10 or 20 are usually half shots at short targets because I'm bored.