Driving Ranges - Are they really worth it?

[One Planer]

Simple question to gauge peoples thoughts.

Are driving ranges a help or a hinderence?

I joined a local ranges loyalty card scheme when I took lessons so that I could work through the drills my pro prescribed during my lessons.

Now that I've finished the course and plan on playing this year out before having another batch over the winter, I'm struggling to see the point of going to the range to be honest.

The only reason I tend to go now of a Tuesday lunch break is to, basically, hit a few balls to keep my swing ticking over. As it stands with home life at the minute, I get to play both Saturdays and Sundays, but then not again until the following Thursday so a bucket of balls on a Tuesday lunch fills the gap nicely.

However,

I feel the time spent there is a waste. I'm just hitting balls and not working on anything specific. Then of course comes the tendancy to hit the ball too hard, which then has a negative effect on the rest of your swing

To this end, I'm considering dropping the range and just playing the 3 days I currently get chance to. I'll go back to the range over the winter, when twilight golf isn't an option and work on the drills prescribed in my lessons.


What are your views on driving ranges? Help or hinderence?

 

[tsped83]

As it stands with home life at the minute, I get to play both Saturdays and Sundays, but then not again until the following Thursday so a bucket of balls on a Tuesday lunch fills the gap nicely.

Think yourself lucky you get to play that much Gareth! At best I get down once a week at the moment!

With regards to the range, I agree. I've not been back to the range for at least 3-4 months now I'm a member of a club. When I used to go to the range it was blast away with Driver, irons but no real target in mind. A waste of time really. I'd much rather spend an hour on the putting green at the club, 3 putting from 6ft......

 

[GreiginFife]

Dont use the range myself. Dud balls and garbage distances a good practice does not make.
Tend to use one of our 9 hole loops when its quiet to practice hitting in to proper greens, out of bunkers etc. Or the practice ground with decent balls and distance markers that are what they say.

 

[Piece]

Lucky man to play that much golf! I get to play once a month, sometime two.

For me, as a non-member, the range is the only place I can practice on a regular basis and get my 'fix'. I also use the time there wisely and take each ball seriously, just like a normal shot. Its far too easy to just bash ball after ball without any due care or consideration to what you are doing and what you want to achieve.

In answer, it can be help but also a hinderance.

 

[Foxholer]

They need to be used in the right way and it seems you are not doing so. Though I wouldn't be surprised if your 'ticking over' visits are actually doing some good - whether it's good value depends on you.

 

[GB72]

I have not been to a range in a year or more except for lessons. I hate hitting off mats so if I do need to practice I use the grass area at the club. It does not help that the range near me is pretty awful and I am not going to travel more than 10 minutes or so to hit a bucket of balls. During the summer I would rather head out and play 9 holes and I will be honest and say that in the Winter I hardly bother.

If there were a decent range near me with good ball and mats, good targets, accurate measurements etc then I may be more tempted to use it but I am not going to waste my time stood in a draughty tin shack hitting balls that are rock hard and worn to smooth off a piece of mat that would not look out of place in a greengrocers.

 

[One Planer]

They need to be used in the right way and it seems you are not doing so. Though I wouldn't be surprised if your 'ticking over' visits are actually doing some good - whether it's good value depends on you.

It's like I say Foxy, I use it as a tick over, but I do actually feel I'm doing more harm than good.

Main reason is the speed I play shots. With it being my lunch break, I know time is limited and I suppose I tend to rush a little.

I feel I learn more playing the course and trying things on the practice area.

 

[CMAC]

in winter its useful
in Summer go to the course.....even a couple of holes with focus is better than 100 range balls fired out as quickly with no real intent

 

[Foxholer]

It's like I say Foxy, I use it as a tick over, but I do actually feel I'm doing more harm than good.

Main reason is the speed I play shots. With it being my lunch break, I know time is limited and I suppose I tend to rush a little.

I feel I learn more playing the course and trying things on the practice area.

If you are feeling rushed, then it's definitely wrong. I've never been a fan of lunchtime practice.

Stop it for a fortnight and see if there's any change.

 

[ger147]

The range is very useful if you're working on setup changes, especially the basics like grip, posture, allignment etc.

Hitting a bucket of balls with various clubs to bed in these changes is the most practical way for me to do this sort of work but it's definitely not of much use to me to get better at ball striking. I can go to the range and hit the ball quite nicely off the mat and then hit the course and thin some and chunk others. It's impossible to chunk them at the range and as a consequence thinned shots are few and far between.

 

[GreiginFife]

The range is very useful if you're working on setup changes, especially the basics like grip, posture, allignment etc.

Hitting a bucket of balls with various clubs to bed in these changes is the most practical way for me to do this sort of work but it's definitely not of much use to me to get better at ball striking. I can go to the range and hit the ball quite nicely off the mat and then hit the course and thin some and chunk others. It's impossible to chunk them at the range and as a consequence thinned shots are few and far between.

None of the above cannot be done at the practice ground, playing off grass - with decent balls and to targets that are the distance they say they are [not speaking for all clubs].
Combination of mats, poor balls and wrong distances make them a pointless excercise (and an additional cost) in my view.

 

[One Planer]

If you are feeling rushed, then it's definitely wrong. I've never been a fan of lunchtime practice.

Stop it for a fortnight and see if there's any change.

Funny you should say that!

I hadn't been for 2 weeks, before today, and had been playing pretty well. I suppose that answers, at least, my question.

 

[shewy]

the range is much closer than my course so more practacable,£3 for 85 balls not going to break the bank either, decent balls and matts, I acatually enjoy getting out for an hour and work on a few things,I don't just bash balls.
Sometimes I play my course in my head as well,it keeps it exciting.
So it serves a purpose.
The only time I practice at my club is putting and practice bunker as they only have nets.

 

[ger147]

None of the above cannot be done at the practice ground, playing off grass - with decent balls and to targets that are the distance they say they are [not speaking for all clubs].
Combination of mats, poor balls and wrong distances make them a pointless exercise (and an additional cost) in my view.

That depends on the practice ground. As an example, there are no yardages on the practice ground at my club so everything needs to be paced out. And if what I'm doing is bedding it a grip change coupled with a more upright posture and trying to release the club more through impact (what I'm working on at the moment), it's more convenient for me to do so without having to pick up the balls afterwards and I can also do so in poor weather and stay dry.

But as I'm lucky enough to have a practice area (an old discarded hole with a green at the far end), I go there to work on approach shots to the green, pitches to the green and chips around the green. Short game practice in particular is pointless off a mat at a driving range.

 

[patricks148]

Can't even remeber tha last time i hit balls at a range except when i got my irons.

If i'm going to practice i go to Nairn Dunbars practice ground that anyone can use and you take your own balls.

 

[Scrindle]

Not being a very good player, aside from lessons I have had at the range I have often wondered whether it is worth hitting balls there at all for a couple of reasons. Be interested to see what you experienced people think to be honest...

1. The balls are heavier than your typical golf ball I presume (swear they don't go as far) so the extra weight might mask problems with your swing that would be exagerated by a 'proper' ball? (slices for example perhaps?);
2. I'm not really aiming for anything - just hitting balls and watching them go up and come down. Yes I might be able to see that they're going straight, but see point 1 in that regard;
3. The distance markers might be off; and
4. You don't hit 100s of balls one after the other when playing golf. Surely that has to affect your swing after a while from a fatigue perspective whether you feel it or not? Can't say hitting golf balls ever makes me feel tired, but I'd be surprised if there wasn't a depreciation in swing quality after 30 minutes of constant striking...

As a newbie, I'd be interested in peoples' thoughts.

 

[mykweb]

I have a loyalty card for my local range. I make a point of topping it up £25 every 2 month or so. I do find the range useful for allowing me to work on drills and practice routines. Doing this on the course can only be done late at night when its dead. I pick targets and aim for them, the same with my driver. I pick 2 targets and that is my fairway I am aiming for.

I also use the range prior to competitions. I go up and get 20 balls, Go through my pre shot routine, warm up and get focused on the game. My local course has a practice net but this is not ideal.

During the winter I make a point of going twice a week and hit 50 balls a time. Mainly to keep my game in check and also getting out can be challenging.

I do see people sometimes getting 100 balls an wacking them one after another. This is unproductive and I was a victim of this a few years ago. I now manage my time at the Range hit the balls like I would if I was playing my course. So first hole is a driver and 7 iron for me. Second hole is a driver and 2 pw's.

 

[Jack_bfc]

I generally get 30 balls and treat every ball like im playing the course.
Using grass and my own tee's

Use it for alignment and grip and swing path practice.

Aim between posts/markers etc. Dont worry too much about judging length off certain clubs knowing my golf balls should fly and roll out further on the course.

We arn't all members with unlimited green fees where we can go and play when we want so quality range time is important.

Anyone I,m off to the range on the way home..

 

[Pin-seeker]

Total waste of time for me,I'd rather go on playing field close to my house with a few practice balls. Only time I go to the range now is with my young son.

 

[lyden]

Ive not been for a while but when i do ill hit maybe 30 balls with my longer clubs, just because i dont wanna go and pick them up at my courses grass practice area. Without lessons and a clear plan to work through it probably is pointless.