Down_The_Middle
Head Pro
On the range I hit the ball well,have good rythem and tempo but, when I get on the course it all goes pear shaped. Any ideas or thoughts on how to take it from the range to the course
From range to course
- Thread starter Down_The_Middle
- Start date
MVP
Journeyman Pro
Are you more relaxed at the range because you know your not playing to keep a score? i used to feel like i swung the club different on the course. i thought i was better on course. but now i know my swing and its the same both places.
geronimo
Head Pro
i suppose you also have a perfectly level stance every time on the range but on the course the stance wont be as good and the ball can be above/below your feet and not in as good a Lie.
Then you have the mental factor that mvp said
Then you have the mental factor that mvp said
B
birdieman
Guest
Next time you're at the range do not repetitively hit the same club over and over...instead hit the clubs you would hit on your own course in order to reach the green in the correct sequence i.e.
Driver, 4 iron
Driver 5 iron, sw,
3 wood, 9 iron etc etc.
Take time between each shot and work hard at developing a preshot routine that focuses on a specific target for each shot (not just a target line) and good breathing technique.
This way you will simulate your course conditions much better.
I think your problem lies with a bit of natural anxiety/excitement/tension that you just dont get at the range that is causing you to speed up too much. You have to learn to relax on the course. You will get over this with a combination of having a very solid pre-shot routine that forces you to slow down and focus just on the target and not the rough/bunkers/water etc.
This combined with plain old experience (the more you play competitively the better) will get you hitting it better on the course.
Driver, 4 iron
Driver 5 iron, sw,
3 wood, 9 iron etc etc.
Take time between each shot and work hard at developing a preshot routine that focuses on a specific target for each shot (not just a target line) and good breathing technique.
This way you will simulate your course conditions much better.
I think your problem lies with a bit of natural anxiety/excitement/tension that you just dont get at the range that is causing you to speed up too much. You have to learn to relax on the course. You will get over this with a combination of having a very solid pre-shot routine that forces you to slow down and focus just on the target and not the rough/bunkers/water etc.
This combined with plain old experience (the more you play competitively the better) will get you hitting it better on the course.
Gasp
Head Pro
I think one of the reasons we have better tempo on the range is the continual practise with one club. What I try to do, and I've had a modicum of success, is to imagine I'm playing my home course. Set peramiters for the fairway and hit your drive. If you miss "the fairway" practise a chip out, if not then hit what you would take as your second to the green. Then play the 2nd hole etc, etc.... This way you are continually using different clubs and not just grooving with the one. I practise this drill after I've worked on specific areas of my game as a fun way to finish. If you're at the range with a friend it makes for great compotition as well
Down_The_Middle
Head Pro
Birdieman,Gasp they sounds like good ideas, might have to give it a try
RGuk
Tour Winner
I've been giving some thought to this today.
Some of you will remember that I do a lot of coaching/tuition as part of my job (not golf)....so I know a little about theories of how to take your practice into the performance arena. If you don't agree with my comments, please ignore them or consider them n/a to golf.
1. Birdieman is exactly right about about one's natural rhythm to get messed up out on the course. Until you can relax (and not feel under any pressure) it's nigh on impossible to recreate what you are able to do in practice.
The standard response to this would be to practice endlessly until you cannot fail to get it right at the moment that counts. BUT, as most folks will know, this isn't the end of the story. When you play golf, you are dealing with 18 different holes requiring 18-50? different shots, it's not the same as potting all the colours in snooker, when if you get the right position for the yellow ball, it's the same as you've done 1000s hours on the practice table. It's what makes golf so addictive. Conversely, when you play a course you know, there is an element of "been there, done it before" which makes parring certain holes easier and easier. Going back to the other way of looking at it, you can practice your return in tennis for ever, but as soon as you have to return a serve you haven't had to deal with in practice, you are in trouble. The only answer is not only talent and practice but also EXPERIENCE, the ability of your brain to control your actions when you are being bombarded with constant variables is only acquired through experience.
2. Confidence vs. "couldn't care less".
When I step onto the course, if I've been hitting the ball well previously, I feel positive about what I'm going to achieve and often do extremely well. I've parred the front 9 or been a few under after the initial "warm-up holes". But this confidence is very fragile, we've all seen the "pride before a fall" victim, every time out, probably.
For me, with golf, this is easily lost (the confidence) and this can then throw a lot of the round into a spiral of trying but failing, hence the expression to "stop the bleeding" - your game isn't repaired, but you need to find an even keel. All this in amateur/fun golf?....hard to believe, but it's there in miniature for sure. For some folk, the confidence (or arrogance) pulls them through to the end come what may. This is what I need to do in my professional role. I admire golfers who can keep their head up, it's not an easy skill to learn.
The opposite is not caring that much and playing well because of a couldn't care less attitude. We all know this one, turn up for a game with no expectation, play some solid holes and then suddenly it all clicks. Most people can experience some of both these presumably opposite emotions during a round. Another reason why we keep coming back. What I do theorise though is that you will do your best when you are in a zone for either.
So what does this all say? You can ingrain your swing to ultimate reliability (for you standard) on the range, but there is so much going on when playing a real game with each shot counting that actually few of us stand any chance of doing our best. The good news though is that the chances of doing well/recreating the best swing we have increases dramatically with experience. The lottery aspect of hitting a golf ball has an exponential curve that improves with experience and hours spent working. How often do we (even on here!) come across folks who feel they are close to cracking it or taking a load of strokes off their handicap.
It's what keeps us all going.....I'm just glad 5 years off has made me more philosophical.
Dave
Some of you will remember that I do a lot of coaching/tuition as part of my job (not golf)....so I know a little about theories of how to take your practice into the performance arena. If you don't agree with my comments, please ignore them or consider them n/a to golf.
1. Birdieman is exactly right about about one's natural rhythm to get messed up out on the course. Until you can relax (and not feel under any pressure) it's nigh on impossible to recreate what you are able to do in practice.
The standard response to this would be to practice endlessly until you cannot fail to get it right at the moment that counts. BUT, as most folks will know, this isn't the end of the story. When you play golf, you are dealing with 18 different holes requiring 18-50? different shots, it's not the same as potting all the colours in snooker, when if you get the right position for the yellow ball, it's the same as you've done 1000s hours on the practice table. It's what makes golf so addictive. Conversely, when you play a course you know, there is an element of "been there, done it before" which makes parring certain holes easier and easier. Going back to the other way of looking at it, you can practice your return in tennis for ever, but as soon as you have to return a serve you haven't had to deal with in practice, you are in trouble. The only answer is not only talent and practice but also EXPERIENCE, the ability of your brain to control your actions when you are being bombarded with constant variables is only acquired through experience.
2. Confidence vs. "couldn't care less".
When I step onto the course, if I've been hitting the ball well previously, I feel positive about what I'm going to achieve and often do extremely well. I've parred the front 9 or been a few under after the initial "warm-up holes". But this confidence is very fragile, we've all seen the "pride before a fall" victim, every time out, probably.
For me, with golf, this is easily lost (the confidence) and this can then throw a lot of the round into a spiral of trying but failing, hence the expression to "stop the bleeding" - your game isn't repaired, but you need to find an even keel. All this in amateur/fun golf?....hard to believe, but it's there in miniature for sure. For some folk, the confidence (or arrogance) pulls them through to the end come what may. This is what I need to do in my professional role. I admire golfers who can keep their head up, it's not an easy skill to learn.
The opposite is not caring that much and playing well because of a couldn't care less attitude. We all know this one, turn up for a game with no expectation, play some solid holes and then suddenly it all clicks. Most people can experience some of both these presumably opposite emotions during a round. Another reason why we keep coming back. What I do theorise though is that you will do your best when you are in a zone for either.
So what does this all say? You can ingrain your swing to ultimate reliability (for you standard) on the range, but there is so much going on when playing a real game with each shot counting that actually few of us stand any chance of doing our best. The good news though is that the chances of doing well/recreating the best swing we have increases dramatically with experience. The lottery aspect of hitting a golf ball has an exponential curve that improves with experience and hours spent working. How often do we (even on here!) come across folks who feel they are close to cracking it or taking a load of strokes off their handicap.
It's what keeps us all going.....I'm just glad 5 years off has made me more philosophical.
Dave
RGuk
Tour Winner
As I've killed this thread....
try this for a bit of entertainment
http://youtube.com/watch?v=ubAxWIfcE5I&feature=related
Dave
try this for a bit of entertainment
http://youtube.com/watch?v=ubAxWIfcE5I&feature=related
Dave
John_Findlay
Tour Winner
You didn't kill the thread, Dave. It's probably just one of the best, most sensible posts ever made. I couldn't argue with any of it. Damn. Next time.
RGuk
Tour Winner
Ta, J_F. Shall I slip a voucher in for the Augusta National in your christmas card?...now.....where were they?
Can you imagine!!
just how good would that be!!!
Dave
Can you imagine!!
just how good would that be!!!
Dave
HomerJSimpson
Hall of Famer
Totally agree with everything you said Dave (why did that feel so wrong typing that - only kidding !!!)
In my own experience I tend to get into a groove on the range - clear mind just focussing on the things I want to work on etc but when I get onto the course there is a tendancy to over complicate. I try to think of how I was hitting i almost looking to feel the range shots instead of standing there and trusting the swing. Guess you could say I over think when I'm on the course.
Dave said it much better though
In my own experience I tend to get into a groove on the range - clear mind just focussing on the things I want to work on etc but when I get onto the course there is a tendancy to over complicate. I try to think of how I was hitting i almost looking to feel the range shots instead of standing there and trusting the swing. Guess you could say I over think when I'm on the course.
Dave said it much better though
