hitting balls on the range/practice ground, how do you do yours?

[patricks148]

I don't tend to hit balls very often, i don't enjoy it or feel i get anything out of it. i just end up just blasting for the sake of it when i do.

Played with a couple of low guys i know in a Texas scramble yesterday and both were surprised i don't ever hit balls.

one said i should embrace hitting balls and that my handicap should be lower and will be if i start practicing more.

maybe its time to make a push the this season and try and go low handicap wise.

So what sort of practice do you do and how many how often do you hit balls?

this is mainly aimed at cat1 and lower guys.

 

[ManinBlack]

I have clung on to my single figure handicap into my 70s by visiting the range 2 to four times a week (fortunately I live only 5 minutes away). Half of my practice consists of distance control with a pitching wedge. There's a target about 80 yards away & I can now land a lot of shots within a few yards of the flag. I then use half the rest hitting a 6 iron at the 140 yard target, concentrating on every shot & lining each one up properly. The last few with the driver are my reward for diligent practice, although each one gets 100 % concentration. It's the wedge work, however, that has paid dividends, this used to be my weakness.

 

[gmhubble]

I hit three times a week at the range - one session woods, one session irons, one session wedges - 40 balls 60 balls 60 balls

 

[jpxpro]

I go 3 or 4 times a week, usually alternate between odd and even clubs, start low 10 balls with each club all at a specific target of varied distances, then use the remaining balls to play a few random holes from my club, e.g. I hit driver then depending how it finishes I choose a club I think will get me on the green, if I miss target I grab a wedge and play a chip as tho its from edge of green.

practise contrary to be believe doesnt make perfect but do it with a purpose and it will certainly make you better.

 

[Deleted member 15717]

I'm the same as you...I go to the range regularly, but I need to be more productive with my practice.
I'm going to make a concious effort to practice a bit after rounds of golf too where I can. Whether that be short game, or long game. Every little helps

 

[fundy]

try and hit balls 2 or 3 times a week

usual session will be half and hour maybe a bit more on the shortgame green, will hit from 30,50,70,90 yards then back in 80,60,40,20 with 5 or 10 balls from each. then do some shorter stuff round the edge.

Long game after that will be 10-15 balls with a mid iron. then hit another 10 with a hybrid and 10-15 more with the driver. will then hit maybe 10 more hitting 3/4 wedges (usually hit most with alignment sticks down). If im not working on anything specific then i may play a virtual round rather than hitting multiple shots with one club and vary the targets a lot so i have to work on my alignment too

After that 10 mins max on the putting green, anymore and my back starts to protest!

 

[pokerjoke]

If I ever go to the driving range it will only be to test a new driver I have bought however I practice on our grass range twice a week and have done all winter.

I have 30 odd balls in my bag and will hit them 5 or 6 times with everything from an 6 to a 58 degree wedge usually I'm there for a couple of hours.

If I go up to the green I will chip and putt for 2 hours hitting hundred of shots and it really has brought my short game on a lot.
I will try low shots high shots spinney shots good lies bad lies etc basically changing it up all the time to keep it interesting.

The last 2 times I have spent 30 minutes putting because I found my lower half moving during the stroke,lately my putting especially short ones has been a lot more solid.
I really do like practising as well which helps Cat1 this year is my aim.

 

[Imurg]

Last couple of weeks I've been going twice a week as I feel my game is as rusty as an old bike that's been in the canal for 10 years..!!
I don't really enjoy it though.
Start with a wedge, move through to the driver, hitting odd number clubs and then come back down hitting the evens.
With what's left I'll play a few imaginary holes...

 

[Break90]

since the turn of the year I've hit the practice ground 2 or 3 times a week, in cold, wind, snow and all sorts. Not keen on the range though during winter, mats and range balls don't really do it for me.

I'm trying to bed in some pretty drastic swing changes having started a course of lessons in january.

There's about 60-70 balls in the bag, so I'll either hit wedges to the 100yd marker, concentrating purely on the strike, or 6 irons to the 150 marker. Sometimes 30 balls to each, sometimes one or the other.

Takes about an hour if I make sure to pause in between balls and ensure my alignment etc is good each time.

Have noticed my wedge play on course is getting better, I'm confident of hitting greens from 100 yds and in, and leaving it within 1 putt range most of the time.

Need to spend a bit more time on the putting green and the chipping area, but I'm actually enjoying practicing for the first time ever. Started the year at 10.3, currently at 8.9, looking to get down to 7.4 this year.

 

[srixon 1]

Get your short game up to speed by practicing the tough shots. Try chipping from thick rough to see what you need to do to get the ball out with a little bit of control. Likewise in bunkers. Practice the plugged lies or the downhill lies.

 

[Parsaregood]

I don't tend to hit balls very often, i don't enjoy it or feel i get anything out of it. i just end up just blasting for the sake of it when i do.

Played with a couple of low guys i know in a Texas scramble yesterday and both were surprised i don't ever hit balls.

one said i should embrace hitting balls and that my handicap should be lower and will be if i start practicing more.

maybe its time to make a push the this season and try and go low handicap wise.

So what sort of practice do you do and how many how often do you hit balls?

this is mainly aimed at cat1 and lower guys.

I play off 2 at the moment and I probably visit the range twice a week on average however I personally know quite a few players who range from +2 to 4 handicap that play twice a week and don't practice. It really depends on the player, most cat1 players would be better served chipping and putting for an hour every night, I personally find hitting the ball pretty easy and can do what I want with it and that's why I enjoy hitting balls but could quite easily not hit a ball for 3 or 4 weeks and ball striking wouldn't be any different. What would be different is all the feel shots inside 50 yards for me this is the part that keeps your scoring sharp

 

[guest100718]

Get your short game up to speed by practicing the tough shots. Try chipping from thick rough to see what you need to do to get the ball out with a little bit of control. Likewise in bunkers. Practice the plugged lies or the downhill lies.

dont bother with that, just practice the shots you get most often.

 

[Parsaregood]

dont bother with that, just practice the shots you get most often.

Generally the shots you get most often you are good at, if you have a particular weakness or so so area work on that

 

[Bunkermagnet]

Only ever take 3 clubs to the range, a hybrid, 7 iron and 54* wedge. Once I have concentrated on swing mechanics it's short game time with different types of shots inc the hybrid.
Hate going to the range, but as long as I don't try too hard it's fine and beneficial

 

[Region3]

Sometimes I'll go to the range with the intention of working on something specific in my swing, but most of the time it's because I just enjoy hitting balls.

Usually I'll only take a mid iron and a wedge (which ones vary). The iron is for working on mechanics, or if I've just gone to have fun I'll try to shape the ball a specific amount or just see how much I can curve it, or hit half shots i.e. 120yd 6 irons. Basically (after I've hit a few normal shots to make sure the swing is there) just muck about trying the shots you'll hardly ever need on the course, but it's nice having the feeling of making the ball do what you want.

I have an SC200 which you can play a game with, and that's what I do with the wedge I've taken. It gives you 10 random distances to hit from 40-100 yards and gives you a score for each shot.
It's far better than it sounds and I can easily go through a basket of balls doing that and not get bored.

 

[Spear-Chucker]

I work on 20 min sessions to ensure I don't get bored but get something useful from the process. 50 balls typically - with 15 tee shots (driver and Crossover as they are my main clubs off the tee), half a dozen mid irons and the rest are wedges from 30 to 120 yds. Sometimes I'll use all the balls to just hit wedges trying for different flights and shapes and leave the longer clubs at home, very occasionally it might just be mainly a driver or long iron session to iron out a problem but that's rare.

Mix it up with no more than 3 shots with the same club and enjoy getting better. Use the range work to take to the course and when you're faced with a shot on the course you can think 'I've hit 000's of these just fine'.

Edit: Can't practice distance control enough; hard with crappy range balls but figure out the distance differential and work with it

 

[tsped83]

You all have too much time on your hands. Only go when their is a new toy that needs a try out....usually every week.

 

[guest100718]

Generally the shots you get most often you are good at, if you have a particular weakness or so so area work on that

Not true for the average golfer, spending what little time they have for practice on specialt bunker shots is a waste.

 

[kerber0s1983]

I generally have 60 balls at a time and work on and keep on an old scorecard

5 shots at each the following distances 50 High Shot, 50 Low, 100 yard, 150, 3 Wood/Hybrid and Driver

Once i have been through those as a warm-up i then have another 5 at each distance and score how many are within a couple of years of the target and use that to build pressure to keep a score as something to beat.

 

[lukeysafc100]

I don't like going to the range and hitting off the mats - but during the winter its the only choice. I tend to go once a week if I can.
I get half a bucket of balls - and I'm there for and hour or more. I tend not to hit/hit/hit - I always try to get a bay with a mirror so I can check my lines.

During the summer I like to devise a plan for practice - so at lease twice a week practice - on the field and greens. But when on the field I like to adjust where my aim is at - get an alignment stick and put it at different yardages - so you've got a target - so then it keeps my mind thinking.