How do you practice before a round?

[MikeH]

Morning all
as a fairly committed non-range goer (hitting 10 balls having a few putts and swing a couple of clubs is as much as I do) before a round, I'm interested to hear how everyone here practices before a serious round of golf i.e. comp or such like rather than a knockabout
I have done a poll below - can you select which best describes how you practice/warm up pre-round

 

[KeefG]

A small warm up basket for me and a bit of putting to get the measure of the greens and thats me.

I've had it in the past (in friendly games) where I used to hit 30 or 40 balls on the range and then practice chipping etc, then get onto the course and play terrible and start feeling fatigued before the end of the round.

No need to now!

 

[Whereditgo]

I try to get down at least 45 mins before my tee off time for a comp, too many years playing contact sports mean the shoulders and back take a while to free up nowadays.

Fortunately the driver doesn't come into play until the 5th, so I have usually warmed up enough to be able to slice it mightily into the trees by then

 

[Timberbonce]

10 mins on the practice green, then warm up/ stretch followed by a small basket on the range (going right through the bag), a couple more putts, then off to the tee for a final stretch.

 

[KeefG]

I dont even go a 1/4 through the bag, I'll hit 5 or so with the 7 and then 5 or so with the driver and thats me.

I dont want to know what clubs i've fallen out with before I get on the 1st tee

 

[Ste_Denial]

just next to the first tee is the range with a couple of bays for warming up, so i just knock a couple of ball down range with a few different clubs

 

[Tommo21]

It all depends on what I'm playing in, so no set routine.

 

[User 105]

Depends how late I got up

But if I'm running on time I'll probably hit a bucket of 50 balls on the range.

Usually something like

8 balls with a wedge full swing
8 balls with a 7i
8 balls with a 4i
8 balls with a 3w
8 balls with my driver
Use whatever I have left on 1/2 and 3/4 wedge shots.

If I haven't hit a particular club well I usually use a few more balls until I'm ok'ish. Or if I've nailed my first say 5 7i's sweet I'll move on.

At my standard of play I'm just looking to hit straight shots. I don't try to draw a few, fade a few, high flight, low flight etc etc. I'm just looking to keep things simple and repeatable.

I'll then go to the practice green and putt round the practice pins for about 5mins (different lengths, uphill, downhill, across slopes etc) then hit some short chips to different pin positions from differing lies until it's time to tee off.

I usually allow at least 30-45 mins to practice before I tee off.

 

[simplyme]

Most of my practise is put in during the week, so I get down the club about 90 mins before I am due to tee off. Depending if it's morning / afternoon tee time, I will have poached egg on toast with either a cuppa or a pint.

Then work my way over to the range, will do some stretching and then hit a few balls with my 6/7/8 iron and 10 balls with my driver. Then a few chips / putts for 10 minutes and off to the tee.

 

[brendy]

I have found that rushing onto the teebox with no stretches, swings or a warm cup of coffee on a Saturday morning are totally detrimental to my game.
Example, Saturday past I had time to hit a few wedges, practice putting green for 10 mins and a cup of something warm on the way round to the course. shot 78 which would have been better had there not been a torrential downfall for 10 mins that flooded the greens temporarily.
The week before I ran straight onto the tee late out of the house with no exercises or uppers (coffee!!) and started off with a 9 (par 4), was 9 over after 4 holes then started playing better to be 10 over after 14 and looking to make the bufferzone so it goes to show 20 mins exercise and swinging certainly takes away that feeling of having someone elses swing for the first few holes.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Get to the club about an hour and a quarter before my tee time. On the practice ground I'll get loose by stretching and swinging a couple of clubs (5 minutes) and then hit a few half shots with my wedges (5 minutes).

I'll them work through the bag so I might go 9 iron and then down in odd numbers just hitting a few with each until I get to the driver. I try not to hit for more than 20 minutes and definitely not looking to make any major swing fixes but just to get a good tempo and loose.

I'll nip into the practice bunker and hit a few to get the feel for the sand conditions and finish with some chips to get feel and the green speed and about 10 minutes putting. Again not looking to make every putt but to get a feel for speed. I'll always finish with a few one foot tap ins to leave seeing the ball going in.

I'll nip in and get my card and make sure I have enough tees and pencils etc take a comfort break and be on the tee about 10 minutes before my time to meet up with my partners.

In winter I'll make do with a few shots in the net as its usually too dark if I'm off early to hit too many although if there is any chance of loosening up on the practice ground I'll take it. I will still chip an putt even in winter though

 

[Toad]

I am with you on this one Mike, I just can't get into it at the range, I'm bored after a dozen balls and prefer to spend time playing.

Normally I turn up 30 mins before tee time grab a bacon roll, cup of tea and hit a couple of putts before I make a few swishes with the driver then tee off.

 

[USER1999]

I get there about an hour and a half early. I hate rushing, and can relax once I am there.

Most important bit, breakfast. Scrambled eggs, bacon, toast.
No caffeine, it gives me the shakes.

We have some indoor nets, so I will hit a few 6i and drivers in the nets until I am hitting it appallingly, and then stop. No point in walking out of there believeing I will play well, it only leads to disappointment.

I do some stretching first, by gently swinging a club around horizontally. If I don't do this my back and neck go spang, and I can't play.

I will then have a chip and putt session, to see if the shanks are there today, and whether the yips show any sign of coming back. There is no point in gauging the speed of the greens, as the practice putting green is like greased marble, and bears no relation to the greens out on the course except the colour.

After which I will watch some of my mates tee off, laugh at them extricating them selves from the woods, and generally stiffen up and get cold.

Finally I will step up onto the tee, peg up a ball, and rifle it dwon the middle of the fairway, and then rescue a double from 100 yards short of the green.

Classic medal start.

 

[Ken_A]

A few putts, a bit of a swing and away - I share a lift and the playing partner hates being too early.

If I am not sharing a lift - I take 10 mins putting, a few swings in the net and several exaggerated in to out swings.

I think I have just realised why my handicap has not dropped this year.

 

[DCB]

I'll generally have a bit of a stretch and a few putts before the off. I tend to hit a few wedges and chip & runs out the back gate before leaving home so I don't go through any real playing warm up at the course.

 

[julsk10]

I normally play shortly after 8 in the morning so try to get there 20/30 mins early and spend this time on the putting green. If I am playing in the afternoon will maybe practice chipping. I try to stay away from the practice range as I can be sure to hit 15/20 beautiful shots, then say to myself one more to finish which will no doubt result in a s***k and all confidence destroyed.

 

[Smiffy]

I'll normally get to the course about half an hour before I'm due to tee off. Pop into the bar and have a cup of coffee, then down to the pro shop to pick my card up.
To the boot of the car, unload my clubs, wander over to the first and load my pocket up with tees, my pitch mark repairer, ball that I'm playing with in my right hand pocket, the "frightener" in my left.
Roll a fag, couple of puffs, step on the tee, one (maybe two) practice swings and smack it up the jacksie.
Simples.

 

[mono217]

I hit balls with each club then the club im going to take off the first each week it varies as it is a par 3.

I putt for around 15 mins.

I stretch before anything though for about 25 mins ant tips or anything is welcome .

 

[julsk10]

.I stretch before anything though for about 25 mins

I didn't stretch for that long before I played football when I was your age Mono, maybe that's why I can hardly get down the stairs first thing in the morning now

 

[JustOne]

I do 5 minutes of leg stretches, knee bends, running on the spot...anything to get my legs woken up and the blood pumping.

I then hit 40 shots with my 5-wood, 10 soft, 10 medium, 20 full swings.

Finally 5 minutes putting to get the speed of the greens (fingers crossed the practice green is anywhere near the speed of the actual greens) and I'm good to go.

If there's nowhere to warm up I'll just have a ciggy instead and pray!!