I never learn!

[Evesdad]

After getting a Groupon deal for a 1000 balls for £11 I've been getting some practice sessions in. Anyhow after seeing some good improvements with ball striking and my driver I was quite happy. Got a round booked for this morning as hid is on strike, always a silver lining! So she suggests on Tuesday night I finish off my coupon as we weren't doing much, off I go with a smile on my face. Had a really good session hit ball well, everything going pretty much where I want it.

Play round this morning like I've never played the game before!!

Fats, thins, topps, hooks, slices everything!! Worst round I can remember, I was absolutely gutted. The only good thing was my putting nothing more than a two putt.

Once again I went to the course with high expectations for the golfing gods to utterly destroy and boy did they do a good job today!!

Anyway rant over just wanted to get that off my chest before I go and do it all again Saturday!!

 

[Phil2511]

Been there done that and most definitely got the t-shirt LOL, also done the opposite where i was on the range one night hitting like a spanner and next day played great golf, probably because i wasnt expecting very much.
I just put the bad golf after great range down to either over practice making my swing stiff and tired plus the range isnt like being out on the course at all, on the range you are hitting 1 ball after another and once you find your tempo you can easily maintain it.

At the range you stand on a level generally slightly hard mat that will give you a constant.
On the course you could have ball below your feet, above your feet, downhill lie, uphill lie, you could be standing on soft ground at this time of year and perhaps sink a bit as you swing.

Our range has automatic tees and i would have previously let the machine bring a new ball up each time and i hit them well, you get yourself into a good position and you can easily repeat the same thing over and over because you are not really altering too much.

Now when I go on our range I will keep the balls inside the basket and get the tee set for driver and switch the machine off. So now setting the basket of balls nearby i must go and get each new ball meaning i must set myself up from the beginning each time with every club.

Also when i am on the range I like to constantly alternate clubs because when you are on the course it could average about 10 minutes between each tee box so you hit a drive possibly wait for partners then walk to your ball and either wait before you hit or after you hit your second for your playing partners depending on whose closest and then again you stand about on the green to putt then stand about on the next tee again before or after your partners, even if you hit driver at most holes you have that 10 minutes between each drive and each second or 3rd shot will be with a different club depending on distance.

On my course i will only hit driver maximum of 15 times over 3 to 4 hours, on the range you can hit 15 balls in less than 10 minutes, plus on the range you can have as many retries as you like where as on the course you dont really have that luxury.
My pro advised me to try and practice more on the course though due to these factors and i have found it has helped alot.
I actually know 2 young lads both 20 years old and trying to become Professionals, they must play 36 holes in 1 day at the PGA nominated course and not be anymore than 15 over in the 36 holes to get accepted onto the training program, 1 practiced for hours on the range and was hitting the ball great and has failed 3 times now, the other guy played and practiced on the course, playing superskins for money with some of the other low hcap guys if he wasnt in a competition just to get that competitive feeling into his game and to make him concentrate more, now he failed his first due to nerves but passed the second time being 5 over the first 18 and level the 2nd 18.

Plus when you start doing 1 bad thing your natural reaction is to try and counteract it, so you could go from a fat shot to a thin thin shot or a hook to a slice by trying to alter what you did wrong the first time. It wouldnt be the first time that ive seen a lower handicapper pull a shot then drop a ball and push that one and drop a 3rd and hit it perfect.

Sorry for the long reply but having been there myself i know how it feels and this is what has helped me, though its hard trying to get out on course at this time of year to do any practice with less daylight, so possibly on the range try what i do and see if it helps.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

A range can be a benefit providing you are practicing smart. If you just go with no idea of what you are trying to achieve then better off buying the balls and chucking them out by hand. I usually reserve the range for a specific swing thought or practice drill I'm working on. I'm still trying to get in a beeter impact position and I spent a lot of time between shots rehearsing what I've been shown by my pro and then trying to match it into a full swing. It is coming. Slowly but we're getting towards where we need to be.

Of course get me on a course tomorrow and it'll be the same old, same old. It'll take time to become consistant. I also always take care with my address position on each shot and walk off the mat. I use to just hit ball after ball and so I try and treat shot one indiviually as I would on the course

 

[D_E_A_N]

@Phil

Our range has automatic tee's but instead of using the basket to avoid just needlessly striking balls without thought, why not just use the tee to your advantage still and just knock it off the tee onto the mat. That's what I do and just stand up straight, get my thoughts together and try create a good swing again.

 

[Phil2511]

That's what I used to do mate. I found it led to me being lazy and just pulling the ball off the tee to the matt using the club and me still remaining in pretty much the same position as the previous one. Now I am forced to move and then completely readdress every time and if I alternate targets it makes me try to hit each shot c

 

[Evesdad]

I must admit I had been doing alot of the above, with my driver I always step off and then set back up again. Also for the first time undid the play the course mentally thing. I found it a great help in hitting different clubs etc. I must admit I was in a foul mood when I got home. I was also playing with I mate who always sees me at my worst! Last week I hit 45 on the back nine which was a best so I know there is a game in there but after telling my mate and then he sees me play like this he must be wondering if it's all hot air!!

 

[Evesdad]

Alot of the problem was not turning my body again which I was doing well at the range. My very kind friend pointed this out to me when we had three holes left! I very kindly asked why he watched me play horror golf for 15 holes before mentioning it!!

 

[Phil2511]

Oh I've had that happen too lol. They do that so you don't beat them lol. I would guess that you are trying to hard to show your mate how good you can play. Perhaps it's a subconscious thing. But it would likely be similar to playing with a card in your hand for a comp or without one just for fun. You will be more relaxed when you have no pressure.