Naughty clubs

[HomerJSimpson]

The most I've hit in one sitting was three 360 balls, and I must confess that even I, a huge hitter, was getting tired by the last few.

Tim,

We get it. You hit it a long way (allegedly) so why punctuate every post with some reference to it. I have to agree with everyone else in that 240 balls is way too many. I am a dedicated practicer and I will stop after 100 and go onto something less tiring on the body like chipping and putting. You cannot put all that energy into hitting as far as you seem to do without getting fatigued. Even the worlds best players wouldn't hit that many balls (Harrington and Singh perhaps excepted) so why do you think it will help you.

All that happens is you get physically and mentally tired and begin to make basic swing errors. This leads to bad shots, you try harder and the problem replicates. Quality not quantity

 

[timgolfy]

Tim,

.... I have to agree with everyone else in that 240 balls is way too many. I am a dedicated practicer and I will stop after 100 and go onto something less tiring on the body like chipping and putting. You cannot put all that energy into hitting as far as you seem to do without getting fatigued. Even the worlds best players wouldn't hit that many balls (Harrington and Singh perhaps excepted) so why do you think it will help you.

All that happens is you get physically and mentally tired and begin to make basic swing errors. This leads to bad shots, you try harder and the problem replicates. Quality not quantity

Thanks Homer, I respect that view. I would say two things in response, however.

#1 You don't know me or my physical limitations so why assume that I'm incapable of hitting 240 balls without becoming restrictively tired? As it happens, yes of course it is (somewhat) tiring, but...

#2 On many occasions my first bucket of balls (120) has been inconsistent/bad. By taking the second basket (and once the third) I was able to leave the range having fixed the problem and ingrained a successful swing (practice until can't get it wrong). Mentally I've found this very rewarding.

 

[PhilTheFragger]

#2 On many occasions my first bucket of balls (120) has been inconsistent/bad. By taking the second basket (and once the third) I was able to leave the range having fixed the problem and ingrained a successful swing (practice until can't get it wrong). Mentally I've found this very rewarding.

So if its fixed and ingrained, why does it take another 120 balls before you get it right next time.

As others have said, the range is OK, but what counts is out on the course

Proper Golf

Fragger

 

[timgolfy]

But what's the point in hitting bad shots on the course when I can happily do that on the range?

As for the ingraining, yes of course 240 is not enough - but I believe it's better to finish on a positive note (whether there's any scientific merit in that I don't know). Full ingraining will take 10,000s of balls. After 1 year I'm not quite there yet, but definitely getting there.

An interesting discussion on Sky Sports about practice just a moment ago - saying that the pros will practice (say) bunker shots 4 hours per for a week in the lead up to a tournament. Time is the limiting factor for most people.

 

[AuburnWarrior]

But what's the point in hitting bad shots on the course when I can happily do that on the range?

No matter who you are and no matter what level you play at, you will still hit bad shots on the course.

Ask Rory!!

 

[HomerJSimpson]

But what's the point in hitting bad shots on the course when I can happily do that on the range?

Because on the course is where it counts. We can all be good range golfers but doing it where you only get one chance, especially in a competitive medal is where you find out if all the hard work has paid off. Whilst I practice pretty often down the range myself there is no substitute for getting out onto the course whether I play good bad or indifferent

 

[Imurg]

But what's the point in hitting bad shots on the course when I can happily do that on the range?

What's the point of hitting good shots on the Range if you can't hit good shots on the course? And just because you hit good shots on the Range, it doesn't follow that you'll hit good shots on the Course.

Golf is played on the Golf Course, not on the range.
Maybe one day you'll understand that

 

[john0]

Golf is played on the Golf Course, not on the range.
Maybe one day you'll understand that

Optimism, I love it

 

[Iaing]

The most I've hit in one sitting was three 360 balls, and I must confess that even I, a huge hitter, was getting tired by the last few.

Assuming you were hitting a variety of clubs, including a few chips,if you average out all your huge hits to 300 yards then you hit the ball a total of 185 miles. That's HUGE

No wonder you were a bit tired.

 

[FourPutt]

I find myself wondering how you'd get on on the course from various lies, ball above your feet, sloping downhill lies etc. Or whether you would risk hitting an all out 300(ish) drive when it actually matters to your score where the ball will go. Water left, DEEP bunkers and rough left, 27 yard wide strip of fairway to land the ball in between 230 - 320. (our par 5 6th hole)?

The golf course is not made of perfectly flat 4'x4' squares of astroturf.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

#2 On many occasions my first bucket of balls (120) has been inconsistent/bad. By taking the second basket (and once the third) I was able to leave the range having fixed the problem and ingrained a successful swing (practice until can't get it wrong). Mentally I've found this very rewarding.

Actually, you're able to leave the range having found some short term muscle memory that enabled you to repeat a swing regularly in quick succession but actually did nothing to ingrain a long term swing - as proved by you're first basket the next time you go to the range being sh!te.

The problem you'll find is you aren't actually doing what you think you are doing. It is practically impossible for an amateur golfer, particularly one with no course experience to speak of and no handicap, to understand their golf swing and 'fix' it during a range session without a video of said swing and the knowledge to be able to analyse it, or some professional help to point out the issues.

I wouldn't mind betting that each 'fix' is actually a compensation for another fault and is actually making your swing harder to repeat.

It may not seem like it but this isn't just aimed at you, it's something I have done in the past and believe me, it doesn't work if you want success on the course, if you want a swing that holds up under pressure when your muscles tighten or the adrenaline starts pumping.

If all you're trying to do is smash a 6i 200yds on the range then you probably do leave the range happy, but I doubt you are actually fixing anything or building a repeatable swing.

This is actually genuine advice, that I have learnt from experience, do with it what you will.

 

[timgolfy]

Actually, you're able to leave the range having found some short term muscle memory that enabled you to repeat a swing regularly in quick succession but actually did nothing to ingrain a long term swing - as proved by you're first basket the next time you go to the range being sh!te.

How do you know it's sh!te. By relative comparison my swing has become increasingly consistent. It's all relative. When I first started I was terrible inconsistent and had an awful slice (as most new golfers are). Like learning to play a piano it takes time. And we all have good days and bad days.

It is practically impossible for an amateur golfer, particularly one with no course experience to speak of and no handicap, to understand their golf swing and 'fix' it during a range session without a video of said swing and the knowledge to be able to analyse it, or some professional help to point out the issues.

Again, another big assumption. How can you possibly know how much work I put into analysing my swing and understanding the dynamics of it. How do you know if I see a pro or not? How do you if, how, and when I analyse my swing on video?

I wouldn't mind betting that each 'fix' is actually a compensation for another fault and is actually making your swing harder to repeat.

Another huge assumption.

It may not seem like it but this isn't just aimed at you, it's something I have done in the past and believe me, it doesn't work if you want success on the course, if you want a swing that holds up under pressure when your muscles tighten or the adrenaline starts pumping.

Agreed.

If all you're trying to do is smash a 6i 200yds on the range then you probably do leave the range happy, but I doubt you are actually fixing anything or building a repeatable swing.

Who says all I do is smash a 6i 200 yards? You've built an entire persona on me on the basis that I want to hit the ball long, as the tour pros do.

If a golfer does not have a solid repeatable swing, why expect that to magically appear just because he's playing on the course. Yes of course the range doesn't teach about "pressure", and "lies", but the course doesn't teach anything about swing fundamentals either.

From what I've seen on the course (and yes, I do play the course occasionally - normally once or twice a week though not for the past 3 weeks thanks to the school holidays), many golfers would have a more enjoyable time on the course if they first went back to the range to build a repeatable swing. Seeing a number of people hacking out of the rough 15 yards from the tee this weekend was proof enough of that.

#1 Use the range to build a consistent accurate powerful swing based on solid fundamentals. #2 Practice on the short-course to learn to play the shots/short game/putting. #3 Test those skills on the 18, the re-evaluate. That's my game plan.

I can see no logic in skipping #1 and #2 and jumping straight on to #3, then expecting things to magically work.

 

[quinn]

morning tim, bet you feel better after that

 

[Imurg]

You've built an entire persona on me on the basis that I want to hit the ball long.

Errrr

Isn't that what you've been banging on about for the last month+?????????

What did you expect..???????????

 

[timgolfy]

What do you mean? "I want to hit the ball long", therefore "he's sh*t at golf"?

 

[Imurg]

What????

All you've been banging on about since you joined the Forum is smashing the ball as far as the Pro's, over a mile high wall, 300 yards+, etc etc etc
Hitting it long is what you want to do isn't it?

Therefore, yes, an entire persona has been built on the basis that you want to hit the ball long.
What part of that doesn't compute....

Or am I missing something........................

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Back to hitting ignore again. I honestly hoped Timmy would come back with at least something new to say but different day same crap. Lets see what he does on the H4H day. Big meeting and so a fair bit of pressure on him. If he does play well then fair play but with no handicap, no regular experience on a course my guess is maybe not. We'll see. Until then unless he comes up with anything different its the same rubbish and I'm bored to death of it now.

 

[CrapHacker]

There were these two guys who played golf together frequently. The one guy was several strokes better than the other guy, but the lesser player was very proud, and never wanted to take any strokes to even up the game. Finally, one Saturday morning he shows up with a gorilla at the first tee. He says to his friend, "You know, I've been trying to beat you for so long, I'm about ready to give up. But I heard about this golfing gorilla, and was wondering if it would be OK if he plays for me today. In fact, if you're willing, I'd like to try to get back all the money I've lost to you this year, which I figure comes to about a thousand bucks. You game?"

The other guy thinks about it for a minute, and then decides to play the gorilla, thinking, "after all, how good could a gorilla be at golf?"

Well, the first hole was a straight-away par 4 of 450 yards. The guy hits a beautiful tee shot, 275 yards down the middle, leaving himself a 6 iron to the green. The gorilla takes a few powerful practice swings and then laces the ball 450 yards, right at the pin, stopping about 6 inches away from the hole. The guy turns to his friend and says "that's incredible, I would have never believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes. But you know what, I've seen enough. I've got no interest in being totally humiliated by this gorilla golfing machine. You send this f***ing gorilla back to where he comes from - I need a drink, better make it a double, and I'll write you a check."

After handing over the check, and well into his second double scotch the guy asks, "By the way, how's that gorilla's putting?"

The first guy replies "Same as his driving."

"That good, huh?"

"No, I mean, he hits putts the same way - 450 yards, right down the middle!"

 

[NWJocko]

Tim, i think it depends on what you want to get out of golf, enjoyment wise, before you can assume theyd enjoy it more via more range time.

You have the ambition to get to scratch asap (from what i can tell) which i admire and the thousands of balls you hit will, i have no doubt, help you.

I cant really be bothered with the range, don't have the discipline not to just hit aimlessly after a while!!

I dont want to feel golf is something i'm constantly working towards rather just enjoy for what it is.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

You make your bed, you lie in it Tim, you've built your own persona, like we probably all have if it's wrong then I apologies for misunderstanding but if all you go on about is how far you hit it and how long you are, what do you expect?

Like I said, my post was based on my own experience and mistakes, like all posts on here, ignore it if you like, it doesn't bother me either way.