Practice Routine

ScratchSRL

ScratchSRL

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Apr 15, 2014
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Guys,

After a trip to the driving range I have realised that I just hit balls aimlessly!

Does anyone have a decent practice routine that they go through at the range or on the practice round.

Cheers in advance!
 
I have lots but the most most most important thing when practicing is to have a target, if you dont the target becomes the ball and you will hit poor shots. Make sure you have a target. Work on things your bad at not that your good at.
 
The rare times I do go to the range I have two 'games'.

One is quite common amongst many people and that is hit shots as if you were playing your course.

The second one relies on your range having decent targets. Mine has raised greens with flags in so I will try to hit 3 consecutive shots onto one of the greens before moving to the next and see how many targets I can get through without missing. That way you put pressure on your shots. It's quite difficult doing consecutive shots so you could have 5 shots at each target and try to hit it with 3 of them before moving to the next target.

Another option is to dump the range and practice your short game.
 
Last edited:
Agree on dumping the range, I often try and just do pitching and chipping, its the scoring irons though they are where the practice is. I think ill come up with something and potentially share it if it works!
 
Don't have a rigid structure as that's just dull. Will always have a purpose though.

I'll always play to a target, could be a tree in the distance or using a couple of markers as 'goalposts'. Invariably I'm imagining holes on difference courses as this helps with planning shot shapes and club selection. Won't hit anymore than 5-10 shots with any club before changing to another. Always pick a line before the shot. Used to hit balls for hours but 20-30 mins is plenty now for a few drives and mostly short irons/wedges.
 
I love seeing people turn up at the range, pull out driver straight away and proceed to hit balls like a machine gun. I've actually seen people lining up their next ball before the previous one has landed or stopped rolling. What is the point?
 
I agree with the other comments.

I tend to start with my wedges and aim for target bins at 50-65 yards. But you need to hit these targets with all 4 wedges so you know you can control your distances.

I then hit 8, 6, 4 iron before going through hybrid, 3 wood, driver and back up through 5, 7, 9 iron.

When hitting full shots, I always pick a target and I always decide if I am going to hit my target with a draw, fade or straight shot. I also put the pressure on by pretending there is water on the left or right hand side of my target so a shot is only good enough if I hit the exact shot I was trying to.

The idea I always have is to practice the things I am worst at - it can make you look very average at times but it is worth it. I also always try to put as much pressure on myself as possible by imagining I need to hit these shots for a win or whatever. It helps you when you need to perform under real pressure.


BUT ....

If you are warming up before teeing off, I wouldn't recommend this. I would only recommend getting loose before your tee time as that is not the time you want to be practicing!
 
I like to hit a lot of balls from the same spot at a flag.
Just so I can ingrain my distances.
I usually do this from 122 yards with my wedge down to chipping around the greens
from dodgy lies.
For me the practice area is all about set up,concentrating on tempo and rythym.
Of course on the course it will be a bit different but knowing exact yardages will
ultimately put you nearer the hole.
 
londonlewis said:
....
I would only recommend getting loose before your tee time as that is not the time you want to be practicing!
Click to expand...

Absolutely! Previous practice means you are perfect!

And the worst thing to do on the putting green before you go out is to practice missing 3-4 Footers! A few 18 inch ones to hear the ball drop into the cup are the best final putts.
 
Foxholer said:
And the worst thing to do on the putting green before you go out is to practice missing 3-4 Footers! A few 18 inch ones to hear the ball drop into the cup are the best final putts.
Click to expand...

Good advice here, noting worse on the first green thinking about the three footers you missed on the practice green.
 
Foxholer said:
Absolutely! Previous practice means you are perfect!

And the worst thing to do on the putting green before you go out is to practice missing 3-4 Footers! A few 18 inch ones to hear the ball drop into the cup are the best final putts.
Click to expand...


You have swung and missed there Foxholer. You are now playing 2 off the tee.
 
I start with a warm up just swinging the club to get the body into the rhythm of the swing movement without hitting a ball. I always try to go through a basic stretch routine.

start by hitting 4/5 balls with each club to get a feel and rhythm going all the way up to driver. I then " play the course" as I would hope to :-) going through the clubs or if I have been struggling on any part then would concentrate on it!

i will then go through chipping/putting/bunker drills. Takes about an hour tops!
 
srixon 1 said:
I love seeing people turn up at the range, pull out driver straight away and proceed to hit balls like a machine gun. I've actually seen people lining up their next ball before the previous one has landed or stopped rolling. What is the point?
Click to expand...

Oi! I resemble that remark!
 
Whenever I have used the range

Use a couple of clubs and then just hit the blinking ball

Use a range sessions just to keep the swing warm

100 balls in no time at all :thup:
 
It depends. If I'm at a range then its usually looking to practice swing changes and so if I'm not using the stuff from http://www.mygripzone.com/ then I'll just hit balls and focus on the move or fell and not be too concerned with the result, certainly not initially. If I am at my club hitting off grass then I try and be more target orientated and I try and hit shots I'll need on the course and also from various lies including rough
 
I spend lots of time on the range, I don't hit lots if balls though,
I work through drills and movements in between shots, I work between long clubs medium irons and a wedge,
I also work on my pre shot routine when taking a shot,
I must look strange on the range thinking about it,
 
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