Practice

[TonyN]

I was just wondering how often everybody gets to the range/ Practice ground etc.

How many hours a week you put in and if you think its enough etc

I have been every night this week so far and am off again tonight. Suffering with inconsistent drives is keeping me out of the 80's I was so easily playing to 3 months ago. In a bid to get back there and possibly lower, I am concentrating soley on the weak part of my game, rather than practice the fun bits I am good at. The results are improving alot so i cant wait to get back out.

Anyway, about you lot?

 

[Parmo]

I usually practice once a week on the range and play once a week, some weekends I play only and others practice only sometimes if the wife is in a good mood, I get to do both!! I have moved away from range bays and use my home courses field type of range, which is doing me the world of good.

I do think the best practice is gained on the course.

Nice thread & poll btw.

 

[Cernunnos]

If I was asked these questions last year I was practicing 4 or more timesa week, & a damn sight more than 3 hours, it could be 5, 6 or even 8 hours when I was on one of my 4 days off or working nights & putting in a couple or three hours each day.

However, this year I've not really managed to get in anywhere near that, once maybe twice a week. Has something to do with not rejoining where I was a member of. And instead re-joined on the accademy course I played a few years a go, which is stacked out most days with youngsters & people taking up the game with less ability than my other half.

Have somehow managed to get in some play at a lot of very nice courses around the area.

I think this year I've been a little disolusioned & disapointed with myself & is a visious circle.

 

[evita4]

With work and a busy home life I have not been practising as much as I was 6 months ago. I am intending to get to the range tonight as I am not playing this weekend due to the excessive amount of bad weather we have had recently.

 

[level5s]

i dont put in any practice on a regular basis. very occasionally go to the range. i just go out and play. i dont have much drive to do it. i am sure i will get to a point where i want a better handicap than i have.

 

[TonyN]

I do think the best practice is gained on the course.

I used to think the same, no substitute for the real thing but, being heavily competitive, even with my self, I put too much pressure on everytime I go out, to score well.

If i know I should be practicing a shot, swing thoughts creep in, and they dont mix well with concentration and focus.

So now I have hammered in a new driving swing (almost) I am very keen to let rip with out thinking about anything. One more range session tonight and then I may squeeze a game in tommorow evening if things go my way.

 

[viscount17]

I usually practice Saturdays, if I'm not playing away somewhere (The Bedford this weekend) and I can get in amongst the weekend cowboys. 2+ hrs pitch/putt and 1-2 on the range.
But I get out for a round as many evenings as possible (no HID) and as these are often solo expeditions I regard this as practice also - pity it all disappears come a medal!

 

[Howla]

I play twice a week, on Wed evening in the 9 hole comp and on the Sunday 18 hole comp and try and get some short game practice in when I walk the dog.

The only problem I have with the dog is she loves the taste of Pro V1's and its a pricey practice session if I dont get to her quick!

 

[RGuk]

I had a practice regime that paid dividends back in the mid 1990s. I went to the range on a Tues or Weds evening with a few specific ideas/drills. I'd then go again the day before either a saturday or sunday comp. At the second range session I'd work more on tempo/timing and whilst "feeling" some of the things from the earlier session, I'd try to piece back together a repeatable/reliable swing.
In between the 2 practices and 1 comp, I'd pop down the club for a few putting sessions.
After a lesson, I might go to the range up to 6 times before the "settling in" bucket the day before a comp.

As for practising on the course...I try not to think about too much and just do my best to score...therefore, for me, endless playing would eventually cost me dear, so I don't do it. After a few 100 ball buckets I often get on the course and hit it great for 6 - 9 holes and on a good day can be almost level for the front 9.

I'm a bit bored of practice though a.t.m. if I was playing off 14, I'd return to my old method, as it is, I'm chasing my 12 with a mad routine, sometimes I play under, sometimes I play over...but that's the cost of making changes.

 

[Farneyman]

I try to play 18 twice a week with 1 visit to a putting green,30-45mins, 1 visit to a driving range 50-100balls, and 1 visit to an old runway for some wedge and short game practise 45-60mins.

I am intending to work hard/smart on my game over the next 12 weeks following a course I just found out about thats starting soon to bring my game on to the next level.

http://breakparblueprint.com/blog/

Heres the link for anyone thats interested. Its all explained on it. So heres to 12 weeks of more golf...yeeha.

 

[brendy]

Where was the "once a month, 4 hour practicefest" option

 

[HomerJSimpson]

As many of you know I have been accused of being a practice junkie. This started as the inevitable consequence of rebuilding my swing virtually from scratch last year and the problems I suffered over the Winter and early part of the year with a change of coach and health issues.

However I have to say I actually enjoy the practicing but only if I'm working on something specific. Don't get me wrong I can see no benefit of belting hundreds of balls and ingraining bad habits at a range just to say you've practiced. As a result I am being a little more structured at present.

On a Monday I have a day off after playing both days over the weekend and review my stats to see what the weakest points have been. On a Tuesday I'll normally do an hour on my short game and 30 minutes on putting. On my short game I'm looking for feel and distance control as well as trying different shots (lobs etc).

On Wednesday and Thursday I'll work on my long game on the practice ground if it is dry (nothing like using real balls and taking divots on each shot to get decent feedback). I'll go through a quick check of my basics and then work on specific problems (at the moment it is having my shoulders open causing a slight over the top swing).

On Friday I'll just hit some balls to make sure everything is ingrained that I've been working on and just to get a feel for the swing. Then on game days I'll get there about an hour before tee time and go through my pre-game routine

Some on here will undoubtedly tell me I'm doing too much or doing the wrong thing but as I say I enjoy the regime of practicing, I only work on swing specifics and I prefer it to sitting at home watching TV.

 

[Parmo]

Homer, that's some dedication. I don't think HID would let me practice that much, mind you after work I am usually good for nothing except chill out and have dinner.

 

[cm_qs]

Might I suggest some new options for the poll?

How many times a week do you go to the range practice area?

None - I have two kids under five, a pregnant wife , a 60 hour working week. I don't have the time.

How many hours practice ?

None - see answer 1

Do you practice enough?

Bol***ks to practice - I play to relax - If I get a spare minute I'll spend it playing golf even if it's only three or four holes.