Practicing at the range...

[AndrewG]

My new practice plan for midweek involves taking a selection of clubs (with driver) to the range, and 'practice like I play'. Rarely hitting 2 shots with the same club in a row, and playing like I'm playing an imaginary course. I also do a full routine before the shots - stand behind the ball, check grip, one more look, address, wiggle, then swing.

This is all working well, and today I hit probably 70% of the basket as sweet shots going roughly where I wanted them too. However, what I did notice was that towards the end of the basket, I had more and more wayward shots. I'm pretty sure its a tiredness thing - as I'm hitting the same number of shots as I am during a round of golf, but in 30 minutes, rather than 4 hours!

It also makes it easier to ignore the real bad mishits, and just 'leave them on the mat', since you switch to a new club straight away.

The only downside is that you come away remembering the last 10 shots, rather than the first 50! I should stop as soon as I start flagging I think.

Not really a question of the experts, but a useful practice technique I think.

 

[USER1999]

I just can't do that down the range. I like to hit a club until I am happy with it, and then move on to another. In theory, this won't help me on the course, as I won't get to hit the same club twice, but then when I am on the range, I am practicing, not playing.
Most of the time I am thinking about my swing, and I find for this, I need to hit the same club, and groove the movement/feeling.
I agree that you should quit before the bad ones set in though. Nothing worse than duffing that last ball.

 

[AndrewG]

My pro told me specifically not to hit the same club over and over if I'm hitting it badly. All I'm doing is grooving the mistakes. I know I can hit all my clubs well when I'm relaxed and swinging freely - so I know I can get back to hitting it OK.

He told me to switch to one of my wedges, and do some 3/4 of punch swings to get my rhythm back, and my shots straight, and hence my confidence back, and then return to the problematic club... If I can't hit that at all after that, then its time for another lesson !!

 

[colint]

My practicing has improved a lot since I started having lessons. Rather than just smacking balls until I think I'm hitting it well, I'm working on something specific in my swing

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I need to have something to focus on, either grooving my swing if I'm playing well or a swing thought or practice drill if I'm working on my game or had a lesson.

I have mentioned before that I step off the mat after every shot and always go through my grip and address routine with every shot which stops me hitting ball after ball especially if I've hit a bad one.

I normally go either odds or even through the bag, through to my hybrid 5 wood and driver and then finish with some chips and pitches. It can take me 70-80 minutes to hit 60 balls easily if I'm trying to get a swing feeling

 

[Mattie]

Interesting stuff. I was awful at the range today
As I start to improve my swing ive noticed that im addressing the ball with my hands infront instead of directly above the ball and that as my swing is getting better, half swing to full, I am starting to move forward on to my leading leg with the swing.

Its all coming together nicely but confusing as my consistency is going but my overall swing is improving. I guess thats the way it goes!!!

Mattie

 

[Fore]

Lately i have been dividing the number of balls i get by the six clubs i usually practice with (9i,7i,4i,7w,3w&D). Say that's ten balls per club. I then hit five with each club (not including the driver) starting with the 9i. Then i go back to the 9i and do it again and then round off the session with 10 balls off the driver. The reason i am doing this is because when i pick a club up fresh i hit it well, but as i go through about 10 balls with it it seems to go awry. But if i hit 5 and move on, more often than not they will be five quality shots.

 

[Pants]

I have mentioned before .....

Yes, you have (like most of your comments). Time and time and time and time again. Yawwwwnnnnn.

If you have got nothing new to say, then don't say it. It gets so boring

And please don't tell us that you recycle all your previous comments so new members can have the benefit of your vast experience, I would suspect that most bewbies have, like me, been lurking in the background well before joining and don't really want or need to hear your repeated observations.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Sorry pants its a forum and so my views whether you've heard them or not are as valid as anyone elses. Get use to it cos I ain't going anywhere soon

 

[Fore]

Must say that seems a bit harsh Pants.

 

[Pants]

Sorry pants its a forum and so my views whether you've heard them or not are as valid as anyone elses.

You are absolutely right. This is a forum and my views are also as valid as anyone elses.

btw I'm not going to lower myself to respond to your childish PM which I rather gather you stoop to when someone is daring to take issue with you. Mentioning GM twice in the same PM doesn't frighten me. Was that Golf Monthly or Genetically Modified?

 

[Pants]

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Just wanted to try and have a mature conversation offline but obviously picked the wrong forummer

 

[borntorunsean]

to be honast you need to get some respect pal. Homer's imput appreciated by me and i suspect the majority on the forum.

 

[Pants]

Respect is something that has to be earned - and is very easily lost.

But in the man's own words... it's a forum and so my views, whether you've heard them or not, are as valid as anyone else's (Homer's punctuation edited by Pants)

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Problem is pants you seem to be the one with the issue. I don't care what people think of me, the number of posts I make or the content of my threads. I've never been hung up on respect especially on what is at the end of the day a social networking site. As long as I have the respect of my family, and to a lesser degree my work and golfing peers at my club and my golfing friends on here I don't give a toss Some on here like what I have to say and others don't. After all the crap a few weeks ago I'm past worrying what people care or think about me on here.

It won't stop me answering posts or questions and if that means repeating what I may have said historically, either to help a newbie, reiterate a point or save someone the trauma of searching the forum archives then I'm afraid it something you'll have to put up with. If my posts really upset, annoy or offend that much just put a block up and you'll be free of any of my wit, critique or thoughts - simples

 

[bobmac]

My parents taught me lots of things.
One of them was
"If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything"

 

[Tommo21]

My parents taught me lots of things.
One of them was
"If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything"

My old man used to say speak your mind or you'll always be in the background.

 

[Pants]

Crikey.

All I did was post my view that your constant repetition was boring. As you have said many, many times, we are all entitled to our views. I didn't expect you to take the bait quite so well, no I didn't, honest .

If you can't take it, don't try to give it.

Don't send PM's with veiled threats alluding to GM having interest in anyone opinions that differ from yours.

You didn't need to make it quite so clear that you don't care what people think of you.

I don't think that I will block your posts. I sometimes find them rather amusing.

You will be pleased to know that this will be my last post on this thread. Please feel free to have your final riposte.

 

[MizunoMan]

Pants, run into the living room and get your mum or dad to re-read your posts and ask them how they sound.

They come across like you have a serious beef with HJS.

Why not keep it between yourselves, and leave the rest of the fourum out of it.

Besides what are you doing up at that time anyway, you have school in the morning.