Range before a round or not?

[barrybridges]

A question out of interest more than anything else.

I play at a few courses near to where I live and some of them have practice facilities (range, nets) but most of them don't.

When I play the courses that don't have practice facilities, I find it can take up to 9 holes to truly get in the swing of things (no pun intended) after which point my game starts to gel. Before that, I can be absolutely hopeless, especially if I'm playing after a week of no practice.

What is 'normal' for others - do you hit on the range before a round, or just get straight out there and onto it? I'm wondering whether I should start playing at places where I can warmup on the range first, or whether I'm just being a wuss.

 

[Down_The_Middle]

I like to hit a few balls before going out. Just to loosen up and get things ticking over. I'm a bit like you in that if I don't hit any it can take a while to get going. Also if it help me get off to a good start I dont feel as tho I'm chasing the game then

 

[barrybridges]

It's more because I am such a beginner and still getting used to the basics if anything. I know that once I've improved I'll be better equipped just to get out there and play but for someone of my ability, standing on the 1st tee having not had the opportunity to actually hit a ball for a few days doesn't exactly fill you with confidence, if you know what I mean. Especially when others might be watching!

 

[bobmac]

If you can, get warmed up on the range before every game.
Not only will it help you play better the first few holes, it can also help prevent injury caused by not warming up properly.

 

[robbest3offthetee]

I just go straight to the putting green,stroke a few putts,couple of practice swings while im at it then onto the first tee,I know of a few people that go on the range beforehand and still manage to duff it off the tee then they say they were hitting it great on the range,so why bother!!

 

[barrybridges]

Any suggestions for when there isn't a range or nets? Or perhaps just play places where there are for now?

 

[bernix]

I like to hit a few balls before going out. Just to loosen up and get things ticking over. I'm a bit like you in that if I don't hit any it can take a while to get going. Also if it help me get off to a good start I dont feel as tho I'm chasing the game then

same with me. Interestingly the worse I hit the balls on the range the better I score (and strike) on the round

 

[richart]

I like to hit a few in the net before playing. I did once go on the practice ground before a foursomes final. I hit the ball so badly it completely put me off, and will not make the same mistake again ! A shank in a net never seems as bad as a shank on a practice ground.

 

[Tiger]

No range at our place. Before a competition I try to warm up by hitting a few practice putts, then practicing my chipping, then hit some half wedges on our practice hole and finally hit a few 6 irons in the practice net, before returning to the putting before I go out. However, more often than not, there are already people on the practice hole and in the net so I gradually build up to a full practice swing and do some stretches and stick to the chipping and putting.

 

[chrisd]

If you can, get warmed up on the range before every game.
Not only will it help you play better the first few holes, it can also help prevent injury caused by not warming up properly.

What if you get injured on the range?


Chris

 

[JustOne]

I know of a few people that go on the range beforehand and still manage to duff it off the tee then they say they were hitting it great on the range,so why bother!!

As Bob says, to avoid injury. The range should just be a warm up. Hit wedges only and find your tempo if necessary.

 

[patricks148]

No don't like hitting balls before a round. Go to the putting green and chipping area for 15 mins that does me fine. I do a few stretching exes waiting at the first tee.

 

[Oddsocks]

for me range warm up can be a killer. if i hit a few nasties on the range, i find standing on the first i spend more time thinking about the bad ones on the range, than the good ones.

i find im pretty much the same as patrick, few putts, few chips and some stretches and practice swings.

 

[john0]

I like to hit a few balls before a round, 25-50 depending on how much time ive got. Mainly with the shorter clubs, but will hit a couple of drivers too.

This applies only when the weather gets warmer, at the minute it's out the car and stright to the 1st, far too cold for any fannying about

 

[pokerjoke]

You dont really have to hit balls to have a warm up,thats more to get some timing.Just swinging a club for ten minutes helps me,warms up the muscles and gets me looser.

 

[User20205]

I used to think there was a correlation between performance on the the range and on the course. If I hit it well on the range I was rubbish on the course. The net for a warm up and the putting green does me now.

 

[Bacardibatman]

when i was younger and playing properly
depending on when i was playing dictated how much practice i did b4 a round
luckily we were blessed with a decent practice ground

very early start very little but at least 10 hopefully 20 mins putting
and plenty warm up swings while ppl in front tee'd off

if it was later, id try and hit at least 50-60 irons starting off easily to warm up no ball for the first few swings, roughly same ammount of short pitches n chips ,20 or so bunker shots, maybe 10 of woods no more
and if possible 20-30 minutes on the putting green

nowadays now im just back playing non seriously up til now ,i really dont much (then again my swings ingrained now,slightly different due to a subluxation of the shoulder),sometimes not at all. then again ppl i play with now dont so its because im with them that i dont ..they might putt for 5 minutes ...personally id still do 15 -20 if it were up to me
and quite a few swings

im not a big fan of range hitting .as i dont think skimming a ball off a matt (normal) helps as its differet to hitting a shot with a divot as you would a fairway. its ok to warm up and loosen up a little but thats all, not really to work on my game as i think then that becomes the norm...one of the reasons ive just bought a Truestrike matt for practcing at home to be more realistic and to save impact as i aim to get back to playing to 3 or 4 this year

just my personal routine & take on it

 

[viscount17]

Any suggestions for when there isn't a range or nets? Or perhaps just play places where there are for now?

if there is a lake, tee up and fire a few of those dubious balls you've collected. you're just looking for looseners and to get the strike right, what they do afterward . . .

 

[znuffzz]

if i dont hit on the range before going out then i might as well write off the first 6 holes at least....

 

[idTommo]

no range for me, double club swings, 10 mins putting and about the same chipping, a good stretch on the first and see what happens.
same as whats been said before, if i duff it on the driving range then i take those thoughts into my game