Range Drills

[ricardodaintino]

I used a par 5 drill at the range today. Basically I hit a driver, then 5 wood or 5i. Followed by a 9i or PW then a SW. Each time picking the target I'd anticipate distance wise, for a par 5 at my local. I think it was really useful practice rather then slugging 50 drives in a row.

Does anyone else have some good drills they'd like to share

 

[Imurg]

I do a similar thing except I "play" the whole course, estimating which club I will need to get to the green - even if its a 5 yard chip. It means changing club every time which mimics being out on the course. I have to pick a target that is "on the green" and hit to it. Good fun

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I'm working on some faults my coach showed in my last lesson which he videoed so I'm focussing on the technique. As a result it is a case of hitting balls to repeat the correct swing. However I step of the mat after every shot and go through the same routine (grip, align my feet, check my posture and then swing on the correct path) so I am not just hitting ball after ball mindlessly

I am fortunate that the range has a number of good targets so in normal circumstances I take the club to get to the appropriate target and decide on two defining points either side to relate to the width of a green (or fairway) and hit 10-15 balls at that target and aim to get a set number within my target area

When I work on my short game I try to pick a landing area rather than a specific target as I feel that if I can pick a spot on the course itself and manage to land my ball on or close to it then the balls reaction on landing (i.e. spin on a high shot or roll on a pitch and run) will get it close to the hole

 

[toyboy54]

To one and all...tried the 4 breaths in thro the nose and 4 breaths out and then hit the ball(you will never ever sherman tank!!!!)BOLLOCKS!
Started off o.k.for 10 shots then got cocky and tried subtle chips(you know ,the ones the pro's can do)Felt like a member of the BNP or Klu Klux Clan,,,Everything went straight right
The good doc is never wrong!so it must me me!

 

[TonyN]

I normally only use a couple of drills at the range, Mainly the 3 ball drill I always bang on about on here. Incidently, I have just spotted it on p.28 in this months mag, although it is called 'through the gate' with two head covers.

This drill really works, and I now hit mostly draws.

 

[backwoodsman]

I do a similar thing except I "play" the whole course, estimating which club I will need to get to the green - even if its a 5 yard chip. It means changing club every time which mimics being out on the course. I have to pick a target that is "on the green" and hit to it. Good fun

Me too. (Think I got the idea from GM a couple of issues back?) You have to play all the shots, including hacking from the rough & chipping out from behind trees. You play your provisionals too - (but it's amazing how often you find your original ).
Also have a session with the wedge but change the length & target for every shot.

 

[mrmotorbikeman]

I normally only use a couple of drills at the range, Mainly the 3 ball drill I always bang on about on here. Incidently, I have just spotted it on p.28 in this months mag, although it is called 'through the gate' with two head covers.

This drill really works, and I now hit mostly draws.

I tried a similar drill to help reduce my fade (ok, slice) tendancy with my driver and 3 wood. I used one of the spare rubber tee's and placed it 3/4 of a club length behind the ball in line with the target, and then made sure that on the takeaway I moved the club inside it. On the downswing you naturally want to miss the tee, so you get a much nicer inside swing path, and this drill, so far has converted my slice into a ever so slight draw with both clubs.

 

[Mawgan]

I don't know many drills per se, but I do absolutely agree with Ricardo, Imurg and Homer that one's approach to practice at the range should mimic course play as far as is possible. That includes lining each shot up, perhaps also visualising the shot, and going through the basics of grip, alignment, posture, etc., before actually playing each shot. It sounds long-winded, potentially more time-consuming, and less about bashing balls, but surely we are attempting to rehearse the on-course experience and therefore we need to do eveything we would do out there for real (although perhaps hurling the club after several expletives is taking it a tad too far...?).
Perhaps I'm sick, but I enjoy practice. In a former life I would spend hours in the nets practising cricket shots, and I believe that unless you're of considerable talent (and even then it helps) you are what you make of yourself, and you get back what you put in.
I watched a couple of guys at the range last week. Turned up, and without any warming up at all, took the metal out and proceeded to batter it down range. But all they did was replicate a socking great slice ball after ball with no attempt to straighten it up! OK, if they wish purely to wack a golf ball out of sight with no thought of the reality of playing golf, more power to their elbows. But unfortunately, it is more likely that next they will be holding up some other poor b****rs on some muni while they search for ever for their ball...
If others have methods like Homer and Ricardo, I'd love to learn them.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

You see that at every range across the country. Players get their bucket of balls and immediately put them into the automatic tee thing (if I'm at a posh range!!) and then get the driver out. I once asked a guy if he thought Rooney just turns up and puts his kit on and goes out. He didn't have a clue what I meant so I explained (in small words) that any decent player in any sport doesn't start with the hardest part of their game with no warm up.

I tried to show him that if he used a wedge and half swings he would relax the muscles and build a better tempo. I tried to make him understand about working up through the bag to the driver. He sort of did it (well he put the driver away and hit some 7 irons) but there he was the next week doing the same thing. There are some people who wonder why they slice and cannot break 100.

As regular members will agree I am a bit of a practice freak myself. There is nothing better than working on a weakness (with expert advice) and then playing that shot under pressure in a competition and seeing it come off. My coach got me from 20 to 13 two years ago and we have set a target of single figures by next September. He wants to address some swing issues particularly my leg action and tempo over the next few months (when it is coldest and wettest) and then really go to town on the scoring zone in the run up to the new season

 

[mrmotorbikeman]

I agree with the above in that the range shouldnt simply be about bashing balls. The last few times I have been, I have either been returning from ages of not playing, or have had something specific to work on, eg. controlling my woods (now successful ) In that case, I spent about half the balls warming up to the big sticks and then the remaining half trying to sort the problem. I found this gave a nice balance, as you also dont come away from the range having hit 100 slices with the driver for example, and nothing else!

I also tend to warm down, as in after working up to the driver, work back down through the irons again. This might not mimic the 'course style practice' approach, but when I feel I need to get consistency into my swing, working slowly through the bag in both directions hels me adjust club to club more easily, helping me hit more consistently.

 

[Cernunnos]

Jethro Tull... Inventor of the seed drill..! rofl