Range Practice Time

AMcC

AMcC

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Just wondering what everyone does with their range time ?

I have been taking some lessons for a while now and one of the best pieces of advice, especially now winter is here, was how to use my range time.

I have a warm up with some stretches and then hit a few balls.
Next 25 is working on full swing technique with various drills, not too fussed where ball is going just honing certain elements of the swing.
The next 25 is on short game swing technique - where I need most practice :(
Next 25 are working on distance control with the wedges.
The final balls are think box / play box situation as if I am playing a shot on the course and approach it as you would there. Hitting a different cub each time and aiming for a different target.
Also having a note book with me at lessons and on the range to record progress etc has allowed me to remember things better, getting to a bad age.
It is amazing how much longer this takes you than hit and scrape all the time. Also you get some strange looks because you are not just hitting balls.
 
It depends on what I think I need to work on...I will always go for 100 balls. Last night I wanted to work on my ball striking so 85ish balls were all full swings working my way up and down the clubs. Other days 50-60 balls will be spent with my 4 wedges on all distance control and then a few balls on working on fade/draw. Then other days I will literally play my course in my head... Changing clubs on every single shot picking the fairway out on the range etc
 
AMcC said:
Just wondering what everyone does with their range time ?

I have been taking some lessons for a while now and one of the best pieces of advice, especially now winter is here, was how to use my range time.

I have a warm up with some stretches and then hit a few balls.
Next 25 is working on full swing technique with various drills, not too fussed where ball is going just honing certain elements of the swing.
The next 25 is on short game swing technique - where I need most practice :(
Next 25 are working on distance control with the wedges.
The final balls are think box / play box situation as if I am playing a shot on the course and approach it as you would there. Hitting a different cub each time and aiming for a different target.
Also having a note book with me at lessons and on the range to record progress etc has allowed me to remember things better, getting to a bad age.
It is amazing how much longer this takes you than hit and scrape all the time. Also you get some strange looks because you are not just hitting balls.
Click to expand...

Dont be saying things like that on here, you'll have the anti slow play/PSRs on to you :whistle: mind you, if it was good enough for Annika.............
 
I have to admit that I spent only a very small fraction of my practice time on the range at all. I much prefer the putting and pitching green and our little 6 hole short course. On the range I rarely hit more than 50 balls in a row, going through my clubs from shortest to longest, mostly looking for a clean ball strike.
 
My problem with ranges are the perfectly flat lies and forgiving mats that aren't really comparable to when you're out on the actual course. For that reason I tend you limit my range time to warming up before a round and driver practice. Everything else is either on the chipping area, par 3 course or out on the actual course itself.
 
woody69 said:
My problem with ranges are the perfectly flat lies and forgiving mats that aren't really comparable to when you're out on the actual course. For that reason I tend you limit my range time to warming up before a round and driver practice. Everything else is either on the chipping area, par 3 course or out on the actual course itself.
Click to expand...

This +1.

How many 'range-mat perfect' lies do you get on a golf course, especially during the winter months??
 
Must admit to being a rubbish range player. I turn up with good intentions however after 10 minutes of proper practice I get the driver out and start smashing the granny out of it until I'm tired. I then get a wedge out and use the remaining balls trying to hit a small island in front of me.
 
I found that I got bored after 50 balls , so only ever get 50 and try to take my time hitting them. Usually 10 x 6 irons, 10 wedges and then 10 driver/wood's. Then the last 20 i'll never hit the same shot twice in a row.
 
I normally go for 100 balls, just coz..

Normally work from wedges upwards, starting off with 1/2 to 3/4 swings on wedges then full swings from 9 iron upwards to woods. Normally stop for a beer half way through and then hit some short chips and wedges into the greens and targets on the range.

Its too cold to practice putting in the evening, so i don't bother.. and that is why im rubbish..
 
Went to the range for a short hit this lunch time. 45 balls. Decided to try something.
So I warmed up with a few iron shots and a few driver shots (after stretching), and then did a routine, each shot prepared as if I was on the course. Driver, 4 iron, 6 iron (because I'll have duffed my 4 iron), wedge (because I should have used a 5 iron on the previous shot).
I learnt a thing or two.
1) Leave the 4 iron in the garage, and stick to hybrid.
2) That my yardages are a good 10 yards less this way than when I've got my eye in on a club
3) That other golfers like to have a good chuckle at the chap who's not just whanging it down there each shot ;)

I'll certainly be doing that sort of routine again in the future. I found it very helpful.
 
I only ever take hybrid, 7iron and 50* wedge to the range. Do a few strecthes before a few little wedge shots. Follow this with 7 iron for swing practice, then a few hybrids to check it's still working. Then retrun to the wedge for short game practice and play.
I normally only do about 75 balls, and being totally honest I hate practicing at the range. It's always full of "300" yard smashers, or those so clued up they try and tell you what to do, or those that copy everything you do. Either way, range ratting is something I try and do only when it's going to be quiet and I can do what I need then run.
 
How long does all that palaver take at the range? I'm bored stiff after 30 balls so often give the rest of the bucket away to the lucky chap in the next bay. My only real reason to visit the range is to have a swish with a new shiny... 99% of my practice time is on the putting green.
 
Depends where I'm practicing. On the practice ground, off grass I tend to want to work on my striking and full swing. On a range unless I'm working on something specific after a lesson, I'll tend to just look at posture which has been an issue and tempo which I've tried hard to reign in this year.
 
I am not a fan of going to the range but our course has been closed all week so I have been twice this week, fortunately I am in the middle of swing changes so I have been through my drills and working on the changes.
 
Very rarely get to practice.
But a normal range session would be with 50 balls. Start with warming up, then check balance and set-up, quality of strike, then play a variety of shots to different targets.
I used to automatically hit 100 or more shots at each session, but found I'd lose focus and get bored.
 
GCCP_01 said:
Very rarely get to practice.
But a normal range session would be with 50 balls. Start with warming up, then check balance and set-up, quality of strike, then play a variety of shots to different targets.
I used to automatically hit 100 or more shots at each session, but found I'd lose focus and get bored.
Click to expand...

Less is definitely more. So easy to be ingraining bad habits. Welcome along. Where do you play?
 
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