Range = Totally Bored

[slugger]

I tend to agree. For me I now try and use the range to cement the feeling (I work on how the swing feels as opposed to getting it at such an angle at point x) and once I get to that stage measured by balls going repeatedly where I'm aiming thats good enough. Its when I then step onto the course my problems start. Its all part of the advice I got on here to stop being so overly thought orientated and go out and play. The range is for grooving and the course is for testing the swing

homer, do you go to the range in daylight hours? If so, would that time not be better just going for a quick few holes at your course with say 5 or 6 clubs and hitting a couple of balls per hole? Practice isn't only the range and chipping - and it doesn't matter about your swing, it's about getting the wee white ball in the wee round hole.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

For me range sessions are a necessity especially after lessons. I struggle to work on the drills and it takes me time to get the changes set. Yes it is boring and yes there are more interesting things I could be doing (like starting threads on Pedros) but I see it as a means to an end.

How far did you get the wedge to go

Also homer how do you know what you have been taught is working when you do not have the definition of a hole to judge against i know it could be to cement a swing plain but surely thats still better done on the course???

I'm with both of you on this one.

I'll always get to the range for a couple of hours after a lesson to bed in what I am trying to do. After that I'll get on the course so I get some real feedback. The range i good for repetition but tells you nothing about the true result of your shots.

During the winter I have to spend more time on the range as I can't get on the course as much.

 

[Screwback]

Play the range like u are playing a Course!!
Tee off with driver then visualise second shot select club as if going for green and so on!

Thats my point if you where on the course you would not have to visualise the shot you could play the shot to a real green off real grass in real conditions.

There is that many balls on the range you have no idea where the ball is landing how far it has gone or indeed how it would react on the course re bounces etc.

For me a bland range is a waste of time. a practise ground with only you and your practise balls on is more worth it.

Other than that get oot onto the course

 

[HawkeyeMS]

Play the range like u are playing a Course!!
Tee off with driver then visualise second shot select club as if going for green and so on!

Thats my point if you where on the course you would not have to visualise the shot you could play the shot to a real green off real grass in real conditions.

There is that many balls on the range you have no idea where the ball is landing how far it has gone or indeed how it would react on the course re bounces etc.

For me a bland range is a waste of time. a practise ground with only you and your practise balls on is more worth it.

Other than that get oot onto the course

Agreed. If I'm working on a swing change, the repetition is good. As soon as I think oI've got it, I need feedback and the range don't give you that.

 

[USER1999]

I am currently hitting about 100 6 irons about 3 times a week (off grass on the practice ground). Having made some severe swing changes this spring, I want to make these second nature, so that I don't think about my swing when playing. I am still finding at the moment that I am hitting it better on the practice ground than on the course (partly because I am still thinking do this, then this, then this....oops).
This familiarity will only come from repetition, rather than continually playing, and getting depressed with it. I still play, but not as much.

Boring, yes, but it will have a pay off soon.

 

[TonyN]

I hear you loud and clear brother! I cant stand ranges. So false, so boring. I only ever get 50 balls if I do go and 30 of them end up being flop shots aiming at the roof or the ball collector tractor.

Whenever I need to work on a swing thought, I just play a round and work on it there.

Hitting rocks of a matt? No thanks!

 

[HRC99]

30 of them end up being flop shots aiming at the roof or the ball collector tractor.

Aaah, hitting the ball collector tractor. Is there a more satisfying shot in golf?

Keep your 300 yard drives, your inch perfect approaches, your sublimely weighted chip, your fifty foot downhill left-to-right putts.

Nothing beats the clang of the perfectly struck shot bouncing off that tractor.

 

[viscount17]

the local AG range has a BMW Mini as a target. it was originally used on a promo weekend; three shots, get a ball through the hole in the roof (18 in. or smaller) and win a grands worth of gear, but has since been left.

it does use up many a ball.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I tend to use the range in the evenings and weekend in the winter when I can't get onto the practice ground (dark) or the course is closed. We have a grass practice ground which I use as often as I can. There is no substitue for hitting off grass but you still need to have some decent targets otherise you are still just hitting balls.

We have 50-200 yard targets at 50 yard increments so plenty of varition plus a short game area (not great) and a bunker. I have to say I'm with Murph and tht I need a lot of balls to make the changes natural so it helps that I enjoy range work and hours on the practice ground.

However I'm trying to follow the advice you good people gave recently and get out and play more than I use to and relax more and not get a head full of swing thoughts. It's hard. There are times I still need the sanctuary of the range to work on something when it goes badly wrong but play v practice is slowly winning the day

 

[Smiffy]

Aaah, hitting the ball collector tractor. Is there a more satisfying shot in golf?

Yep.
Playing in the Algarve and oinking one at the local greenstaff.
Scorchio

 

[HRC99]

Aaah, hitting the ball collector tractor. Is there a more satisfying shot in golf?

Yep.
Playing in the Algarve and oinking one at the local greenstaff.
Scorchio

But did you hit one?

 

[RGDave]

How do you range lovers do it??? I would like to know because i really cant hack it.

It must be really hard to be good at something and not get anything out of practising. It's easy for me to enjoy the range as I start off a bit shaky, do a few drills, practice x/y/z and start finding my mojo fairly soon. I used to hit 100 balls, now I tend to go twice as often and hit half the amount.....

I guess it's all about finding small challenges for yourself. What they might be will probably be different for you than most of us. What do professionals practise once they've found their rhythm and are basically hitting balls to their standard?

 

[Smiffy]

Aaah, hitting the ball collector tractor. Is there a more satisfying shot in golf?

Yep.
Playing in the Algarve and oinking one at the local greenstaff.
Scorchio

But did you hit one?

Yeah, small of the back