Range V's Playing (swing)

[MrBrightside]

So ive not being playing long, joined a club last winter and played through until June and got a 25 hcp. I didn't play for 6 months until about 6 weeks ago and now I've got the bug back.

I'm practicing pretty much everyday and starting lessons again, at the range I'm pretty happy with my irons straight penetrating flight; at the course i can't hit an iron to save my life, thin cuts are the best out come.

A couple of weeks ago I shot a PB round a different course to which I usually play without having to touch my Twitter or hybrid so I was striking the ball really well.

Played a four ball match today and although we lost by one hole on the 18th I feel like I'm wasting my time due to the quality of shots and it is getting me down.

Lesson I had last week I was taking it away too much on the inside so that's what I'm working o n at the range, however my range swing is a county mile from my course swing which is awkward and I don't transfer onto my left, hit through the ball and just seem to hack with my arms.

Not sure how to take my range swing to the course, to practice more or less, at the range or course , or to just dust off the fishing rods.

 

[Tiger man]

So ive not being playing long, joined a club last winter and played through until June and got a 25 hcp. I didn't play for 6 months until about 6 weeks ago and now I've got the bug back.

I'm practicing pretty much everyday and starting lessons again, at the range I'm pretty happy with my irons straight penetrating flight; at the course i can't hit an iron to save my life, thin cuts are the best out come.

A couple of weeks ago I shot a PB round a different course to which I usually play without having to touch my Twitter or hybrid so I was striking the ball really well.

Played a four ball match today and although we lost by one hole on the 18th I feel like I'm wasting my time due to the quality of shots and it is getting me down.

Lesson I had last week I was taking it away too much on the inside so that's what I'm working o n at the range, however my range swing is a county mile from my course swing which is awkward and I don't transfer onto my left, hit through the ball and just seem to hack with my arms.

Not sure how to take my range swing to the course, to practice more or less, at the range or course , or to just dust off the fishing rods.

Get out there when the course is quiet, by yourself and play with zero pressure, not even a mate watching as this is subconscious pressure. Swing free and if you hit a crap one chuck another down and so on till you hit one you are happy with, keeping the same feeling and thoughts you have at the range when you are swinging well.
Just line up and swing as you will probably be too concerned with your target and try to manipulate your arms to hit it there, not using your body. It's what I do whenever I have problems and though you will hit bad shots to begin with you should start getting the feel of your good shots in a course environment and soon realise the tension and lack of rotation is the killer. Hope it helps.

 

[MrBrightside]

Thanks for the response, and you've nailed it the lack or rotation is killing my swing; my practice swing is my range swing..... I'll try switching some of my daily range sessions for a few holes.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Ranges and the curse are two different beasts (as I know). I can hit the ball well on the range and feel like stuff I'm working on is working and get out on the course and you have a problem if you then try and think about what you're doing. Too many swing thoughts is a killer (again I know) and you simply have to have the lessons, do the drills, hit the balls well on the course and go out, head empty of any swing or technical thoughts, and play. Have a clear game plan on each hole but stand there and trust yourself

 

[merv79]

Using your range time better is vital, from what you are saying I would guess that you are possibly hitting the same club on the range for at least 6 shots at a time, therefore getting into a rhythm, also are you aiming at precise targets on the range? Its sounds like your swing feels different on the course because you are suddenly focusing on targets and swing is possibly tightening up?

There is block practice at the range where you are working on technique which is fine, but you need to be spending a good amount of time doing pressure practice, and you need to make these challenges etc as close as possible to on course situations, ideally you want to make the practice more difficult than on the course.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

There's no feedback at the range, no hazards, no rough no way to really judge how close you are to your target. Add to that you get into a rhythm hitting ball after ball, there is no pressure and it is easy to pat yourself on the back for shots that would get you in trouble on the course.

The range is for learning to hit balls, but to learn to play golf, you have to get on the course.

 

[njrose51]

A lot of good advice here already.

I am in the same boat - range amazing, course not as good as it could be. So a couple of things I have learnt from lessons, talking with others and here on the forum:

I'm not Rory! - I play maybe twice a month. do I really expect my game to be amazing?
Play to your handicap - we are both high handicappers and NOT professionals. We must expect the duff shots when playing a round its how you cope with them that counts
Make the range sessions work better - No point at all in just standing there and blasting balls for an hour. vary the club, the shot, the distance. try and hit 10 balls to the same place. also practise your PSR - walk away from the ball, have a break for 30 seconds etc.
On the range, visualise certain holes on your course and play them - Driver = pick two points that mark out a fairway, was it in play? I have two really tricky par 5s at my course where the drive it vital. that its my visualisation. Second shot = pick a target and pretend its the green etc.
Practise the short game - chips and runs, lobs, bunker play. I think chipping on so you have a good chance of a one putt is almost as satisfying as blasting a drive!
Take your medicine - If you play a bad shot whilst on the course. let it go. Its gone. you cant change it. its how you recover from that bad shot that counts. If in heavy rough or 250 yards form the green, don't try for the miracle shot, just get it back on the short stuff!
Enjoy yourself - your mortgage, job, life etc does not depend on you breaking 90, 80 etc.
A bogey is good! - for example, if playing Stableford, just work out what 9 bogeys and 9 double bogeys would get you on your full handicap. You'd probably find its well into the 30's. Don't forget, if you bogey a SI 1-7, that's 3 points! Now just imagine if you pared a SI 1-7, like the idea of 4 points? Its just a different way of thinking
Use your shots - imagine a par 5 where you get 2 shots. You've teed off, perhaps not great but okay, second shot was good but not great and now your say about 120 yards from the green. You are there for zero shots to par and now have 5 shots to get it down from 120 yards for 2 points!
Accept the bad game - I could easily play it safe ever round using my Ping Crossover 3 iron to tee off with - its straight, 200 yards easy to hit. But I know that at some stage soon I am going to have to try and use my driver/3 wood and accept that I will have a bad game! But the more I play the shots which I am nervous about, the better I will (hopefully) get.
Don't try and match an 12 handicapper! - if you PP blasts a drive 300 yards, threading the eye of a needle on a tight par 4, do you really need to match him? Nope is the answer!
Course management - do you really need to try and blast the driver or 3 wood on every hole? Is it better to play a nice long iron and find the fairway?

As I say, this is advice I have picked up that is giving me more confidence in my game on the course. it might seem a defeatist attitude say going for bogey, or even double bogey, but its give me confidence and there are times now where I am putting myself in contention by playing to my handicap - relaxed, playing to strengths etc. Also, a few months ago, on certain holes, I would go for bogey+, where as now I have the confidence to try for par - or better!

Good luck and keep at it!