Repetition or on the job training?

[Jungle]

So over Christmas I made the wise move of getting some lessons.

So now it's time to practise and see if I can take a chunk of my handicap. However with the great weather I just want to get on the course. If the course is quiet I will play a few balls, practise a bit of bunker play etc.

Can this be just as effective as hitting the range or practise ground and repeating the same shot a number of time?

What do you prefer?

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Play, play and play some more. Providing the swing can repeat to a large degree then the only way to discover how to golf as oppose to hitting balls is to go out and do it. Especially valid for chipping and putting

 

[Wayman]

get out on course practice different shots different places different lies

better than standing on a flat range smacking 7 iron at the same flag for 100 balls

 

[duncan mackie]

you need both

multiple repetitions are a way to hone, and understand, your capabilities - course play is the way to establish how to put your capabilities into practice on the course (or whether their not quite that capable yet!)

that so much of golf is mental is the reason for both!

 

[TEDSTAR]

I prefer to make the swing changes for full shots feel natural on the range first, and get into a rythm that I feel I can repeat.Then I agree with the play, play, play attack.Striking the ball is one thing but getting it in the hole is what matters.The only way to get better at doing this is to experience all the different lies and shots that you come across on the course.

 

[DCB]

So over Christmas I made the wise move of getting some lessons.

So now it's time to practise and see if I can take a chunk of my handicap. However with the great weather I just want to get on the course. If the course is quiet I will play a few balls, practise a bit of bunker play etc.

Can this be just as effective as hitting the range or practise ground and repeating the same shot a number of time?

What do you prefer?

You had lessons at Christmas and you're only going to start the hard graft with the practice now I'd have thought lessons interspersed with a lot of practice sessions to work on what you've been taught would have been the way to go.

I'd certainly be taking it out onto the course now so you learn to play the required shot from various places on any given hole. Makes the game so much easier if you practice with purpose.

 

[Imurg]

I practiced by playing.
Worked out what worked and what didn't.
Not always the way to go but when you're as bad as practicing as I am it makes sense...

 

[pbrown7582]

I would of thought you'll need another refresher lesson if you haven't done much range practice on your changes since Xmas.
You need to mix practice and playing depending what shape your game is in.

 

[Jungle]

You had lessons at Christmas and you're only going to start the hard graft with the practice now I'd have thought lessons interspersed with a lot of practice sessions to work on what you've been taught would have been the way to go.

I'd certainly be taking it out onto the course now so you learn to play the required shot from various places on any given hole. Makes the game so much easier if you practice with purpose.

I spent a fair bit of time at the range over the winter this question was more in regards to regular practise.

I seems most agree any time you can get on the course is worth taking. When I pop up at night it is pretty quiet so I can spend a decent amount of time around the greens etc.

 

[lyden]

I really feel the benefit from working on our grass range & short game area, although I understand the temptation to go and play a few holes is tough to resist. Playing on my own rarely does me any good because I can't replicate the choices & shots I make under pressure.

 

[Ian_S]

I always prefer being out on the course. No matter what game I try to play on the putting green, nothing beats the pressure of real putt for par or birdie.

It's whatever works for you though. I just can't stand there hitting balls into a net when the course is right next to me, calling me to it.

 

[Slab]

I think it depends on the golfers ability & the extent of the change he/she is trying to implement

Accomplished players with small tweaks are far more likely to be able to practice it while on the course but for me and other hackers faced with huge changes to go through it would have to be the grass range, practice bunker/greens etc and go down the repetition route...then hit the course

(I'm doing what is for me a huge posture & grip change just now and planning around 1000 hits with it before I take it on a course. Can't imagine trying to do this when there's a hole to worry about too. At most I might fit in one course visit around the halfway point simply to evaluate progress)

 

[Tiger]

I'm brilliant on the range, no really I am. I stripe the ball beautifully. But there's two things the range doesn't help you with:

1. Playing a single shot when it matters. I don't know many people disciplined enough to change club after every shot on the range and even then you don't have the walk between shots and the chipping and putting to break up the repetitive nature of full swings

2. Dealing with situations. You might have an imagination better than JK Rowling but visualising the variety of shots you'll face on the course on a range is nigh on impossible. And that's not to mention the lie of your ball and other obstacles you may encounter

My challenge is that I've got a young family so opportunities for golf are limited. But if you can get on a course regularly if I were you I'd do it. Have fun!

 

[chellie]

I'd never held a golf club until late last summer so for me it has been lessons, then practice what I've learnt on the practice ground and then get out on the course. Although since we've joined the golf club and the nights are staying lighter for longer I've neglected practice ground sessions. We've played 9 so far every night this week plus what we played at weekend. Have booked a lesson though to make sure I'm still keeping on the right track.