So whats the point in the range ?

[bladeplayer]

Moving of from & not wanting to highjack Slabs thread " Bags at the range"

Alot of people seem to agree that range balls are mostly rubbish , so whats the point in spending time down there playing off mats with balls that dont travel as far or react the same as a real ball or a real course would ?
Are the yardage markers "realy" adjusted acordingly ?

I know during the winter its better than not hitting any ball at all , but is it doing our golf any good , & is hitting your wedges off ground with very little give in them good for your clubs or your joints

Thoughts ?

 

[Region3]

When I go to the range I don't care how far the ball goes. It's just about grooving a swing. You should be able to tell if contact was good/heel/toe/thin and you can see which way the ball moves in the air. That's it for me.

The only time I'm bothered about distance is when I'm hitting wedges, and then I still don't care how far the balls go, just how far they go relative to each other.

The other thing I won't do with range balls now is hit any iron longer than my 6. I honestly don't think they spin well enough to keep a long iron shot in the air and I end up trying to hit the ball too hard just to get any distance.

 

[Slab]

Sometimes its just trying to dial in swing or set-up consistency for me. Distance means nothing so its based on direction & consistent length

Although job one when you arrive at a range...check if the markers are in yards or meters! results might be surprising

I use one where the mats are moved back/forward 15 meters to let the grass recover, the distance markers never change though

 

[BTatHome]

For most of the time I just use the range to warm up my swing, getting some stretches going before hitting the first tee. Don't really care how far the ball is going just swinging the clubs at a ball is better for me than practice swings. I usually hit less a dozen balls before a medal round.

 

[One Planer]

When I go to the range I don't care how far the ball goes. It's just about grooving a swing. You should be able to tell if contact was good/heel/toe/thin and you can see which way the ball moves in the air. That's it for me.

Sums it up for me nicely :thup:

I focus on making a good swing, making good contact and seeing the flight of the ball. The distance is immaterial.

The other thing I will add is this. The range I use has an indoor, Huxley putting green. Plays just like a proper green. I spend quite a bit of time on there :thup:

 

[patricks148]

I steer well clear of driving ranges. We only have one here in Inverness, the balls are terrible and its full of numpty's.

I use the short game area at the club in the summer, but thats the only time i hit balls in practice, except on the course.

If i feel the need to swing a club, i just use my swingyde, groves a perfect swing without having to hit balls. The only time i hit balls with it, is if i'm taking the dogs to the beach, i take it alonge with me with a few old balls and whack those off the sand.

 

[StrangelyBrown]

When I go to the range I don't care how far the ball goes. It's just about grooving a swing. You should be able to tell if contact was good/heel/toe/thin and you can see which way the ball moves in the air. That's it for me.

Same for me.

To be honest, it's the same at the course at the moment. All I can do is to try and put a good swing on it and make a good contact.

 

[dirtygaz]

I am a little put off by the range lately, I have had a few sessions trying to cure my slice and I didn't think I was getting any better judging by the range balls. But once I got on the course my drives weren't even half as bad as they looked on the range, something that was also noted by the lad play with. Not exactly the biggest confidence booster when the range balls slice 40yds wide and my drives on the course look more of a fade, rather than a slice?

 

[woody69]

The biggest issue for me at the range isn't the balls but the mats. I hate playing off mats so I rarely go except to hit a few balls before a round to warm up

 

[user2009]

Going to the range is better than doing nothing, £4 and you can fill in an hour however you wish. You get away with a lot more at the range though, especially getting under the ball where the club bounces and you still make the shot, not on the course where you just take a massive divot.

 

[bobmac]

Reference the distance to the targets......
Use the measuring tool on Google earth to check the distances if you can see them

 

[user2009]

I've also noticed at the range with my new driver that when it scuffs off the mat it gives off sparks Is that normal?

 

[dirtygaz]

I've also noticed at the range with my new driver that when it scuffs off the mat it gives off sparks Is that normal?

Pretty sure I did this once last week, thought I must of imagined it?

 

[Slab]

I've also noticed at the range with my new driver that when it scuffs off the mat it gives off sparks Is that normal?

Not normal, you must have an awesome swing

 

[user2009]

Not normal, you must have an awesome swing

No sparks between the club and ball, that would be awesome,the club and the mat.

 

[dirtygaz]

Not normal, you must have an awesome swing

Yeah I would like to believe that one, but deep down I know I am rubbish

 

[duncan mackie]

I've also noticed at the range with my new driver that when it scuffs off the mat it gives off sparks Is that normal?

yes - it's gritty material in the mat (from shoes) and the material on your club head sole.

 

[garyinderry]

try and copy a pros less than textbook swing! not really something i want to do out on the course!

 

[connor]

Our range is a case of take your own balls them go fetch when finished which is all well and good but someone shanked one towards me once and there was hell of a lot of room between us. I tend to not use driver there as can't be bothered to go and look for them all plus some people tend to pilfer your balls if your not watching. Luckily I got 100off eBay for 10quid so if they want them I won't loose much sleep haha

 

[beck9965]

The biggest issue for me at the range isn't the balls but the mats. I hate playing off mats so I rarely go except to hit a few balls before a round to warm up

Have you tried the true strike mats yet, a range near me has them and they feel great they have a gel pad in them that is meant to feel like hitting off of a fairway.