How do you practice at range?

[danattherock]

Tired of hitting balls into the abyss...

So 2-3 days a week lately been beating balls at the range. Trying to work on my swing and get back into golf more. However, I am a bit bored with my same old routine. I get a large bucket, 120 balls, start off with my 7 iron and hit about 40% of the bucket. Then I hit my hybrid, PW, GW, back to the 7i, perhaps then the 3W and a few with the driver to finish. Maybe hitting 10-15 balls with each club mentioned above. I leave feeling good about hitting balls, remembering a few particularly good shots. But overall, there is a lackluster feeling. I need a more focused practice routine. A more regimented approach if you will. Maybe even some way to make some measurable results of some kind. A way to meet or exceed goal. Curious how you guys approach your time on the practice range. Any and all ideas welcome of course.




-Dan

[that0neguy]

[quote name='danattherock' timestamp='1322703919' post='3873681']
So 2-3 days a week lately been beating balls at the range. Trying to work on my swing and get back into golf more. However, I am a bit bored with my same old routine. I get a large bucket, 120 balls, start off with my 7 iron and hit about 40% of the bucket. Then I hit my hybrid, PW, GW, back to the 7i, perhaps then the 3W and a few with the driver to finish. Maybe hitting 10-15 balls with each club mentioned above. I leave feeling good about hitting balls, remembering a few particularly good shots. But overall, there is a lackluster feeling. I need a more focused practice routine. A more regimented approach if you will. Maybe even some way to make some measurable results of some kind. A way to meet or exceed goal. Curious how you guys approach your time on the practice range. Any and all ideas welcome of course.




-Dan
[/quote]

Use your rangefinder, pick spots, figure out near exact yardages for each of your clubs. Work on half shots, figure those yardages. Figure out how hard you have to swing to hit 50, 60, 70, 80, etc. yards.

Work on shot shaping, etc.

[odshot68]

Most range balls don't fly the distance of normal balls so it won't hold true on a course..

[odshot68]

Work on hitting all 9 shots then work on controlling trajectory. Your ball flight tells you what you swing is doing.

[360_CS]

+1 on trying to shape shots. Just started doing that and is very challenging and fun.

[danattherock]

Honestly, never tried to shape a shot. Spent most my time learning to hit it straight. I got a natural draw, used to be a hook was my nemesis on the tee box. I am getting better and shooting high 80's to low 90's. How would you guys go about telling someone to shape the ball? Change in grip? Change in foot position? I can see the utility in shaping shots. Just never learned how. If nothing else, that would give me something fun to do on the range. Could come in handy on the course as well.



-Dan

[TheMackDaddy]

Want to get the most out of practice at the range? Spend 2.5 minutes on each shot!

[mikpga]

- Play your home course in your mind, on the range. Work through your bag.
- Vary targets on every shot.
- Vary trajectory, vary direction, vary speed.
- Practice with a pluthera of drills for whatever is specific to your swing.
- Please practice your short game, because golf is not just full swing.
- Golf specific exercises, stretches, etc...
- Contest with buddies. Most accurate. Long drive. Most left to right, most right to left. Lowest, highest,etc...

[jlaws_29]

I Play holes.

I Invision myself playing a par 5, par 4, then par 3.


For example, I'll hit a Driver, then a 3i, then a little pitch shot with a sand wedge. (Average par 5)

Then I'll hit driver, 7i, then another short shot with a sandwedge, always at a target. (Par 4)

Then I'll hit a 5 iron at a target, followed by another pitch shot. (par 3)



Basically every shot has a purpose. Not just hitting balls to hit balls. And never hitting the same club twice in a row after I get loose.

[Lefthook]

I second shaping shots.

But there are other purposes as well:

Balance
Weight shift
Setup (where the shot becomes the validation)

Any technical detail that needs work, basically.

[Petethreeput]

I am with you, I get incredibly bored at the range just banging balls. No matter how I try to make it a game, ultimately, since I don't have to go get them it does not feel real.
I bet I hit a total of 100 balls (all with a beat up 8 iron) on the range all season this year, don't want to ruin my clubs. I bet I chipped and putted 1000s working on varying on trajectories with my wedges. Playing each one out. I cant move until I get up and down 5 times in a row, then I change my position around the green and repeat the process. In the winter I work on my putting using the accelerator pad and i have to hit 10 in a row from 3', 5', 7' before I can quit.
Depending on your weather, it may not be a possibility to work around the greens, but it would break up the monotony. My routines are not for everyone, I just wanted you to know you are not the only one who leaves the range feeling like there has to be more.

[bobilishious2]

[quote name='TheMackDaddy' timestamp='1322705706' post='3873833']
Want to get the most out of practice at the range? Spend 2.5 minutes on each shot!
[/quote]

I think i'm quite unique in that when i'm practicing [b]mechanics[/b] I hit a large number of balls very quickly.

Typically i'll spend most of my time at home practising positions without a ball over and over again but when i'm at the range i'll hit shots very quickly as your body retains the muscle memory information much better between shots.

When i go to switch from working on mechanics to getting myself "course ready" i'll certainly take far more time and focus on targets and shot shape etc.

Depends on what you are trying to achieve in my opinion.

[jorel6248]

[quote name='danattherock' timestamp='1322703919' post='3873681']
So 2-3 days a week lately been beating balls at the range. Trying to work on my swing and get back into golf more. However, I am a bit bored with my same old routine. I get a large bucket, 120 balls, start off with my 7 iron and hit about 40% of the bucket. Then I hit my hybrid, PW, GW, back to the 7i, perhaps then the 3W and a few with the driver to finish. Maybe hitting 10-15 balls with each club mentioned above. I leave feeling good about hitting balls, remembering a few particularly good shots. But overall, there is a lackluster feeling. I need a more focused practice routine. A more regimented approach if you will. Maybe even some way to make some measurable results of some kind. A way to meet or exceed goal. Curious how you guys approach your time on the practice range. Any and all ideas welcome of course.




-Dan
[/quote]

1. Warm up mode: 5 balls for a wedge, a short iron, a mid iron, a long iron, a fairway wood, lastly driver.
2. Play mode: I imagine a hole layout in my mind then I hit the clubs I need to finish the hole excluding the putter. For example, If the hole that I imagine is 400 yds, first I hit my driver, wait a few seconds, then i hit an iron, wait a few seconds then a wedge. I do this routine for 9 holes to include par 3s and 5s and pre-shot routines for each shot.
3. Cool down mode: hit remaining balls with wedges at various distances.
4. Putting green.

[bulldurham]

[quote name='TheMackDaddy' timestamp='1322705706' post='3873833']
Want to get the most out of practice at the range? Spend 2.5 minutes on each shot!
[/quote]

+1

The thing I have learnt to do the most this year is SLOW DOWN. I used to grab a big bucket an motor through the whole thing as if I had somewhere to be. I started thinking a little bit more about my swing, focusing on visualizing the shot, reevaluating what I think I did wrong and working on my routine. It has really helped.

[tchilds]

There are basically two kinds of practice on the range, self-aware practice and target practice...the self-aware is when you are working on your swing and you are not paying complete attention to the target, simply working on the swing. Obviously the target practice is focusing on the target and forgetting about the mechanics. Of course, some of the other suggestions also will work, i.e. playing the course in your mind, or visualizing your first tee shot or a shot on a particular hole that gives you trouble. The range is where you work on your swing, so if you are just hitting balls aimlessly into the range, this is where you can try any drills you might think would help your swing/game. Or, here's another suggestion, get off the range and head to the putting/chipping green(s) and work on that!!

[Grumpy Superintendent]

I only hit 4 balls per club. Then I take a percentage of how many were hit well. 7-wedges I want to be at 100%. 6-hybrid i want at 75-50% depending on how often I hit that club. Also I make sure that the last ball in the bag is reserved for the driver. Really puts the pressure on me to make a good swing, knowing there isnt another ball waiting if I mess up.

[PreppySlapCut]

Lately I've been setting up and drawing an imaginary line down the middle of my range (through my 150 sign). I set up to it, and through every club I don't want to hit one single shot left of that sign.

[farmer]

Maybe limit yourself to one small bucket and focus entirely on each shot? Get away from the machine gun approach.

[mizunotitty]

you guys are so uptight.hits some shots at some targets shaping the ball.and youll be sound know what i mean

[MadGolfer76]

[quote name='TheMackDaddy' timestamp='1322705706' post='3873833']
Want to get the most out of practice at the range? Spend 2.5 minutes on each shot!
[/quote]

I don't think that was a Jack Pearsall-approved post. lol

I find the range to be entirely overrated. You end up hitting range rocks most of the time out of fluffy lies or divots, so how can you judge exactly what is happening and how it transfers out to the course? I love hearing people talk about learning to work Pinnacles on the range and wonder why they are all over the place out on the course with their ProV's. The other thing is that most ranges are set up terribly. The yardages are off, or there are elevation changes. Kind of defeats the whole purpose of practice if you don't know how far you hit the ball, or even get to practice with your own ball.

Even assuming you had access to a top-tier facility, even seeing your shots is sometimes deceptive. People are so results-oriented that they figure if they produce a desired result, then they must be doing something right, so they keep doing it when in reality they are timing a good flip through impact.

Personally, I got much more out of practicing in my living room in front of a mirror with my 1 year old watching (swing coach, lol) and saving time at the course for working on my short game and playing full rounds. Dropped four strokes off my handicap this year and maybe played two dozen rounds over the whole summer.

[golfdh2]

I start with the worst balls first and save the best ones for the Driver.

[Yepyukon]

I do a few different things.

1) I prominently play a fade so I will hit 5 or 6 draws in a row, then hit my fade
2) Like others have said, I will play a hole in my head. If I am at a course I have played before, it is usually the first hole that I play.
3) Practice the 6 shape shots: low fade/straight/draw, mid fade/straight/draw, high fade/straight/draw.

[danattherock]

[quote name='MadGolfer76' timestamp='1323208100' post='3901271']
[quote name='TheMackDaddy' timestamp='1322705706' post='3873833']
Want to get the most out of practice at the range? Spend 2.5 minutes on each shot!
[/quote]

I don't think that was a Jack Pearsall-approved post. lol

I find the range to be entirely overrated. You end up hitting range rocks most of the time out of fluffy lies or divots, so how can you judge exactly what is happening and how it transfers out to the course? I love hearing people talk about learning to work Pinnacles on the range and wonder why they are all over the place out on the course with their ProV's. The other thing is that most ranges are set up terribly. The yardages are off, or there are elevation changes. Kind of defeats the whole purpose of practice if you don't know how far you hit the ball, or even get to practice with your own ball.

Even assuming you had access to a top-tier facility, even seeing your shots is sometimes deceptive. People are so results-oriented that they figure if they produce a desired result, then they must be doing something right, so they keep doing it when in reality they are timing a good flip through impact.

Personally, I got much more out of practicing in my living room in front of a mirror with my 1 year old watching (swing coach, lol) and saving time at the course for working on my short game and playing full rounds. Dropped four strokes off my handicap this year and maybe played two dozen rounds over the whole summer.
[/quote]




I can relate to that. I spent a few years on Nantucket and couldn't afford to play much. Only public course on the island was about $100/round and I had nobody to play with anyway. I spent tons of time on the range. Mastered my 7 iron to the 150 yard flag. Got home to NC and found that my 7 iron had more of a draw than I realized and went 165. ha ha.. Talk about making some serious adjustments. I was flying everything over (and left of) the green. The range is a good place to hone skills, but can quickly become a crutch as I found out. It can also be terrible on your elbows, especially if hitting off mats. I should spend more time playing and less time at the range. Your post is a good reminder. Thanks.




-Dan

[inmens]

Here's a good practice routine that i follow.
Begin with wedges and 1/2 swings -just body movement- until it's a second nature. Then go full swing with hands et all.

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3GehK_WPKE&feature=g-vrec[/media]

[moonshine]

[quote name='TheMackDaddy' timestamp='1322705706' post='3873833']
Want to get the most out of practice at the range? Spend 2.5 minutes on each shot!
[/quote]
I am convinced after reading the other thread and trying it once.....IT WORKS! For me anyway. I enjoyed better shots and a repetition in my swing that was better than before. It's easy to do since adjusting to targets, getting lined up...etc., takes time and mentally you can be prepared.

[Vintage1976]

[quote name='bulldurham' timestamp='1322753539' post='3875757']
[quote name='TheMackDaddy' timestamp='1322705706' post='3873833']
Want to get the most out of practice at the range? Spend 2.5 minutes on each shot!
[/quote]
+1
The thing I have learnt to do the most this year is SLOW DOWN. I used to grab a big bucket an motor through the whole thing as if I had somewhere to be. I started thinking a little bit more about my swing, focusing on visualizing the shot, reevaluating what I think I did wrong and working on my routine. It has really helped.
[/quote]
+2 Rapid fire is no way to improve. This all-you-can-hit, timed-range session stuff should be a prosecutable offense.

I'm big on visualizing play also. In the winter dome sessions I try to warm up with really some smooth A wedges, then mid irons, and a drive or 2 and I'm ready to go straight to game play. I play 9 or 18 in my head and choose the appropriate club for each shot. That includes pulling wedge if I hit a stinker and would have needed to chip or punch out. If you go with your ipod or mp3 you can sometimes focus so well, it's like you can see the course in front of you.

[Reft]

Pick targets on the range, try to get the ball as close to that target as possible. Make sure you are consistent with your distance and your shot. Consistency is key. Keep trying to get the ball in the same little area of your target.

Take more time between shots, get half the balls, but take the same amount of time to hit them as you would the larger bucket. Focus on your pre-shot routine.

For driver/3wood/longer clubs: give yourself a narrow "alley" in which you want to land the ball. Make it pretty small but not impossible. This is your "fairway" for the range, and try to get every ball into that "fairway". Then when you hit the course, the fairway will seem like an endless ocean

[danattherock]

Played a round in British Open conditions today. Had the best "practice" I have had in a while. Spending more time and dough playing from here on in. The range is boring me to death. So many things came up today. Thinned a wedge that cost me big time as I flew into a back green bunker. Skulled a few chips and chilli dipped one very painful 15 foot chip (went 2 feet). Hit a few hooks off the tee boxes on the back nine. Back was tight, which revealed another weakness, physical conditioning. My putting direction was good, but left many short right in the mouth. Also fired 2-3 twenty footers five feet past the hole. I have not played a round in months and got my arse handed to me today. Shot a 94, but can think of about ten strokes that should not have been there. Especially the two 7 iron pitches out of the pine straw after an errant tee shot on #2. With some fine tuning and focused practice, I will be shooting in the mid 80's in no time. That is my goal for the time being. After my round today, I know better about how to do it. As I said, best practice I have had in a long time was PLAYING today. Thanks for the suggestion earlier




-Dan

[Tango-Golf]

Once I'm warmed up, I take the scorecard and "play" the course on the range (assuming I already know the course). Based on the yardage and shot shape of each hit, I force myself to play the next shot based on where I'd be and the lie I'd have (below feet, downhill etc) on a given hole. In essence, play the course on the range

[Ethan_bulen]

Hit shots that you would only hit on the course and do not over swing... get into a good routine