How'd You Do on the Range?

**lamebums** · May 30, 2007

Just thought I'd start this, since there's a thread about what you shoot, a thread about your best shots... but there's nothing about what you work on while practicing. So, here goes...

I got myself the jumbo bucket and a bottle of Gatorade and set myself up in one of the stalls--hot, humid, and I was in for a long one. I hadn't gone to the range in about a month, but I'd played plenty of golf. Every time I would have a problem, rather than hitting the range to work it out, I would apply a haphazard "on the course" solution to it, which further destabilized my game. In the end, I had a massive pile of shit on top of what used to be a decent game.

I had problems with hiting the club off the toe, skulling it, hitting toppers, and most painfully, duck-hooking the ball, especially on drives. My game was one sick puppy. I started by hitting a few wedges, 30, 50, 70, and 100 yard pitch shots, with emphasis on swinging easy and slowing down. Then, I hit the 7 iron, nailed it about 150 even while swinging easy. 5 iron, about 180. 3 iron, a hair over 200. I struggled with hooks, but by and large I was able to cut it down to size and get it back to my usual draw. Then, I hit some 3 woods - and miraculously, hit no toppers. Then, the big dog came out, with my last 20 or so balls, I duck-hooked some, but swung easy on others and hit the ball about 250.

I'm going to hit some holes as soon as possible, making a full swing but only using three-quarters power. I only lose about 10 yards (20+ with driver) but I'm much more in control of the ball.

**Thrdroc** · May 30, 2007

My problem at the range is i get really tired from hitting so many balls in such a small period of time. I usually only get a bucket of about 60 balls now and i just work on the clubs that are troubling me. That right now is my driver and accuracy with my long irons. With my irons i have a draw, which for the longer irons it turns into a slight hook which is killer. I've started to straighten them out which is good. For my driver i have no clue what the problem is. I can hit it every once in a while and hit it well. I can hit those new drivers well but i dont want to pay $300+ for a driver if i still can't hit.

**doublesuited77** · May 30, 2007

i actually tend it hit it further when i slow down my swing because my base is so much more stable.

my biggest issue at the range is to avoid just whacking balls and making sure i do a good pre-shot routine on every swing.

**laconic517** · May 30, 2007

I suck on the range, id much rather play golf. When I do go to the range i only seem to cause more problems and then somehow they go away when I play golf. Sometimes going does help, like the old play the hole you have trouble with over and over on the range.

**Cleveland Gunmetal** · May 30, 2007

LOL! Cool... I haven't been able to post in the "what did you shoot today" thread lately because I haven't been able to get out a lot. But there's a driving range a half mile from my house and I'm there frequently.

Been working on a few things with my swing, mainly staying over the ball and not shifting my weight as much. My irons are looking solid but my tee game is a bit erratic. One problem I have, and others said this, is I tend to just pound ball after ball without getting much accomplished. I have to make sure I take my time between shots and aim at a target. Last few times I've been much better at doing that. Second problem is that this range does not have a practice green so my short game suffers if I don't play. When it's all said and done I'd much rather play but it's way more convenient for me to go to the range and that's certainly better than nothing. And there are times I feel it is more beneficial to hit range balls than playing.

**niblick** · May 30, 2007

I hit about 100 balls a day. I have a pretty set routine. PW, 8 iron, 5 iron, hybrid or 3 wood, driver, concentrating on hitting my target. Irons have been feeling pretty good, driver is very hit and miss. I pulled the trigger on a new Titleist 907D1 with the correct shaft for me, so I'm hoping to gain a little consistency with that when it arrives. That gets me through half the bucket. The second half is spent hitting wedge shots at a basket about 60 yards out, concentrating mainly on controlling trajectory.

It's about an hour of work - I'd do more, but it's all I can fit in on my lunch break.

**lamebums** · May 30, 2007

I hit about 100 balls a day. I have a pretty set routine. PW, 8 iron, 5 iron, hybrid or 3 wood, driver, concentrating on hitting my target. Irons have been feeling pretty good, driver is very hit and miss. I pulled the trigger on a new Titleist 907D1 with the correct shaft for me, so I'm hoping to gain a little consistency with that when it arrives. That gets me through half the bucket. The second half is spent hitting wedge shots at a basket about 60 yards out, concentrating mainly on controlling trajectory.

You sound like the kind of guy I'd want to be when it comes to a practice routine. When I do hit the range, I warm up with a few wedges, and then work on longer and longer clubs, focusing on whatever problem I have in my game.

My problem however, is my astonishing lack of money (unemployed since last October, and still responsible for tuition bills). It's $7.50 for a cart fee at my course, since I'm a member, but it's $11.00 for the large bucket of balls. So, I ended up playing a lot of 9 hole rounds, and spent almost no time on the range...end result, my game slowly fell apart as I applied more and more "on the course" fixes to everyday golf problems...I ended up with a huge pile of shit on top of what used to be a decent game. (Perhaps someone could sticky this thread?)

**niblick** · May 30, 2007

You sound like the kind of guy I'd want to be when it comes to a practice routine. When I do hit the range, I warm up with a few wedges, and then work on longer and longer clubs, focusing on whatever problem I have in my game.

That's a tough spot. I'd probably play instead of practice too if I was in your position. I'm lucky to have a boss that understands my devotion to the game, and a wife who's gracious about a $50/week range ball habit.

**Clubswinger21** · May 30, 2007

I dont go to the range. I cant hit off those spongy green matts that green up your clubs. I generally find I lose a club in distance on those things. And those horrible plastic tees that cause so much friction you lose 15 yards on all your drives. There's 2 grass tee range's here and they're both a 20 minute drive.

I practice my short game on the practice greens at a par 3 course near me all the time. Then I play golf, I learn more in a round than I ever will mindlessly hacking ball after ball. If I had a swing coach and I was working out a kink in my game, it would be different. Im not pro so why would I do that anyways. Screw the range, play golf, and practice short game frequently.

**supercow** · May 30, 2007

You sound like the kind of guy I'd want to be when it comes to a practice routine. When I do hit the range, I warm up with a few wedges, and then work on longer and longer clubs, focusing on whatever problem I have in my game.

Why don't you just get a shag bag, find a field and then start whacking balls there? Pretty much the only time I head to the range these days is when the weather ain't too great....

**rmccabe6** · May 30, 2007

Last time i went to the range, i sliced everything as usual until I realized I wasn't doing a full shoulder turn. The few times I did it correctly, then my ball went straight. Just wished I could remember to do it everytime.

darrenz · May 30, 2007

i never hit well off mats at the range, but on the course its different.
the range doesen't really help me, it just warms me up

**Cleveland Gunmetal** · May 31, 2007

That's a tough spot. I'd probably play instead of practice too if I was in your position. I'm lucky to have a boss that understands my devotion to the game, and a wife who's gracious about a $50/week range ball habit.

I'd play instead of pounding range balls too... I think most would. I was a member at a course kinda out in the middle of nowhere a couple years ago and I played all the time. Course only

really got busy on the weekends. Seldom ever hit range balls. I've since moved too far away from that course and the courses around me get absolutely packed and I have little patience for slow play, so many times I just hit balls on the range instead.

I dont go to the range. I cant hit off those spongy green matts that green up your clubs. I generally find I lose a club in distance on those things. And those horrible plastic tees that cause so much friction you lose 15 yards on all your drives. There's 2 grass tee range's here and they're both a 20 minute drive.

Good post. Fortunately the range I go to has a grassy section. I hate those mats too. But... if that's all I've got, then that's all I've got. I totally agree on the short game. Practicing your short game is far more beneficial than practicing pounding drivers in a 100 yard wide field. I'm guilty of hitting balls frequently and my short game has suffered a bit. And you make a point about having a swing coach. I think many of us go out on the range and try to work through problems but we really don't know what the problem is or how to fix it. So, in the end we often just groove a swing flaw.

**lamebums** · May 31, 2007

Why don't you just get a shag bag, find a field and then start whacking balls there? Pretty much the only time I head to the range these days is when the weather ain't too great....

I used to do that when I was younger, but Northern Kentucky is a victim of some serious urban sprawl. It's almost impossible to find an open field these days without worrying what someone else would think or do about it. The idea's good, though: I'm going to put a twist on that at some point. I will go down to the Ohio River with a bunch of buddies, get some beer and burgers, grill them up, and tee off and try to bean the barges out in the middle going up and down the river.

Good post. Fortunately the range I go to has a grassy section. I hate those mats too. But... if that's all I've got, then that's all I've got. I totally agree on the short game. Practicing your short game is far more beneficial than practicing pounding drivers in a 100 yard wide field. I'm guilty of hitting balls frequently and my short game has suffered a bit. And you make a point about having a swing coach. I think many of us go out on the range and try to work through problems but we really don't know what the problem is or how to fix it. So, in the end we often just groove a swing flaw.

The range I go to has mats as well as a grassy area. The rare time I hit the range these days, I work on all sorts of shots. I know the guy who runs the place, and he says he's getting a putting green put in pretty soon. Until then, I put three or four buckets out in the field at 20, 30, 50 yards and so on, and try to get the ball into the buckets, that's how I work on my short game. You can be sure when the green goes in that I'll be spending a lot of time on the putting green, though.

As to hacking away at ball after ball with your driver, it's a good way to get tired in a hurry. Bad practice doesn't make perfect; bad practice makes permanent.

**WhiplashSmile** · May 31, 2007

I buy 10 large buckets for $44 at a small local club near me. If the course if open I play 9 for $12 but they have leagues M-Tr. I hit the range a lot during the week. i try to start with my wedges and work to my driver. Then I start playing imaginary golf. You know...out of bounds to the right and a 345 yard Par 4. After a large bucket I spend about an hour or more on the putting green working on short puts and medium puts...all the way to crazy long 45' puts. The putting is probably helping more than the range time but I like to at least hit a few balls 2 or 3 times a week. I ran this evening so I will make it a point to at least hit some balls Thursday evening...

May 31, 2007

I'm am very lucky because i can hit as many balls as i want for free. I live in a neighborhood with a golf course and club house, which is right down street from me , and which has a free driving range, putting green, and pitching green. So i am always out there for hours hitting countless balls. ALso since im a member 18 holes for me is only $13, 9 holes is $7. So i am very lucky.

**oneil003** · May 31, 2007

Ya I'm in a similar situation too, where the high school that I play for will pay for all balls that I hit at the range. I don't go out and randomly hack at balls, but I will set up and work on what I need to work on.

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How'd You Do on the Range?

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