I feel like range time is wasted

I actually like hitting shots on the range.  I can work on something without having much concern over where the ball goes.  I can focus even more when I am hitting into a net.

For yourself, have you ever tried to visualize playing a round while on the range.

Example:

First shot:  Driver - hooked left

Second shot: 7 iron draw to get around trees and back toward green

Third shot:  60 wedge - 50 yards

Fourth shot:  Driver again

Fifth shot:  Hybrid - (second shot on Par 5)

......

......

......

I'm 20x better on the range.  Sucks!

Yes, definitely, its mostly mats by me and that can be a big transition to the grass, it sucks.

So I've been taking it slower at the range, working on each part of the swing from takeaway to finish and trying to get it all into a smooth swing rather than hitting a lot of balls.

The other thing I do is approach the range likes holes, first I drive, then second shot with hybrid/long iron, then wedge, all with a target, if I hit the same club over and over I get good with it, but that doesn't help on the course, it's all about that first shot.

Your HC index is +1.1 and you have this problem?

How is that even possible??? - JK!

I hear ya.  I have the same problem when I have something on the line.  I think, at least for me, it's because I tense up (consciously or subconsciously) when I have something riding on the line.  So on the course, instead of putting a good swing, I tend to "guide/steer" the ball.

If I have nothing on the line, I feel lose and just put a good swing on the ball and the results are similar to the range sessions.

I need to just trust my swing when playing in a tournament or for $$$.

Just my 2 cents.

When on the range, I do not hit the same club over and over after I get warmed up. For instance I might start a sequence of three practice shots with my driver, then my 3 W, and then a PW. while focusing on the same target . I also take my time between hitting each of those clubs, while using my own pre-shot routine.My next sequence might be 5w, 6i, and 9i. Very seldom do I ever use the same club twice in a row when actually playing, so I don't practice that way either. It's the same when practicing my chipping, and putting. Once warmed up, I will only use one ball, and play it from different areas around, or on the practice green. Another thing I do is practice tougher shots more than the easy ones. I will work more on side hill lies, up hill, and down hill lies more than I will a level lie. I will purposely practice hitting balls out of high rough when ever possible. I will purposely step on balls in the practice bunker. I even practice hitting slices, and hooks, because sometimes knowing how to hit those two "bad" shots actually comes in handy. Practicing actual playing conditions is what it's all about for me.

I guess I don't fully understand what you are saying. I do use it to practice. I want to practice situations and shots I will face on the course, I'm not there to practice being good on the range, I'm there to learn how to score better. At this point I don't work on many big things with my swing because I don't have a coach and I don't know what I should and should not change, so I mostly just try to work on becoming more consistent at the range. I do that by working on small swing changes and just general fundamentals. But the problem I have is that I can't hit the ball nearly as well or as consistently on the range so it feels like I'm working on improving a completely different swing than the one that is actually important. [quote name="Yukari" url="/t/75448/i-feel-like-range-time-is-wasted#post_1011412"]Your HC index is +1.1 and you have this problem? How is that even possible??? - JK! I hear ya.  I have the same problem when I have something on the line. [/quote] I think you may have misunderstood what I said, I am significantly better on the course under tournament pressure than I am just practicing on the range. :)

Do you practice alone? Ime and my buddies play range and putting games to create pressure like on the course. I lose most of the time :) it helps to gamble, even if for chump change, and put something on the line. I have many scratch level friends and many of them tell me hitting balls doesn't really make them better other than just to create different shots and be able to execute them on demand but that's about it at that level.

This is not why I use the range. I tend to work on the swing and try to eliminate swing flaws when I am practicing. Most of the time is spent getting the body positions adjusted and doing any drills I was given during my lessons. I spend about 30% of my time at home against a net, 40% at the practice range and 30% practicing on the course (not scoring rounds).

If I am warming up, I am just trying to get my timing down for the course before I hit the first tee.

The range is also a great place to play games with your friends to see who can make it closest to the pin etc., but that's not what I would consider practice.

A ton of people have this problem. (good players included)  Everything gets quicker when you take it to the course.  I try to take my driver back slower on purpose because I know I'm going to be jacked up to rip one.  It's a lot more tense when your score counts!

I've striped a dozen drives on the range and literally walked to the first tee that's 30 seconds away and straight pulled it into the trees.  I tend to get quick.

I only use the range for a quick warm up pre-round or if I'm working on a swing change.  If I'm swinging fine I just go play.  Screw the range.

As Johnny Miller say's you must play play play. I have the same problem. It takes great concentration to hit ball after ball and get good practice in.

Normal practice time for me is...

1.  I hit a medium size bucket of balls (about 90)

a. I hit the first half using some different clubs from driver to 60 wedge all full strength

b. I hit the second half as if I were on the course.  I think "short par 4".  Ill give myself 3 follow up clubs like 5-7 irons.  Distance lowers 1 club and accuracy lowers one club.  If I hit my driver

straight but offline I will hit a 6 iron at a target.  If i miss by about 15 yards ill grab my 54 wedge.  I play par 5, short par 4, long par 4, short par 3 and long par 3 in my head until the bucket

is gone

2. I spend about 30 minutes on the chipping green doing various shots from various lies

3. I spend about 20 minutes doing some putting drills on the putting green

What you are saying is not to bother with any of that with the bucket of balls and just work on the muscle memory of my swing.  If that is the case, then should I not worry about hitting from the grass (which at my range is very beat up with sand and bad spots etc) and just hit from the mats working on swing mechanics?  I am in the same boat as the OP as my practice almost never translates to the course whether good or bad.  I have had some great days on the range but a day or two later, the course chews me up.  I will go hit a few warm up shots on the range before playing and the warm up shots are junk but I shoot pretty well.

My range sessions usually start out well then I stop being able to hit anything that even remotely resembles a good shot. This also tends to transition into my round if I play the next day. I try to do the drills assigned to me but after a short while I end up going back to full swings. I have a short attention span when it comes to practice I guess. It's obviously something that is going to hold me back until I can learn to focus longer.