Taking it to the course

[roalex]

I have been playing golf now for about 2 years but only very seriously until about 5 months ago. I go to the driving/practice range about 4 times a week and play about twice per month on average.

My problem/challenge is that I have little to no consistency in my shots and thus my scores. I have been told that I have a nice swing and when at the range I hit a slight fade. I go through a basket of about a 150 balls, feel great afterwards and can't wait to go to the golf course and put it to use. Yet when I get there I still top the ball occasionally, I start pulling my drives, and I generally hit some pretty sh*#y shots.

I usually shoot around a 100 and haven't been able to break 95 ever. My lowest score to date is a 99.

The thing is I have a great driving range game, I just can't take it to the course. Does anyone have any suggestions as to how I can play a better round of golf?

Cheers and thanks for any advice

[Shindig]

Please describe your range routine. Are you just hitting driver after driver? Do you mix it up? Are you thinking of mechanics at the range or just trusting your swing?

Without knowing your range routine, I can suggest the following:
* Use a pre-shot routine every few shots, or even every shot, at the range. You might hit fewer balls, but this way, when you do a pre-shot routine on the course, it feels natural.
* "Play" the course at the range. Picture the first hole, hit a drive. Hit second shot, etc, until you're on the green. Repeat for the next few holes.

[DaveLeeNC]

Play "a round of golf" on the range. Pick a course and imagine that you are on the first tee and hit a drive. Then decide what your next shot would be and hit that. If it looks like you would have been 25 yards short then hit a pitch shot.

Of course there are no trees, no rough, no bunkers, you can't putt, etc. But pay close attention to what those results are vs. what you typically experience on the course. This can then be your guide as you decide where the problem really is. Maybe you do hit the ball worse on the course. Or maybe it is course management or maybe even short game.

But first find out if you really do hit the ball better on the range (but in this case you won't be hitting your 35th straight driver).

dave

[tm22721]

I have the same problem. The range gave diminishing returns once I got past the basics. Now I go to the course every afternoon after work and play 9 holes for practice. The exercise doesn't hurt either.

[Klean]

When you are at the range, are you picking targets or just wacking away? I found that I'm much more consistent on the course when I practice like I'm playing a full 18. Sometimes I grab a scorecard and pretend I'm playing each hole. Driver, then long iron/hybrid and depending on the hole, mid iron and/or wedge. Rinse and repeat.


I also stopped hitting off the mats and started practicing on grass only. That's my practice routine, it makes it fun and I've definately seen an improvement in my scores. I also have been working on my short game a lot lately too.

[Dent]

Also, are you hitting off the matts? Hitting off of Turf Matts is much much easier then hitting it off grass. Going off the matts takes a simple easy sweep, but on the course it takes a bit more than that to hit it off the grass.

[roalex]

My typical range routine as of lately:

Start of with a PW and hit a few just to loosen up. The I tell myself hit three with the wedge and aim for the same spot every time with the same swing. I then move up through all of my clubs this way hitting three to the same place with the same swing. If I miss hit a ball I start over again with that club and make sure I have hit three good shots. Obviously I hit them further as the club gets longer, I'm not hitting my 4 iron 85 yards. After I have done this I then get into my longer clubs Driver and rescue/hybrid. I do the same with these clubs but I tend to hit a few more than three somewhere in the area of 7 to 10 good drives. After that is complete I finish off with my wedges PW, Gap W, SW, and LW.

As for playing a course at the range I have tried to do this but I do find it a little difficult. I live in Taiwan and most if not all of the courses here are on the side of a mountain. The courses are rarely if ever flat. This makes things much more difficult when it comes to practicing. Many of the players here tend to get a lot of side hill lies, ball below the feet, and above the feet.

Cheers thanks again for any replies

[allin]

My typical range routine as of lately:

Try to focus on feel when warming up, don't spend signifcant time on whatever technical issues you have been addressing. That and on course practice if feasible for the non flat lies.

[roalex]

Is there a way to practice for non flat lies at driving ranges that are all flat? If anyone knows of ways to practice for this please let me know.

Cheers

[BallStriker]

It sounds stupid, but the fact is that you are taking the game way too seriously. Unless you make your living playing (or play at a very high amatuer level), just forget about your score and enjoy the experience.

Don't get me wrong, I work on improving my game b/c of the fact that I love the challenge -- but I really don't beat myself up anymore if I make a double bogey here and there.

[Pinseeker81]

....you can't putt....

I need to "play 18" on my range, and every 3rd or 4th shot just pull out the putter and tap one off the edge of the tee area and see how long it takes someone to say something

[AmenCorner]

I'd bet the bank that your short game is horrendous. Work on that more.

Most players of your caliber are too busy hitting 3 irons on the range rather than working on pitching/chipping/putting where you spend the majority of your shots.

[Three Putt]

Roalex, if you are serious don't hit off turf matts.

I would suggest hitting a 8 iron only off grass...not just full swings either, try to hit 1/2 shots and 3/4 shots.

learn solid contact

also on chips and pitches swing at 50% to learn feel and solid contact.

obviously putting is the other HALF of the game, i can't offer any good tips since my putting is average. My hcap is strickly ball striking and very good driving. i work on putting but can't seem to be consistent.

[roalex]

Roalex, if you are serious don't hit off turf matts.

Thanks for this advice. This sounds like something I can actually do and make it work.

[domvalentine]

Hi Alex

This may sound stupid but can you move the mats?

Perhaps putting a block of wood or even your golf bag under the mats to produce a hill-side lie might be feasible?

Just a thought

Dominic

[rudygu]

Is there a way to practice for non flat lies at driving ranges that are all flat? If anyone knows of ways to practice for this please let me know.

http://www.hillshotgolf.com/ I have no idea if they will ship to Taiwan, but they were on The Golf Channel Show "Fore Inventors Only" and the product received rave reviews.

[AmenCorner]

Just relax and have fun out there.