Newbie Q: how to practice my swing...

[99s]

...I just saw a reply in a thread in which the poster advised a guy struggling with his hybrids to "practice with wedges, then check with driver, woods, etc"

I bought a 'frequent hitter' ticket at a local range and have been very unstructured in my approach...I'm struggling with my driver, so I usually start off with it, and hit until frustration sets in, then go to friendlier clubs like shorter irons or my 3H.

After hitting my ~66 ball large bucket I go to the practice green and chip & putt for a while.

Would anyone care to recommend a more structured approach? It seems to me that concentrating on grooving my swing using the most forgiving club in my bag might mask errors that would be more apparent with a driver or 4 iron...

99s

[jambalaya]

I don't start with my driver but I do hit the driver very early in my practice. The driver is the hardest club in the bag to hit. It takes a lot of concentration and physical effort so you want to start hitting it before you get worn out beating balls around. I usually start with a 7 or 8 iron to get warmed up and get a little confidence going. I then go to the driver after I feel loose. I then hit another short iron and then a long iron/hybrid or fairway club. I like to mix things up rather than go progressively long or short.

[Open-Faced Club Sandwedge]

I don't start with my driver but I do hit the driver very early in my practice. The driver is the hardest club in the bag to hit. It takes a lot of concentration and physical effort so you want to start hitting it before you get worn out beating balls around. I usually start with a 7 or 8 iron to get warmed up and get a little confidence going. I then go to the driver after I feel loose. I then hit another short iron and then a long iron/hybrid or fairway club. I like to mix things up rather than go progressively long or short.

The driver is far from the hardest club in my bag to hit. In fact, for me I'd say my bag looks like this from easiest to hardest to hit:

Easiest: 8,9,PW A little harder: SW, LW A little harder: 7,6 Then my driver fits in about here. Noticeably harder: hybrid 4, 5 iron, 5W Very tough: 4 iron, 3W It my be my lack of experience/consistency, or I might just be a weirdo, but I have 5 clubs that are solidly tougher to hit than my driver. Also, my hybrid which is supposed to be easier to hit than my irons is only easier than one or maybe two of my irons. And my 3W, which is supposed to be easier off the tee than my driver, is much tougher to hit. Anyway, I've been focusing on practicing my 3W off the tee, my 5W and hybrid off the deck, and my longer irons. I have been gaining consistency with them, but still not to the level of my other clubs. -Andrew

[jambalaya]

A lot of people have problems hitting the driver. And not only that, the driver takes more physical exertion to hit. So it makes since to warm up with a shorter club to me, and if you are going to hit a lot of driver shots it makes since to not leave it until the end. But whatever works for you.

[Jamboboy]

How many clubs do you guys take to the range?

*****Noob alert*******

My first post here, just taken up golf about a month ago, I have inherited some of my dads Ben Sayers clubs and I bought a ben sayers hybrid. I can drive reasonably straight when I concentrate but my length is quite poor.
I have various problems with my approach whcih I am trying to sort out, I seem to get worse the closer to the green I get.

Anyway, I hope to get some good tips from this forum so be gentle!!

[99s]

How many clubs do you guys take to the range?

All of them...driver, 3H,4-SW, putter

[Jamboboy]

All of them...driver, 3H,4-SW, putter

Ok, I usually only take my Driver, 6&7I and my hybrid.

I'm having real trouble hitting my hybrid, it's a 20 degree M8 utility by Ben Sayers. It feels lovely but I just can't hit a thing with it. I'm scared to use it on the course incase I fluff it. I guess I need to research how to use these type of clubs properly really as it's neither a wood or an iron.

[jambalaya]

How many clubs do you guys take to the range?

I suppose if I really thought about it, I could just bring a few clubs to work on but I always bring the bag so I don't forget anything I need like tees and golf gloves. I also keep insect repellant and sunscreen in my bag and a towel hanging from it. Neven know when you need that stuff.

[Jamboboy]

I suppose if I really thought about it, I could just bring a few clubs to work on but I always bring the bag so I don't forget anything I need like tees and golf gloves. I also keep insect repellant and sunscreen in my bag and a towel hanging from it. Neven know when you need that stuff.

I think I may start doing the same but taking a few clubs out before I leave the house as I get easily distracted if I take too many clubs with me.

I also get distracted if I have to many balls, as I just try and smash them with the driver rather than focusing on my setup and swing etc.

[ks8829]

I believe in practicing wedges for your overall game. I like to practice my swing by hiting wedge shots of 30 - 50 yards to groove my swing.

If your swing fundamental are not sound and your practice with a driver or long iron most time you are only frustrated with your swing.

I believe that if you work on your fundamental swing mechanics with the wedge and slowly move up to your low iron on up that you will gain a better feel for your swing and more confidence.

swing mechanics can be practiced with your wedges and tested with mid, long iron, hybrids, wood and finally your driver.

[Mr.Wedge]

...I just saw a reply in a thread in which the poster advised a guy struggling with his hybrids to "practice with wedges, then check with driver, woods, etc"

I agree with practicing a favorite short iron and using 1/2 to 3/4 swings, focusing on the core fundamentals of leverage, levels, coil, and tempo. Swinging the driver til frustration sets in is counter productive and likely extending your learning curve. Master the short shot first then step up.

Additionally, repetitive hitting will not necessarily improve your swing or your course play. You do not have the opportunity to make repetitive adjustments on the course, which is what you are doing by hitting a ton of balls on the range. The only time it may be considered beneficial to do so is when you are swinging exceptionally well and can keep repeating good shots. I like to practice in an open field with one ball, hit it, then walk to it and hit it again--only one chance. When on the range, I make sure I walk around a bit after each shot, good or bad, in order to more closely approximate play.

[kafka01]

I believe in practicing wedges for your overall game. I like to practice my swing by hiting wedge shots of 30 - 50 yards to groove my swing.

I agree with you - normally my swing feels best when i hit lots of chips/wedges just focusing on tempo/square clubface. A driver is pretty much useless for me to practice. If my swing is okay, i can hit a 4iron as well as a driver or a wedge. Unfortunately i only realized that like 2-3 months ago and i somehow regret it, since i really belive my golf game could be much more advanced at that point if i would have practiced that way since the beginning.

[thomas_mikel]

I like to hit a handfull of 8 irons and six irons to loosen up, then I will pick a course that I play regularly and "play" it in my mind from tee to green.

[NBGC]

When I first started I started with my wedges and worked my way thru the bag to driver, then finished off with 7i and wedges again. But the mistake I made was going to the range and grooving a very bad swing.

If you're not sure of your swing mechanic's, I would highly recommend spending $$ for at minimum a fundamentals lesson, covering grip, stance, swing plane, and release. I spent 2 full lessons on just the driver, to confirm what others have said about the driver being the hardest club to hit. Otherwise you will be engraining muscle memory for a bad swing that will take hundreds of swings to unlearn.

After I had my set of lesson's, I went back and used the same routine, but with a fundamentally sound swing. My swing changes slightly from time to time, and I try different things but at least I have that base swing as a reference to go back to when the ball doesn't do what I want it to. "Bad Ball!"


But to your original question: Use wedges to loosen up and get a feel for the swing, then move up the bag to the driver. SW-PW-9-7-5-4H-3W-D-7i-SW. Everytime I moved up a club, I try to use the same tempo as the last club, and when I'm on the driver and find myself trying to kill it, I'll grab the 7i and hit a few to slow my tempo. And I work the last 15 or so ball's with my 7i and finish with trying to stick 90yd wedge shots to 5ft of the flag with the last 3-4 balls. Really helps when you have a goal.

[gbk56]

I would suggest practicing driver or 3W and a mid iron like a 7 or 6 and an approach iron like your pitching wedge. You may want to thow in a 5w or some type of hybrid. These or something similar should be your go to clubs.

1)Driver
2)5Wood
3)7 iron
4)PW

Also when you are at the range aim for targets and if you can find a range that is narrow which will penalize you severly for slices and hooks. Remember hitting the ball straight is the key to getting lower scores. Also note the distances you are hitting these clubs and note your consistency.

D: 180-200 (50% at the target)
5W: 160-170 (60 % at the target)
7i: 130-140 (75 % at the target)
PW: 90-100 (80% at the target)

Now when you are on the course you should use these distances for course management.

380 yard par 4

1) tee shot 190 leaving you 190 yards to the green
2) play the high percentage and hit your PW leaving you 90 yards to the green.
3) hit another PW onto the green and putting for par.

380 yard par 4
1) tee shot slice 190 yards but it went so far right you still have 240 to the green.
2) Since you are good with the PW hit this club first. It will build confidence after the sliced drive. Hit PW 100 yards leaving you 140 from the green.
3) 7i onto the green.

480 Par 5
1) tee shot 180 yards leaving 300 yards to the hole
2) Hit 5w 160 yards leaving you 140 yards to the hole
3) Hit 7i onto green

Once you are comfortable with these clubs start working on the other clubs more. Of course you should probably put a little practice time in with all your clubs, but I would devote more time to Driver, 5 Wood, 7 iron and Pitching Wedge (PW) or whatever clubs you will use.

As for practicing on the range I always hit driver first because thats what I usually hit first when I play since I do not use the practice facilities before a round of golf. I usually try to simulate how I would play a round of golf when I am at the range. I guess sometimes if there is something specific that is bothering me, I will work on that first though.