practice vs playing time

[ks8829]

I have focused on my short game this last week practicing at least 2 hours everday and played a round today and shot an easy 73. I will continue practicing more and feel that it will allow me to shoot under par soon.

Practice more than you play with you want to lower your scores consistently.

[torrejuan]

Hopefully, I can practice more next month.

[Norm3333]

I practice a lot more than I play. Last year I committed to practicing all phases of the game and my scores have fallen appreciably. I try and hit a bucket everyday during lunch and chip for ~45 minutes after work. I work on putting every other day.

This amount of practice has taken me from an inconsistent 24 handicap to < 10 handicap. And with my practice over the winter, I expect my handicap to shrink even more.

I try and read about the swing also.

[ks8829]

I am going to have my 14 year old son who's going to try out for his High School golf team practice chipping and putting before I take out to the course. This is ideal because his time is limited with his other activities and homework.

If you practice just your short games, putting and chipping for just 30 minutes everyday even in your living room you would cut 2-3 strokes off your next game.

[Baraethon]

In the winter, because of temperatures and horrible course conditions, I rarely get out to play, but I practice a lot.

In the summer, it's reversed - I'm out on the course at least 3-4 days a week, but I rarely hit the range.

[Par Fore]

I go out and Practice twice a week usually Tues & Thursday and if im lucky i can go out and play a round during the weekend but two days just aint enough time i think we should extend the weekend to include Friday as a golf outting day. LOL

Perfectly said....I can put in about 2 hours twice a week to practice, when life allows.....by March, I WILL stick with this on Tues/Thurs, and then play at least every other weekend and have a good practice session on weekends I cannot play... A great pro whom used to help me when I was in Jax....I asked him how much I have to practice to get to scratch....had an interesting answer....he said to get to scratch, you need to play at least 3 times per week.....he said you should only practice as you need, but playing and managing th e course is the big deal...

[Jay-Bird]

I've always been one to putt for ten minutes and hit #1 tee with no warm-up. I think I hit range balls less than five times in '08, but I played about 75 rounds.

This year I will spend a LOT more time on the range working on my weaknesses. I will work on shot shaping and reall dial in a go-to shot with every club. I will not have a favorite club, rather try to make all 14 equally favorite.

[GUAM_golf]

I usually play once a week, either Saturday or Sunday because of school, so my practice time for now is more than my playing time. But i don't go to a range to practice, i hit into a homemade net in my garage. While this doesn't help me to see where my shots go, it helps to feel what is right or struck well. Also I can do it whenever I like so it eliminates driving to a range or course for practice. Other than that, i just hit the putting and chipping green in the morning before my round.

[flopdarock]

i had some great practice today... i shoulda played!!!
from practice green to chipping/pitching area... practice bunker... to driving range... i dont think ive ever hit the ball so well...
im one that kinda hates practicing unless my game is absolutely off the rails... but i didnt have time to play today(too many errands)... i had a blast practicing (usually its boring to me)

[DaSportsGuy]

In the late spring, summer, and early fall I try and play every day and on Tuesday's and Thursday's I hit a bucket of balls at the range before I play. In the offseason I usually hit a bucket of balls at the range every Sunday.

[Yukari]

The only time I practice is when I warm up just before a round. Generally, I actually practice on the range maybe once every year or two, or three...

I would much rather play 9 holes than spend time practicing on the range. Hmmm, maybe that's why my handicap is where it is...

[mike68]

I practice in the morning hitting 100 balls or so going through all the irons from 9I to 5I, Hybrids and Woods. In the evening I chip and putt one evening and pitches and sand shots the next evening. I quit playing for 3 or 4 years so you can see from my handicap I need to work on things. I usually play 3 or 4 times a week and skip the evening practice, Possibly too much practice, but my handicap is trending down.

[MiniMoe]

I actually use my play as practice. I have never cared about my handicap, so I am never scared to try new shots, or tinker with my grip or stance, or what ever. I always figured you learned more while playing than on the range. After all, it's when you are playing (when it matters) that you have to pull up the memories of the good shots, or have the courage to try something new.

[groovezilla79]

The nice range close to my house closed late last year due to recession. So, I now practice the short stuff in my back yard. I just make it a habit to get to the course an hour early and hit 50 balls and putt for 20 minutes before I play. Seems to work out fine.

But to answer your question, I definately play more than I practice. However my practice is now better because the lack of time makes me do it with more purpose. It seems to be working for me this year.... I just recalculated my handicap today and it has fell almost 1 point this year!! (6.2 - 5.3)

[O.B. Right]

I'm just getting back into the game after a 20 year break so I'm practicing a lot more than I'm playing. I practice short game every day at home, hit the range 5x per week - usually a small bucket before work and another small bucket after work. I'm only playing about once every 2 weeks.

[MiniMoe]

I forgot to mention.... "Practice... practice? Were not talking about a game, but practice? Practice.. not a game, but practice?"

[ks8829]

The experiment would be the following:

What if you were to practice for four hours instead of play a round and your practice could be spread out over a couple of days working on all aspect of your game.

Would your score drop the next time you played? how about if you skipped two rounds of golf and practice 8 hours instead of playing. what would your score be your next round?

vs just playing two rounds of golf how would your score compared to playing vs practicing and then playing a round?

[mst_coastie]

I practice about 8 hours a week and play four hours