Warm up??

[TN94z]

Do you guys always warm up before your rounds? I always go to the putting green and hit a few chips and putts butt that is about it. Any time I go to the range before a round, I seem to hit the ball like crap and then I end up trying to fix a problem before my round starts. So, I haven't been to the range before a round in probably 6-8 months. I usually just get a feel for the greens on the putting green, stretch on the first tee box, and then swing away. What are your opinions on this?

[PiKapp23]

If the course has a practice range I will show up about an hour before my round and hit a small bucket of balls, hitting PW, 8I, 6I, 4H and Driver (at minimum). I then head to practice greern and chip and putt (and if possible hit some greenside bunker shots). If time is limited I usually try to hit a ball or two with driver and with a 7 or 8 iron to get a feel for swings and hit a couple putts (preferably at least 1 uphill and 1 downhill). I try to stretch quite a bit before swinging club, but could usually be ready to go within about 5 minutes if I have to.

If I have been unable to hit any practice balls before playing, my first drive is usually pretty good, but first couple irons can be pretty shaky. I have a steep swing and can catch balls fat or thin without a chance to groove my swing first.

[chriskzoo]

Before a tournament - yes. Before my league, no. Although that's probably because the first hole on my league usually leaves me no more than a 9 iron in.

[DavidFehertysBike]

Yeah i usually like to hit at least 15-20 balls before i play. I dont particularly care where they go or what the ballflight is, im just there to warm up my golf muscles. Sometimes I dont even take full swings. Ive seen some people use the warm up range as a determinor as how they will play that day. I always thought it was sort of silly to belive that.

[PiKapp23]

... Ive seen some people use the warm up range as a determinor as how they will play that day. I always thought it was sort of silly to belive that.

It's funny - the better I hit the ball when warming up the worse I play on the course and vice versa. I almost hope to hit ball badly in warmup.

[goblue107501]

If I have the time, I try and hit some balls. Usually for me, golf is an event so I try and get there early enough. I have found it eliminates the bad starts. I don't do too much, just enough to get loose before it counts. I always try and hit some putts just to get the feel for putting. There are times when the extra time isn't there and it is straight from the car to the first tee. If I have the time I will always hit some balls though.

[TN94z]

It's funny - the better I hit the ball when warming up the worse I play on the course and vice versa. I almost hope to hit ball badly in warmup.

I know that feeling. That is what got me out of going to the range in the first place. I just feel like when I go to the putting green and hit some LW chips and 9i chips, that I get a better warm up than going to the range. The first hole on the course is a straight par 5. I usually start off pretty well but I do have my bad starts. Anyway, I was just curious. I usually don't have enough time to get much in on the range which is why I get my putting and chipping in more than range time.

[Big Padrigo]

If I have the time my full warm-up is:
1) range: GW, 7, 4h, 3w, driver 15 minutes max.
2) practise green: chipping, pitching, bunker 15 minutes
3) partial/full wedge shots into practise green 10 minutes max
4) putting green: take 6 balls, make 2 foot, then 4 foot putts. Then work on distance. 15 minutes.

There's quite a lot of scope to be flexible and do the whole thing much quicker if I have to. My main focus is getting my routine going for all of the above and getting a feel for chips and putts. If I have 10 minutes, I'll maybe take like 2-3 full swings with my wedge then chip and putt. My swing will always warm up on the way round, but the short-game is a slow burner so needs more time before hand.