Can you "play" too much?

[TN94z]

My cousin has a job where he can go play pretty much any time he wants. He has also recently started keeping his handicap. He goes and plays at least 18 holes every day but he has never really gotten that much better. He has his best days of 82-83 and his worst days of 92-93. He usually averages in the upper 70s. He never practices on the range. I used to be that way but have since changed and started spending much more time on the range during the week and play the weekends. He asked me if I thought he should spend more time on the range and I immediately said yes. I told him that he would probably improve his ball striking if he got in some more practice time.

What do you guys think? Can you get as good just going to the course everyday instead of range time or do you have to have the range time to get to that next level? I felt I improved a lot just playing but I hit a plateau. I think that with my added range time now and focusing on what I am doing, that I will break the plateau and get to that next level.

I already have my opinion on the subject but I was just curious to see what your thoughts were.

[mdvaldosta]

If you practice right, and not just banging out 600 range balls. You're a 4, so you know... Definately practice. I think a 1 hour practice is more effective than a 4 hour round. Especially if most of that time is spent around the green. I've dropped from a 13 to probably below 8 now in the last month, spending 3-4 days a week on the driving range/practice green.

[TN94z]

  mdvaldosta said:

If you practice right, and not just banging out 600 range balls. You're a 4, so you know... Definately practice. I think a 1 hour practice is more effective than a 4 hour round. Especially if most of that time is spent around the green. I've dropped from a 13 to probably below 8 now in the last month, spending 3-4 days a week on the driving range/practice green.

I agree. When I have tried to explain this to him in the past, he just says that he can practice on the course and doesn't need the range. While I agree with that to a certain point, I just don't think that you get the same kind of practice that you do on the range. He says, "I just shot my best round yesterday and I never practice." Then I told him "Yeah, but your next round was 10 strokes worse." I try to explain to him that I think he would become a much more consistent player if he went to the range more. Anyway, once everyone posts their opinions on the subject, I am going to let him read this thread.

[sonicblue]

IMO, you won't get better if you constantly go out and 'try to shoot low.' You have to go out and work on things you need to improve. If your short game is lacking, you can play "Miss 'Em All' where you intentionally miss every green (I have no problem doing this unintentionally, LOL) and force yourself to see various up-and-downs. Golf is like anything else: drills are good, but ultimately, the best practice is replication and repetition of actual game conditions.

[Leftygolfer]

I really think the best way to improve is to play. You can combine the two if the course is slow and you have no one behind. I know when I had my big drop in my handicap I was playing 90 holes a week. Now if I get 27 I am very happy. I believe that practicing your short game on the course is on of the best ways to improve unless you have a really nice practice ground.

[DavidFehertysBike]

From a physical health point of view, yes you can certainly play too much. In the past ive hurt my body playing the game too much. Id play over 100 holes a week for an entire month sometimes. You get to the point where youre body has had enough and it shuts down. But from a mental and learning POV, you cant play enough golf. So you need to find a way to balance the two out. I try to limit myself to a maximum of 54 holes in a week now. I think im better for it and i feel more fresh when i do play. Im not sore all of the damn time.

[kevin.chan]

I hardly go to the range. The course is the only place i practice my golf swing. LOL!

I joined this short walking golf course near my office which offers night golfing. I normally leave the office at 4 pm and have a game until 9pm , almost every weekday . On the weekend i play there too.

Too much golf ? i think so . I become not serious on my game .

[TN94z]

I believe in practicing on the course and I know that you get the real game situations doing that. But I don't think you can get the same ball striking practice in on the course that you can on the range. It doesn't matter what kind of shots you have on the course if your ball striking is not there. I think that if you are working on things then they should be worked on at the range. I want my rounds that I play to be thoughtless about swing mechanics and just focused on the round itself. I mean, don't get me wrong...I practice on the course too, but I have just come to realize that I will get better by working on my swing at the range and then taking that to the course.

I guess to each his own and that is kind of why I started this thread. I wanted him to see all of the different point of views and not just rely on what I thought. I am trying to help him work on his swing so we can have more close battles at the course. There is nothing like coming down to the last hole and one stroke will win it!!

[Surefire]

I would have to say it really depends what you want to practice.
If you are having trouble with ball striking or want to groove a swing change etc, the range and repetition are your friends.

If you want to practice strategy, different lies, recovery, short game, mental aspects etc then the course and replication are your friend.

Only you or your friend know your own weaknesses and what needs work, so generally only you can decide.

[wannabe]

My personal experience is that honing specific physical techniques, such as full swing, pitches, chips, bunkers, putting, requires dedicated steady practice off the course.

Certain things can only be practiced on the course - course management, reading greens (unless you have a wide variety of greens to read at a practice facility).

Certain other things can only be practiced in competition with other players (mental).

Just look at the pros. They practice a lot off of the course.

Good example for me -- after my round last Friday, I realized most of my full swing misses were thin shots. Gotta go to the range to fix that.

[TN94z]

  Surefire said:

I would have to say it really depends what you want to practice.

I actually think that the short game really needs to be done on the range. Replication is also what the range is good for once you have your swing working and want to build the muscle memory. I agree that course management and the different lies is something that should be done on the course obviously. Mental...well that is a different animal. That can actually be done anywhere.

He is working on swing changes and everything on the course...I guess I should have made that a little more clear. No matter what he is working on, its on the course.

[$2 Nassau]

I personally get much more out of playing rather than practicing. But that's probably due to me not practicing the right things or not being patient enough with practice techniques.
But I learn more about my game by playing, and then I try to focus on the things that need the most work. I rarely have practice time though, so when I do get time, I'd rather be on the course. I'm sure my game suffers because of it, but oh well.

[wannabe]

to the general question of can one "play" too much, the answer is easily yes.

It's called repetitive stress injury.

[Leftygolfer]

  wannabe said:

to the general question of can one "play" too much, the answer is easily yes.

If you have a "real" job can you play too much? I don't think so (I am not playing enough)

[TN94z]

  $2 Nassau said:

I personally get much more out of playing rather than practicing. But that's probably due to me not practicing the right things or not being patient enough with practice techniques.

Now I can see this and this is why I used to always play rather than practice. If time is an issue I would rather play also.

  wannabe said:

to the general question of can one "play" too much, the answer is easily yes.

I didn't mean physically but I definitely agree.

  Leftygolfer said:

If you have a "real" job can you play too much? I don't think so (I am not playing enough)

I understand this completely. The job I have now allows me to go the range quickly after work. If it wasn't for that then I would be play only. But the guy in question has a VERY flexible job!!

[HSip]

I think a person can definitely "play too much". Many times trying to practice during a round leads to rushing and not concentrating on the shot they're trying to practice (not to mention - pace of play issues). I say save the practicing for the range and short game area. I have seen a few players try to put in a long practice session on the range and then back it up with playing a round but then fatigue becomes an issue. Whether playing or practicing the point is improving and enjoying. Cheers

[CarlSpackler]

Put me in the "not playing enough camp". Now that the boy's soccer season is over, I plan to get out 2-3 more times a week to get at least 9 holes in.

With regards to practicing on the course, if I am playing 9 by myself and nobody is behind me, I will often play a second ball if I am not happy with the first and then pick it up. If nothing else I want to validate that I picked the right club, etc. It amazes me how good that shot often is.

[putput]

Practice is only good if your practicing good habits. I notice some times that if i practice to much i will develop a bad habit when i swing, if i keep doing it i call it a day, i don’t want to get into a bad habit of making the same incorrect swing if i am not able to correct it with in a few balls.