A new approach to the game

[CG031]

I have been playing golf for three years, two years now in tournaments and for my high school team. Last August, I got my handicap down to a 9. I was pretty satisfied with that. This entire Spring, I struggled somewhat with my game in matches. My stroke average was a 42. But, it wasn't too bad at all. I felt I could have been a much better ball striker, but the only thing that was keeping my scores respectable was my chipping and putting, basically the ability to get up and down.

Over the past two Summers, I have had a membership to a 9 hole course near my house. I would play 27 holes a day there, at times...usually about 5 times per week. instead i got a driving range membership (unlimited golf balls for 350 dollars) so now i go to the driving range every day and hit about 100 balls and spend some time around the green putting and chipping. i think i will get a lot better like this as oppose to just playing everyday. working on what i need to get better on (actual ballstriking itself) is what i think will make me a better play. i suggest this to many of you who don't go to the range often. after a few weeks of doing this i've already seen improvements...

if you want to seriously get better work on your game at the range, and don't play as often on the course...it may be more fun on the course, but you'll see more results this way in my opinion.

[-Mini-]

Or get a membership at a club that has a course and practice greens/driving range :) It's what I do, I play the course in the morning - then each night I practice around the green/driving range

[Scrape-o-TheClown]

Yes what you said is very true all the games best spend alot of time on the range. The only thing that we all have to be careful of is falling into bad range habit, like just hitting shots and not focusing on them. Every shot on the range should be thought through and executed as if it were a shot on the course. Spending time on the range is the best way to get better but it has to be quality practice.

[CG031]

Yes what you said is very true all the games best spend alot of time on the range. The only thing that we all have to be careful of is falling into bad range habit, like just hitting shots and not focusing on them. Every shot on the range should be thought through and executed as if it were a shot on the course. Spending time on the range is the best way to get better but it has to be quality practice.

Very true but only once you get to a certain level. If you are a 36 handicap you will probably benefit even if you are just shelling out balls, because working on contact is the most important thing. Once you can make solid contact consistently is when it is vital to have QUALITY practice, slowing down, making each ball count (even on the range), etc.

[pchaney301]

I agree with you about the range. Luckily for me, our course has a range, traps, and a putting green. So lately before I go out instead of playing 27-36 holes, I've been hitting on the range a while and then going and playing 18. I can see vast improvements after I get on the range and figure my swing out.

[TN94z]

Very true but only once you get to a certain level. If you are a 36 handicap you will probably benefit even if you are just shelling out balls, because working on contact is the most important thing. Once you can make solid contact consistently is when it is vital to have QUALITY practice, slowing down, making each ball count (even on the range), etc.

On the other hand, even though you are a 36 handicap, you don't want to be on the range engraining bad swings into muscle memory. So even though you aren't on a top level, you still need to think about what you are doing instead of just pumping ball after ball out there just for the sake of hitting them