Typical Day at the Range

[timastyle]

Hi Guys,

I have never been one to have any particular routine when going to the driving range. I'll just get a bucket and hit them with no real agenda but hit the ball.

I am wondering what your typical range routine is and what your thought process is for doing it.

[CG031]

I usually warm up with chipping and putting at the putting green up top near the course/club house for about an hour or so. Then I'll head down to the range area, where there is a practice green and 'greenside' bunker. I hit some bunker shots on the 'practice green' (this practice green is more like a 'fairway green', has fairway grass usually just pitch/hit bunker shots to). I also hit some 20-30 yard pitch shots. This lasts about 15-30 minutes.

Then I'll actually go down to the range. I start off with a large bucket (75 balls). Here is what I do:

-I take out one of my reflectors, and set it up towards the 110 yard yellow pin.
-Pitching Wedge for about 10 shots.
-Gap Wedge for about 10 shots.
-8 iron for about 10 shots.
-75 yard shot for about 10 shots.

With these shots here, biggest thing is always good, crisp contact and keeping the ball on line. These are my scoring clubs, so I try to focus on these more than my longer clubs. With the remaining balls, I focus on the longer clubs.

-7 iron for about 5 shots.
-5 iron for about 5 shots.
-19* hybrid for about 5 shots.
-3 wood for about 5 shots.
-Driver for about 5 shots.


Any remaining golf balls I have, I'll take out whatever club(s) I struggled with to try to figure out what is going on. Obviously this routine may vary SLIGHTLY if I am truly hitting it awful or something...But this is a rough estimate of what I do.

Kind of long and detailed, but I hope this may help some people with a detailed routine.

*As you may see, I don't hit every single club in my bag. I go every day so one day I'll do the 'odd clubs' and other day 'evens.' I figure these will balance out eventually and get good practice with all clubs in my bag!

[timastyle]

Unfortunately, I don't have the time with work to go for a long stretch. I suppose I can go in the morning and work on short game shots (bunker, putts, chips) before work and hit the driving range after work.

My main thought about the range is to see what people's approach is there. What are you trying to accomplish and what your thought process is in the club selection you start off on.

For example, I have heard that it is good to start with a W and make easy swings to loosen up, then work your way through your set.

[CG031]

Unfortunately, I don't have the time with work to go for a long stretch. I suppose I can go in the morning and work on short game shots (bunker, putts, chips) before work and hit the driving range after work.

Well, first off, you don't have to follow my exact routine, but you could skip a few parts if your pressed for time. My routine does take quite a bit, about 2-3 hours usually...

My approach is to try to find good, smooth tempo and hit everything solid and straight. Maybe if I'm working on something specifically I will be thinking and working on drills that pertain to that. But, 90% of the time it's a similar mindset as the course. And yeah, I usually like to go through my bad W to Driver. But...sometimes it's good to mix it up and mimic as if you were playing a round. Hit driver, then 7 iron. Then a wedge shot. Hit 5 iron, then wedge. Hit Driver, 4 iron, then pitching wedge. Hopefully this helps.

[SpringBokVol]

Here is my normal range session:

56*
8i
4i
PW
Driver

Then to the bunker
Then to the putting green

Done

[timastyle]

Thanks CG, that was helpful.

Sping - how come you don't hit any of your other clubs?

[shankapotamus]

I'm still working on it, but it goes like this:

8i
3w
6i
PW
D
9i
5i
Then whatever I hit off of the tee on the first hole.

Then chip for an hour, and putt for an hour.

[timastyle]

shank - what's your thought process in doing it that way?

[Mizzy57]

I had a long post typed out explaining everyhting I did but here's the cliff's notes version:

Larger percentage of time on wedges and scoring Irons. Don't always aim for the same target, mix it up.

Have purpose when you swing. Don't bang balls. Lots hit great at the range but can't transfer it to the course. It's mental because when you hit a bad shot at the range you just scoop another to hit. Take your time, do your preshot, align, etc.

Vary your targets (to make sure you have to change alignment) and your clubs. Don't hit 40 8 irons at the same target.

1/2 > 3/4 > full wedges
Scoring irons
Med/long irons (only a few, like 6-7. 1-2 I hit stingers/knockdowns)
Hybrids/3W off the deck
Driver, maybe 10.

I like to finish off by playing a game. I play like 3 or 4 "holes". Pick out targets. On misses, hit a longer club next and aim for a further target.
1. Par 4- 3W/Driver, short iron/wedge.
2. Par 3- Med Iron, wedge
3. Par 5- Driver, hybrid, wedge
4. par 4- 3W, Med Iron, wedge
etc, you get the idea.

Any balls left over for whatever you're working on, for me its my 1/2-3/4 wedges, trying to get better accuracy and distance control, working on different traj's.

I usually don't "work" on putting same day as range, I do that on my short game days.

[timastyle]

Thanks Mizzy. That's pretty helpful. I think the problem is that I haven't had any formal training, so it's difficult to have some purpose behind my shots. I mean, I try and aim and all, but most often, I can't tell what I'm diong wrong so that I can fix it. I will be starting lessons in the next week or so, so that should give me good direction as well.

From what I've been told, I have a very steep swing and got a couple tips from someone and implemented them and since then, I've been trying to fix it even more, while screwing up my swing. My last range visit, I think I got my groove back a bit.

I just want to make the most out of the each range visit...

[Mizzy57]

Since you haven't had formal training and chompin at the bits to get to the range, MY personal suggestion would be to do a little research on the fundamentals first.

Grip, posture, stance, ball position, etc.

Then go to the range, find someone that's hitting solid and looks approachable, wait til he's taking a break or something and go up and make a friend. Tell him you're starting out, ask him to show you grips, his basic swing setup, etc. Believe it or not, Golfers tend be be helpful creatures and more times then not someone will spend 10 mins showing you these things. But it's always good to have an understanding of the fundamentals before you do this so you can understand what he's saying.

I beleive going to the range and just bangin balls when you really have no idea what's going on will form bad habits and eventually bad muscle memory.

Good luck and keep us posted on your progress!

[CG031]

Since you haven't had formal training and chompin at the bits to get to the range, MY personal suggestion would be to do a little research on the fundamentals first.

Yeah, that's really a great idea. I've never actually had anyone come up to me before besides to say I have a great swing, but if they did I would certainly help them if they were just starting. Thankfully I had someone to teach me the basics, but you should ask for someone for some quick help if it looks like they have time...

But as Mizzy said, you should read up on the basics just so you can more easily understand what they are trying to convey to you.

[timastyle]

Well I've been playing for about 15 years off and on (more off than on cause I could never find someone to consistently go with me). I have a or had a decent swing. Pretty good with 7-PW. My iron play is fairly solid. It's more my driver than anything else and the fact that I don't have any other woods in my bag right now.

I was never into going to the range because I always figured that the distances you're hitting at the range are not the same as the ones you hit with your ball on the course (range distance is usually less). I always thought that I learned by playing on the course rather than at the range, because it's real life, not practice. It has gotten me to where I am today, but I would definately like to get better.

A couple weeks ago, I got the whole deal with the range and how it can actually be usefull and since I've been going, I've been making it a point to try and make each shot count. A couple friends introduced me to making sure i'm on line with my target and such and so those were the things I was working on.

I've also been paying closer attention to details in my swing to try and catch what's off, but like I said in my last post, without having formal training, it's hard to tell. I can see what other people are doing wrong and can give them advice on fixing it, but I have never recorded myself to analyze it.

Maybe I should do that next time I'm out there...